To renew an LPN license or not, once an RN?

Nurses General Nursing

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This is my renewal year for my LPN license, and now that I'm an RN, I'm not sure if I should renew it. What are the benefits of keeping it active? If I ever got my RN license revoked, could I still use the LPN?

pagandeva2000, LPN

7,984 Posts

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Most people don't bother because no matter what position you are hired as, if something goes wrong, you will be held to the standards of the higher license. And, from what I have seen on the BON website of my state, those that hold dual licenses are receive discipline, it lands on BOTH licenses; LPN and RN.

Benefits for keeping both active, however, I can just explain what my friend used to constantly say; when she was an LPN, she saw more interesting opportunities for RNs, so, she pursued it. Now that she is an RN, she sees more interesting, or less stress related positions for LPNs and wished she kept her LPN license active. I guess what it boils down to is how it would work for you. Just keep in mind, however, that probably both licenses would be revolked if you got disciplined on one. Check out your BON website; you may see the same that I saw.

Specializes in med-surg, telemetry,geriatrics.

if you get your license revoked as an RN you can not then practice on an unexpired LPN license. Let the LPN go you are now an RN no need to pay for something you do not need. imo

Specializes in ICU/ER.
if you get your license revoked as an RN you can not then practice on an unexpired LPN license. Let the LPN go you are now an RN no need to pay for something you do not need. imo

Now see I heard the exact opposite---well Not revoked but suspended. If your RN lic is suspended you could work as an LPN while your RN was under investigation. At least that is what the LPN/RN transistion teacher said in school.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

ITA, but you will see posts here from ex LPN's who keep both licenses valid because if they want to work in LTC where they won't pay for an RN then they work on their LPN license. It makes absolutely no sense to me to keep an LPN license when you have your RN license. As said, why pay for both? But well, to each his own. I personally wouldn't do it. Congratulations on getting your RN :nurse:

Just reading recently added post. If a nurse is practicing on one license because the other has been revoked or disciplined, I would imagine said nurse would be in even more trouble when they get caught. Shame on them, that's not ethical, not in the least.

Specializes in ICU/ER.
Just reading recently added post. If a nurse is practicing on one license because the other has been revoked or disciplined, I would imagine said nurse would be in even more trouble when they get caught. Shame on them, that's not ethical, not in the least.

I was told by the LPN trans to RN students that thier teacher advised them to keep the LPN for that reason. Just because your under investigation does not mean your guilty. If you have a valid LPN lic you should be able to work in that capacity. I dont know of any cases where that actually happened. I am sure if found guilty on what ever charge against your RN lic then they would then also revoke/suspend the LPN lic. But she advised to keep it so they could work during the investigation. Granted this was all hypothetical.

But I do work with a hand full of Rns who once held and LPN and they have kept both lic current. Most likely cause the only nursing school in our area has the teacher that told them that!!!

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

I was once in a room with 8 other nurses at an open house. Six of the nurses were RNs and they said they had kept their LVN licenses. I found that kind of interesting at the time. Unless it is possible to practice with the LPN license while the RN license is under suspension, see no reason to keep it. Unless, one wants to keep it out of sentimental reasons.

jjjoy, LPN

2,801 Posts

I have an RN license, did some agency work at a hospice that I enjoyed, and asked about employment. They would only consider hiring me as charge nurse since I had an RN license. Given my lack of experience in that area, I didn't feel prepared to take that role. They wouldn't offer me a staff nurse position, though, because their job description specified LPNs and I didn't have that qualification. I had proven my capabities and reliability as an agency worker, but it was charge nurse or nothing because of the RN license. So I didn't get a job there. If I'd had an LPN license also, might that have turned out differently? Who knows? Just sharing an experience that touches on the relevance of one's licensure.

I wish I would have kept LVN license. There was an opening at the schoool district here that pd well and included pd health insruance, weekends and all holidays, 1 week at Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, and Spring break.But they wouldn't accept RN's only LVN as it seemed every time they hired an RN for a LPN job they would be happy at first then demand more $$$. So you could be an RN to apply but tstill had to have your LPN license. They also averaged your projected paycheck over a 11 mth period so your pay check whould be the same every month.

hisblueskies

59 Posts

I'm n0t sure h0w it is in all states but I was t0ld that in my state that 0nce y0u have an RN license y0u may n0t practice as an LPN. Y0u must practice with the higher license. S0rry f0r the wierd 0's. My regular 0 0n my lapt0p has quit w0-rking and I have t0 use the zer0 whenever I need a 0.

CHATSDALE

4,177 Posts

some interesting points of view

i knew a nurse who was working as an lpn in ltc and she got caught drinking on the job and she lost license but six months later she graduated and went to work as an rn

now i don't know if she went to board and straighen everything out or if she was luck and slipped thru the cracks

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

i will keep mine for one reason only. i am a ec student and in the event that i move to ca or another state that does not accept ec i will still be able to work. i have no plans on moving whatsoever...but you never know what life brings.

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