Can a RN work as a LPN?

I graduate from nursing school in May 2012. I live in Illinois and plan on moving to Austin, Texas that summer. I have ZERO nursing experience, I had a CNA license, but never worked as one and now my license is expired. I am job shadowing at a university health services facility and volunteering at a crisis center for women.

I have been looking around for new graduate nursing jobs and CANNOT find any jobs in the Austin area that hire graduate nurses. And if they hire them, the new grad nurses go through an internship with interviews that I can't just fly down for. I didn't realize how bad the job market was for new grad RNs.

Since I have NO experience, I'm thinking about working in a clinic for a year or two just to get my feet on the ground. Unfortunately, the only clinic openings I have found are LPN. Can RNs apply for LPN jobs in Texas? I don't even care if I take a pay cut. I just need something.

Thanks!
Yes... but you can't sign LPN after your name if you don't have that credential. HR might not select you because you are an RN and they will assume you don't want to be paid clinical LPN wages. Also, you will be held accountable as an RN (by the BON) regardless of the position being for an LPN.

Can a physician work as a physician assistant?You can't actually work as an LPN. You can take the pay of an LPN, but you will still be an RN and held to the standards of an RN. If you don't have an active LPN license, you can't legally represent yourself as an LPN (i.e. signing LPN after your name).

You can always ask And if you're not limited to metro-Austin, the smaller communities (I was in both Austin, and the Hill Country) are more likely to give a new grad a chance.....This has come up - maybe some of this might help http://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=...-discussion%2F

You can certainly apply to a job listed for an LPN. They might entertain hiring an RN if one is interested. But, as others have said, your license is that of an RN and you would be held to the standards of an RN.

On top of what everyone else has said, here's another point to consider.I would be cautious of a company that knowingly hires RNs for LVN level work. I know of a few companies that take advantage of the glut of new grad RNs and their HR departments might as well have a revolving door. Patient care is obviously choppy but these companies keep on staffing live bodies as long as said live bodies do not have more promising job prospects. I understand that you are in a very difficult situation but do think about your future employer's workplace culture and level of respect for their staff.

Most likely not. If you are you will be held to your RN standard of practice.

Quote from lsid16i graduate from nursing school in may 2012. i live in illinois and plan on moving to austin, texas that summer. i have zero nursing experience, i had a cna license, but never worked as one and now my license is expired. i am job shadowing at a university health services facility and volunteering at a crisis center for women. i have been looking around for new graduate nursing jobs and cannot find any jobs in the austin area that hire graduate nurses. and if they hire them, the new grad nurses go through an internship with interviews that i can't just fly down for. i didn't realize how bad the job market was for new grad rns. since i have no experience, i'm thinking about working in a clinic for a year or two just to get my feet on the ground. unfortunately, the only clinic openings i have found are lpn. can rns apply for lpn jobs in texas? i don't even care if i take a pay cut. i just need something. thanks!

You can apply and get hired....but you will be working as an RN and held to those standards and legal obligations but the employer gets to use your RN license that you worked hard for at a LPNs salary. I have noticed this is becoming a trend in clinics.....hiring RN's for LPN pay and using the RN license to fulfill RN and LPN duties therefore taking advantage of the new grads in need of work. That makes the employer a predator.......pred-a-tor(prd-tr, -t�r) n. 1. An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.2. One that victimizes, plunders, or destroys, especially for one's own gain

Quote from CuddleswithpuddlesOn top of what everyone else has said, here's another point to consider.I would be cautious of a company that knowingly hires RNs for LVN level work. I know of a few companies that take advantage of the glut of new grad RNs and their HR departments might as well have a revolving door. Patient care is obviously choppy but these companies keep on staffing live bodies as long as said live bodies do not have more promising job prospects. I understand that you are in a very difficult situation but do think about your future employer's workplace culture and level of respect for their staff.

Yes and no. You can legally perform all of the LVN's duties. However, you are NOT a LVN as that is a licensure that is entirely separate from RN licensure, so you could not represent yourself as a LVN. Also, keep in mind that if anything happens, as far as BONs go you are expected to act to the standards of a RN.If you want the job, insist that you be hired as a RN and that is your job title with HR. That way if future employers call to verify your employment they will report that you work there as a RN. Whether you are willing to accept LVN wages is your own business. But for your own protection, don't ever let yourself be hired as anything other than a RN.

Not here in Jersey. It would be like me saying I know nursing backwards and forwards. Almost 41 years in the profession I think I'll work as an RN. Can't be done. Bedside nursing is bedside nursing. Only one way to give a bedpan, But interrupting lab values are something else.

I have an LPN license and an RN license, the Nevada BON told me that I could keep both but when I punched in at work I must work within the scope of practice that was consistent with the license that I was using for that shift. For instance, I could not come to work for an LPN shift and then do IV push medications. If I were you I would just wait until I were offered an RN position, because that is a fine line to walk. By the way, I placed my LPN license on inactive status to avoid confusion.