20 yrs Total nursing years (15 yrs RN and 5 yrs LVN years floor not required to float

[CFern1]

Hello fellow nurses!

I am a permanent employee at this county hospital who have worked those number of years (combination RN and LVN years). I know that if you are a RN for 20 years, you are not required to float. But my question is what if you worked 15 yrs as a RN and 5 yrs as a LVN, would the LVN count as seniority years as well? So that’s a total of 20 yrs seniority right?

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

40 minutes ago, CFern1 said:

I know that if you are a RN for 20 years, you are not required to float.

That answer is entirely dependent on your facility. There is no industry-wide standard number of years after which nurses never have to float, or whether or not years as an LVN count. In your case, it may be a hospital-based policy, or it may be a unit-based policy.

Either way, I'd ask your manager; s/he should be able to tell you whether or not your experience as an LVN will count. Nobody on this forum can answer your question for you--the only people who will know the answer with certainty are people (like management, your union rep, HR) who are familiar with your facility's specific policy.

[CFern1]

I actually have inquired about it from my charge nurse and manager, as well as human resources staff and whoever that I can think of. They say it’s only the RN years ( per our Memorandum of understanding).
The thing is, they’re phasing out the LVNs (In hospitals) in California or the ones that have been there longer than me retired (all I know before like 5 yrs ago was there was an LVN that didnt float anymore after 20 yrs; There is no mention of any LVN & RN years. So unfortunately, I didn’t have an answer. The reason for this thread is just for comparison as far as how it is in other hospitals in other states that (still hires LVNs that get their RNs). Who happen to be in the same situation as me.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

What a cool policy.

It really doesn't matter what your our our opinion is, it's your facilities answer that will dictate the answer.

However, it is my opinion that I agree that 20 years of bedside nursing both LVN and RN counts as 20 years and should be on a do-not-float list.

[amoLucia]

You're employed in a COUNTY facility. I'm guessing that it's union.

Get an answer from your union. Your particular local can reach out to other related union facilities for information with which you could provide to make your case.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

My system never has people exempt from floating depending on their unit. I worked ER they don’t float. I know IiCU could get floated to tele but went by travelers first, then per firm, then part time (all seniority based) then finally full time.
Your policy is probably rare and likely won’t have too many systems with similar rules.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

It's ironic, as the most experienced people should be more competent than newer nurses on the different floors if they floated...

[CFern1]

Thanks Everyone for the info!
I was able to find out that with my 15 years RN seniority, anyone under 10 years seniority floats b4 me. Will still float/rotate with another nurse if their in the same category as myself. Anyone over 16yrs-20yrs are more senior than me. I still wish my 5 yrs LVN years count. (Still trying to go to upper mgt., to make it count as county service years).