Will having my LPN license help me get an RN job?

KellyRN2013 · Oct 29, 2014

I am not too sure about the specific location you are asking about, but I can tell you that past experience will Definitely help you out :). I was an LPN for 6 years and then I obtained my RN degree. I landed a Director of Nursing job straight out of RN school and my administrator actually told me that my LPN experience is what helped land me the position over the other RN nurses. So I definitely think it will help you to your advantage. Some places will still try to pay you New RN pay and you will have to negotiate with them since you do have LPN experience. You will be just fine! They also want customer service skills and it seems that you have that as well. Have you thought about which unit or which specialty you will want to work in? maybe if you give me that information I will be able to give you a little more info about the experience needed. thanks and good luck! Hope to hear from you soon!

cat1235 · Oct 30, 2014

Thanks for your input!!! I would love to do peds oncology ... But peds in general would be cool. Coming in 2nd would be NICU, adult oncology, ED, possibly ICU but maybe not that one starting out... But of course I'll take what I can get, med-surg etc. when I'm working I am the "charge " nurse and only nurse on my unit supervising UAP. There is only one nurse in each of our 2 buildings at one time and when working in the designated building I am also responsible for responding to alerts on assisted and independent living so I'm hoping to play up that responsibility and leadership at an interview to my advantage since I don't have years of experience under my belt.

MostlysunnyRN · Nov 4, 2014

I graduated from the RN program this past summer and I've been a LPN for 9 years. My past experience as a LPN didn't do anything to help me land interviews with acute care hospitals in my area. Ironically even applying for RN positions in an area that I have extensive experience as a LPN got my nowhere. So be prepared for that possibility.

On the positive side, I know for a fact, that being a LPN has made me more confident and given me strong assessment and good communication skills--these are so valuable, and often take a while to develop. I started really highlighting those in my cover letter/resume, and I was recently offered a job in acute rehab that I'm very excited about.

Not sure about the specific area you're moving to, but hopefully your LPN experience will be a big plus for you, and it usually is a huge advantage to get into LTC/SNF, if you desire.

cat1235 · Nov 5, 2014

Thanks for your input. Considering I've been an LPN for less than a year, I don't guess it's going to help me much if at all. It seems that it's unfair that hospitals don't recognize LPN experience the same as they would RN experience. I know LTC is a whole different field, don't get me wrong, but I'm hoping to really play up the strengths that being an LPN, if even only for a short time, has given me. Such as the communication and assessment skills ... leadership skills as I mentioned .... etc. As a new grad, I guess we HAVE to play up every little thing we can. Staying positive though! LPN experience certainly can't hurt, can only help!! And even if it doesn't aid me in getting a job, at least I know for MYSELF that I've become all the more comfortable working with patients, practicing some basic skills, talking to family members, giving report, being a leader because at my work you are the only nurse in the unit with 1-3 CNAs and the other nurse is in a whole other building across the street on her unit unlike in a hospital where there are multiple nurses surrounding you if you need to ask something instaneously, so I definitely developed independence and leadership skills at this job, and taking on responsibility that I did not experience before I was an LPN. All this will make me a better nurse, but if it helps me get a job, too, that's great!

caliotter3 · Nov 5, 2014

Often it depends on the individual employer. I work in extended care home health. Many of the hh agencies will tell a newly licensed RN employee to start signing RN after his/her name and they will receive the appropriate pay raise on their next check, while other hh agencies will tell the newly licensed RN employee that they have to go get a year of "RN" experience elsewhere before they come back expecting an RN job with them.

cat1235 · Nov 5, 2014

For the record, I'm not staying in LTC or going into home health care when I graduate ... I'm looking to work in a hospital. I wouldn't mind home health care maybe ... just not LTC again, but the HHC jobs I looked at applying to (just to keep my options open even though hospital is priority) where I'm moving require BSN so that was out of the question until I get my BSN online .... (I'm graduating from an ADN program but plan to get my BSN online within a couple years after I give myself at least a one year break!) hospital is my first choice and I know new grads don't have a problem getting into a hospital, I was just hoping that working as an LPN for even a little bit of time would aid me at least a little bit ... if not oh well, still good experience to get in and I made great money! More than I ever had working little part time jobs before I had a license! Haha

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2014

I think it depends on the facilities you are applying to. I've heard that some don't take your LPN experience into consideration, while others have a conversion scale (one facility I worked for had 6 years as an LPN = 1 year RN experience which I though was a little ridiculous).

cat1235 · Nov 5, 2014

That is ridiculous and not really fair at all. Welp! I guess with my

MostlysunnyRN · Nov 5, 2014

H4ywii you have the same feelings as I do in that I know my prior LPN experience, if nothing else, makes me much more confident. I'm not afraid to talk to patients, docs, family, etc. I have great assessment skills and other skills that I'd lack otherwise as a new grad. Just keep highlighting leadership, supervisory, and delegation skills on your resume/cover letters.

I keep saying that it's a very difficult job market and even with prior LPN experience, many employers, and esp acute care hospitals, will consider you a new grad nurse. It's up to you to sell your prior experience as an asset.

You might want to look into other areas outside the hospital such as LTAC and specialty hospitals if available. Many pay very well and will provide you with excellent experience that you can then transfer into the hospital setting later.

cat1235 · Jan 3, 2015

Just for the record ..if anyone reads this post in the future and is wondering about the same thing ... one new Grad residency program I applied to said they would pay me 6 month RN experience for 1 year of LPN experience starting out. I don't know how it is for the other 2 residency programs I applied to recently. And though a little extra pay starting out is awesome, I'm actually more excited about the fact that my LPN experience is recognized in the first place thus giving me an extra boosted chance for getting selected for a job position.

diadiaclaudia · Apr 28, 2015

Thanks for putting an update! I just googled "will being an LPN during nursing school help me land a job?" and this post came up! I am finishing my 3rd semester of an ADN and was offered a job as an LPN that will last until I graduate in December. So I won't have a year, but its still some experience and am hoping it helps me get a job when I graduate. Its nice to read your story and to see that being an LPN helped you! Thanks for sharing :)