working as a nursing assistant with RN license

[Sweetme2]

I got my nursing license in 2016 but never worked as a nurse. My license is still active. However, I work as a nursing assistant. I suffer from major anxiety and got too comfortable working as an assistant. I saw the nurses working sooo hard and what they go through. But now, I want to overcome my fears and actually work as a RN. I feel like if I tell my hospital, I'd get fired because I was working as a NA with a RN license. I was thinking I should apply as a new graduate nurse in other places. Any suggestions?

[Nurse4lifewithparrots]

I'm surprised no one answered this yet but I have always heard that those with active RN licenses working under their scope are still held liable under that license in the court of law. So for example if a patient you were assigned to got hurt and the family sued, you would be held accountable under your nursing license. The law holds you accountable to act accordingly under your license to prevent harm, regardless of whether your facility does. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. In my opinion, I would work with a therapist to help you decide if you want to start working as a nurse and help your anxiety.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Working as an unlicensed nursing assistant while holding an RN license isn't the best decision you could have made. There are potential legal issues, if an adverse event happens you can and likely will be held accountable to the level of of your license despite not functioning in that role.  

I would also avoid applying to those nursing positions that are specific to a new grad. Having obtained your license in 2016 you are decidedly not a new grad despite never having worked as an RN. That's a pretty large  time gap between being licensed and beginning your nursing career to explain. 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I agree that you will be held to your RN license . I don't know what your facility would do if they found out you had been working as an assistant, with RN licensure. I don't know how other facilities would take that either. Perhaps you could get started in home health or private duty.

Good luck, you're in a pickle for sure.

[Curious1alwys, BSN, RN]

You work hard too, as a nursing assistant. No matter what you do the anxiety will not just go away, hopefully you can find something to adequately manage it. 

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I highly encourage you to look into an RN refresher course, you have been out of school for 7 years.

As others mentioned working in a UAP role while holding an LPN/RN license is not the greatest of ideas as you will be held to the standard of the license you hold, should something occur to a patient under your care. 

Be prepared for your potential new employer to ask you why you have not worked as an RN since graduating nursing school. Best of luck!