Transition from STNA to RN

I have searched all through Google for information regarding this topic without any luck, so hopefully this will shed some light on my questions and concerns!

If I have my RN licensure, can I work as an STNA in a long term care facility? Am I entitled to RN wages, or can I be required to work with STNA wages until a position opens up for me? Please let me know where you found this information, as my attempts to find it have been unsuccessful so far.
What is STNA? Whatever it is, if you accept a STNA position, you will be paid according to the STNA scale, rather than the RN scale.You can only expect to be paid RN wages if you are working as an RN. In some states it is illegal to work beneath your license but I don't know if that applies to you since I don't know what STNA means.

I continued to work as a nurse tech (student nurse) for a couple months after I passed the NCLEX. I did not represent myself as an RN to my pts, I was still paid the tech wage. I did that just until I found a position as an actual RN. My unit did not have a spot for another RN at the time, which is why I had to look elsewhere. I guess different facilities/hospitals probably have different rules, though.

Quote from roser13What is STNA? Whatever it is, if you accept a STNA position, you will be paid according to the STNA scale, rather than the RN scale.You can only expect to be paid RN wages if you are working as an RN. In some states it is illegal to work beneath your license but I don't know if that applies to you since I don't know what STNA means.

My state had put out a position statement regarding this. One could work below their license, however, you would have to function in the scope of what you were hired to do. So if you're an RN, hired to work as a CNA, then you could only function as a CNA. HOWEVER, you would be held to the highest qualification you have. If you came across something that as an RN you know is bad, but a CNA wouldn't, you would be required to report it to the RN. Even though you're working as a CNA, you are expected to still function with the knowledge of the RN but in the scope of a CNA.Because of how cloudy this can be, my state also strongly discourages working below your license, or to inactivate your license.