does working as an lpn stop the clock for rn experience?

[smartnurse1982]

In an Rn who just accepted an lpn position in a ltac facility for the time being. Would my accepting an lpn postion sttop the clock for my Rn experience and restart the clock for my lpn experience?

If someone asks about experience,could I just say"6 years experience as a nurse"?

Would it be wise for me not tell co workers I'm also an Rn?

Ps:I have both an Rn and lpn license.

[happyheatherp]

let me say this again....you do not have both licenses!! you have an rn license...the lpn is null and void once you pass the nclex-rn and become a registered nurse. any work you do....any mistakes you make....they go against your rn. if you lose your rn license d/t bon issues, that won't mean you have your lpn to fall back on....your lpn is no longer valid!!!!

i agree.....i was an lpn for years prior to obtaining my rn degree. at the time that i became an rn, my lpn license was no longer valid. maybe that is different in different states, but i have never heard of that before. you need to check your state's board of nursing site and look at your nurse practice act and make sure you are practicing in accordance with the practice act set by your state.

[smartnurse1982]

I agree.....I was an LPN for years prior to obtaining my RN degree. At the time that I became an RN, my LPN license was no longer valid. Maybe that is different in different states, but I have never heard of that before. You need to check your state's board of nursing site and look at your nurse practice act and make sure you are practicing in accordance with the practice act set by your state.

When you apply for a nursing license by endorsement in Nc, you can have both licenses endorsed at the same time. I paid for both licenses at the same time for $150. Their really isn't a difference in pay in Nc between lpns and Rn's. At my last job it was $2.00 more per hour for rn's but with all the added aggrevation.Heck,the job before that I,the rn,was getting $2.00/hr less than the lpn,and we both did the same type of job(home health)

[kcochrane]

Maybe you should call the NC BON and clarify having two licenses with them.

My understanding is that once you become an RN you can no longer

have an LPN license.

I would clarify it with the BON before you get into legal trouble.

That is a good idea..because each state is different. In NY you can hold both licenses and they are both valid. Liability is another issue that I still need to call the BON on. I plan on keeping both mine.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I understand that,but I wanted to know if that could damage ny resume.

for instance:

2/2004 -3/2008

Workes as lpn at this ltc facility

3/2008-5/2010

Worked at P. Home health Agency as an Rn

5/2010-5/2012

Worked as lpn at this ltac facility

I think it would raise eyebrows,I'm not sure. Maybe it could signal to future employers I wasn't ready for the rn role?

After re-reading your post, I think a resume like this will likely raise a red flag with future employers. It will seem like you quit the RN position to take a LPN position, most HR and nurse managers will consider this an unreasonable career move. A resume like this, makes the applicant seem like they do not have a clear sense of their career direction and /or are uncomfortable in the RN role.

The only way to consider a career move like this is if the LTC employer is providing a written agreement that you will be given the next available RN position, but your best bet is to hold onto the homecare job until you have a RN job offer. If you are no longer working in the homecare job, you might be better off continuing to apply for RN positions for a while longer, this way there will be a clear gap between the RN job and LPN job and you may be given the chance to explain your reasons for taking a LPN job to future emplyers

dishes

[caliotter3]

But the problem is I do hold an active lpn license and active rn license from Nc. There is a charge nurse there who is an lpn and has been there for years,so I don't think it will be wise for me to identify myself as an rn when I was hired as an lpn.

I would not identify myself as an RN if hired as an LPN. I intend to maintain both when I receive the RN license and should I be employed as an LVN, will identify myself as an LVN, not as an RN. Avoid confusion of all sorts.

[JustEnuff2BDangerous, BSN, RN]

I'm moderately confused by this thread.

In Oklahoma (and I know it is different for every state), you can NOT work as a LPN once you receive RN licensure, and cannot work as a CNA once you receive LPN licensure and etc. If you are a RN a facility legally cannot hire you as a LPN because that is NOT what you are licensed for. You are licensed as a RN not a LPN.

If you are hired as a LPN and you are performing a LPN's duties, I would say that yes, that does stop the clock on your RN experience because you are not receiving RN experience, you are receiving LPN experience. The function of a LPN and the function of a RN are different so therefore you would not be able to say you gained experience in the RN role at this facility. Because you didn't. You were hired as a -LPN-.

[ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN]

I was told at my current facility that because I transitioned from a LPN to an RN, its a complete role change, so my experience didn't count.

[BackfromRetirement]

I think it depends on the facility. My first job as an RN after being an LPN was Home Health. Without my LPN experience, I would not have gotten the job.

[smartnurse1982]

We can all expect more questions like this on allnurses because its an employers market,and deperate times calls for desperate situations.I just can't sit and wait for an rn position to open up. But thanks for the answers.

[caliotter3]

I'm moderately confused by this thread.

In Oklahoma (and I know it is different for every state), you can NOT work as a LPN once you receive RN licensure, and cannot work as a CNA once you receive LPN licensure and etc. If you are a RN a facility legally cannot hire you as a LPN because that is NOT what you are licensed for. You are licensed as a RN not a LPN.

If you are hired as a LPN and you are performing a LPN's duties, I would say that yes, that does stop the clock on your RN experience because you are not receiving RN experience, you are receiving LPN experience. The function of a LPN and the function of a RN are different so therefore you would not be able to say you gained experience in the RN role at this facility. Because you didn't. You were hired as a -LPN-.

I would say that your second paragraph has it dead to rights. But I would try to obfuscate this reality in an interview, should I be attempting to get an RN job and was in the position of having to present myself in the best light possible to get what I want.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

This it LTC? In just about all LTCs there is little difference between an LPN and RN. The RNs might do a bit more IVs and supervision and need to sign off on some of the LPNs work (MDS?) , but thats about it. (at least in my area)

I would call the BON to clarify this.