Working as in another role while waiting for an RN position

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Hello,

I am considering taking a CNA/Caregiver job whle waiting on a nursing position.

Anyone doing this or considering it?

Advice welcomed.

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Funny that you ask that. I just accepted an overnight caregiver job yesterday and I start tonight while I wait for my first RN position. I graduated last nov 2009 and have not had any bites. Im lucky that the employer even considered me for the caregiving job given my background (only two months of caregiving experience).

Im excited because it is at a Alzheimer's/dementia home care place and I want to help the residents and WORK! I got my degree in NJ and received my RN license for CA in March this year, then moved to San Diego in June thinking I would get into a New Grad Program within months, but as you can tell, I haven't. (really losing hope).

I think its a good idea to take a CNA/caregiving job in the meantime to use some of your skills. It may help your resume.( It didn't help mine so much for prospective employers) Honestly I don't know what nurse recruiters are looking for in applicants. We all are new grads with no experience!

Good luck! Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

just remember that if you are licensed you will be held to that standard of care regardless of your job description. Can you find prn work at more than one facility?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Two things. First, check with your state's BON to see if you are allowed to do this. You may not be allowed to work as a CNA if you are a RN or LPN. However, you may be able to accept an unlicensed care position.

Also, a lot of employers won't hire nurses for CNA/caregiver/tech positions because they know the minute a nursing job comes along you will be out of there, and they don't want to waste time and money training you when they know you aren't staying. Another possible reason they may not hire you is the liability: you'd be held to the standards of your highest license even if you are not employed in an actual nursing (RN/LPN) job.

That being said, you have to do what you have to. It is healtcare experience (albeit not RN/LPN) and it is money coming in to pay the bills. Some places may take you on, and it could be a chance to get your foot in the door.

Good luck.

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I'd rather sell cars than do that, lol. :lol2:

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Specializes in MR/DD.

I know at my previous employer once a Patient care assistant passed the boards they were no longer permitted to work as a PCA. It was considered a conflict because legally an RN can do skills that a PCA cannot and if an RN were in a PCA role they wouldnt be able to do those skills under their pca job title but in return had a legal obligation to complete the skills because he/she is an RN.

think about someone in respiratory distress.. As an RN you can administer oxygen.. a PCA cannot .... so if an RN is working as a PCA technically they cannot administer the oxygen, However, since they are an RN they have to administer the oxygen. It is a conflict of interest and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

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I believe here in CA and in TX you are held to the license you are working under for that day. I think the challenge is in limiting yourself and staying withing your role and knowing you can get into trouble if you are at the job as a CNA and passing pills. I also believe in Long term care it is a bit more difficult to cross that nurse CNA line.

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Funny that you ask that. I just accepted an overnight caregiver job yesterday and I start tonight while I wait for my first RN position. I graduated last nov 2009 and have not had any bites. Im lucky that the employer even considered me for the caregiving job given my background (only two months of caregiving experience).

Im excited because it is at a Alzheimer's/dementia home care place and I want to help the residents and WORK! I got my degree in NJ and received my RN license for CA in March this year, then moved to San Diego in June thinking I would get into a New Grad Program within months, but as you can tell, I haven't. (really losing hope).

I think its a good idea to take a CNA/caregiving job in the meantime to use some of your skills. It may help your resume.( It didn't help mine so much for prospective employers) Honestly I don't know what nurse recruiters are looking for in applicants. We all are new grads with no experience!

Good luck! Hope this helps.

What was the catalyst to move from NJ?

I am in a caregiver position but i am planning to move to facilities or companies that actually utilize nurses as it would make more sense than the one that only uses caregivers.

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My fiance and I just really wanted to start off somewhere fresh after I was done with school, and we really wanted to move to CAlifornia after visiting and talking about it for awhile, so we did. Everything worked out well, except of course an RN position!

The facility that hired me is privately owned by a woman and her husband and she understood my situation and loved that I really wanted to work. They have a per diem Rn staffed there, but I will working an unlicensed caregiving role, so there shouldn't be any conflict of interest and putting my license in jeopardy before I even started. If the situation did arise, I would not stay there because my hard work to get that license definitely means more to me!

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Hello, I'm just wondering.. how long did it take you to get your endorsement for Ca? I just moved from NJ to CA and I'm dying.. I have a job, but no license! So far they are patient, but I don't know for how long.

thanks for your time,

Jenny

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I believe here in CA and in TX you are held to the license you are working under for that day. I think the challenge is in limiting yourself and staying withing your role and knowing you can get into trouble if you are at the job as a CNA and passing pills. I also believe in Long term care it is a bit more difficult to cross that nurse CNA line.

Here is a link to the TX BON webpage stating that individuals choosing to work in a position lower than their level of licensure are still held to the standards of their highest level of licensure, regardless of their title or role on a given day.

Bad Request

California is more vague; all I could find was a BRN statement about dual licensure (RN and LVN) saying "... However, we caution the RN accepting such a position that although the LVN job description may limit the scope of practice of the dual licensee while functioning in a particular position, it is the position of this Board that, regardless of employment status, the RN is required to act as a patient advocate and to provide care that is in the best interest of the patient."

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-02.pdf

In addition to whatever various BONs say or don't say, the courts over the years have held people to the standards of their highest level of education and licensure, regardless of what their job title may be on a particular day (not that the chances are great that something is going to go pear-shaped enough at work on any given day that you're going to end up in court, granted). You can't just turn an RN license on and off. If you're a licensed RN, you're a licensed RN, regardless.

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