Not always feeling challenged

BrookeeLou_RN · Apr 3, 2011

First off I understand what you mean...I have felt that way in certain jobs but not HH. But I am RN and frankly get more variety in HH than you would as LPN.. due to Medicare rules with Oasis and such..

Do you have any interest in getting RN or even BSN?? That would solve your problem and you would love a nice non-challenging job while in school.

I do not know how far you will get with VA or Indian health as LPN but they are fine places to get challenged. Best of luck with whatever you decide.. I know people thought I was a nut for giving up non-challenging gravy job but my personality is such it was stressing me out more than anything!! Life is to short to be unhappy.

caliotter3 · Apr 3, 2011

I think you should obtain an RN license. You can expand upon your home health duties immensely by taking on the role of the RN in home health. For that matter, you will find more opportunities in other specialties as well.

neuroms · Apr 3, 2011

I agree with both above posters. Even if it's not pursuing your RN or BSN, getting more education is one sure way of challenging yourself. I like the Reservation Nursing idea as well. Education and adventure are the finer things in life.

DPSGraduateNurse · Apr 3, 2011

Just go back to school for RN, you'll get some challenge there I'm sure!

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

ok, I want to start off by saying I like my job well enough, and I am very thankful to have one in this cruddy economy. I am a LPN, working home care. I get decent pay and benefits. So in some ways it is like, "if it ain't broke don't fix it".....BUT
I do not always feel like I am challenged and growing at my job. I know part of hte problem is I don't go to that many clients. I would like more variety. I think about looking for a job with the VA, or Indian Health service.
That being said, I am not in a hurry to leave my current job I do have SOME stability.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
(Forgot to say I have been a LPN about 2 years.)
Thanks everyone!:)

*** What you are experiencing is the normal, expected result of the decision you made to get in a non-challenging, boring field. I know what you are talking about. Years ago I too did HH as an LPN, for a while.

Get your RN and go to work in a CVICU or SICU if you want to feel challenged.

IHeartPeds87 · Apr 3, 2011

*** What you are experiencing is the normal, expected result of the decision you made to get in a non-challenging, boring field. I know what you are talking about. Years ago I too did HH as an LPN, for a while.
Get your RN and go to work in a CVICU or SICU if you want to feel challenged.

Wow. Harsh much? If that's what you think of an LPN, I shudder to think what your opinion of me (just a lowly uncertified caregiver) is! I'm taking prereqs for nursing school and hope to become an RN. I am also considering attending the LPN program because i'd get my foot in the door of nursing faster.

The OP did not come to this forum to be berated for her choice of career. The OP was asking for advice. You state that you were an LPN. I dislike the fact that you called being an LPN in home health as a "non-challenging, boring field." The OP is stating that she/he is bored. How is it helpful to point out the fact that 'oh it's your fault you made that decision.'

Rant over. Now, to the OP:

If you don't feel that your current job is challenging enough and you want another job then look for one! If I were you, I would stay at my current job while job hunting on the side. You may have outgrown your current position in a sense. I mean, perhaps you have 'learned all you could learn' at that position, and it may be time to find another one. I wouldn't give up your current job, with the way the market is (generally) people are finding it difficult to get jobs. Don't give up a paycheck until you know you'll get another one :) Network, Network, and Network! If you want a job at a facility or hospital and can't get one, I suggest volunteering there. You will get to know people, understand the company culture and make useful contacts. Some places even allow volunteers to apply as an 'internal candidate' and that can be a HUGE plus while looking for employment.

As some other posters have suggested, you may want to consider furthering your education and becoming an RN. Any time you get more education, it opens up more doors for you. I don't know your personal situation, but if you are in a place in your life where you can go back to school for an RN, I would recommend doing that. If you want more opportunities in your career, education is a common pathway to being eligible for a larger variety of positions.

mystory, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

Wow. Harsh much? If that's what you think of an LPN, I shudder to think what your opinion of me (just a lowly uncertified caregiver) is! I'm taking prereqs for nursing school and hope to become an RN. I am also considering attending the LPN program because i'd get my foot in the door of nursing faster.
The OP did not come to this forum to be berated for her choice of career. The OP was asking for advice. You state that you were an LPN. I dislike the fact that you called being an LPN in home health as a "non-challenging, boring field." The OP is stating that she/he is bored. How is it helpful to point out the fact that 'oh it's your fault you made that decision.'
Rant over. Now, to the OP:
If you don't feel that your current job is challenging enough and you want another job then look for one! If I were you, I would stay at my current job while job hunting on the side. You may have outgrown your current position in a sense. I mean, perhaps you have 'learned all you could learn' at that position, and it may be time to find another one. I wouldn't give up your current job, with the way the market is (generally) people are finding it difficult to get jobs. Don't give up a paycheck until you know you'll get another one :) Network, Network, and Network! If you want a job at a facility or hospital and can't get one, I suggest volunteering there. You will get to know people, understand the company culture and make useful contacts. Some places even allow volunteers to apply as an 'internal candidate' and that can be a HUGE plus while looking for employment.
As some other posters have suggested, you may want to consider furthering your education and becoming an RN. Any time you get more education, it opens up more doors for you. I don't know your personal situation, but if you are in a place in your life where you can go back to school for an RN, I would recommend doing that. If you want more opportunities in your career, education is a common pathway to being eligible for a larger variety of positions.

Wow. Sensitive much? I think she was referring to choosing Home Health as an LPN, not being an LPN.

Anyway, OP..if it's not feasible to further your education at this time, what about LTC? I know it's considered "the dungeon" of nursing by many lol, but one thing it's not is boring!

pat8585 · Apr 3, 2011

Thanks to everyone for their replies! I am open to all suggestions. Regarding pursuing an RN degree...yes, I have thought about it. But I would like to see if there could be some type of tuition re-imbursement. I know the VA has that to some extent.

One thing that has DISCOURAGED me from going back to school is that I read (and hear) that getting an RN job is quite difficult. I mean, this board is filled with lots of threads of unemployed RN's. So why go back to school to join the ranks of the unemployed?

But thanks again to everyone for their suggestions!:redbeathe

IHeartPeds87 · Apr 3, 2011

The job market is bad in general right now. That being said, I wouldn't let that prevent me from going for my RN. Up until 2007- 2008, new graduate nurses from ADN programs were typically getting multiple job offers. That wasn't THAT long ago. Plus, I wasn't aware that the job market was any better for LPN's! I say go for it!

If you are really interested in tuition reimbursement start researching. The VA does do tuition reimbursement. It's my general understanding that most facilities associated with a university offer tuition reimbursement at really high percentages for the university they are affiliated with.

That being said, I wasn't aware that facilities or hospitals would pay an LPN to go to school to get their RN. I've only heard of tuition reimbursement for RN-BSN completion programs. Don't quote me on this; it's just what i've heard.

There are still other hospitals/facilities that have a deal with some of the local or online RN-BSN programs.

You may have better luck with that portion of your question in the 'regional' tabs for your area.

Good luck to you!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

I hear so many people moaning that their job isn't exactly exciting. Your job will not always be like this, it's just the way life is. Not everything will be exciting every day - most people's jobs are fairly routine - even nursing gets boring for me (I hate day shift especially, same old routine anywhere you work!).

If you can't or don't want to study for your Ba Nursing, why don't you see if you can do som extra training courses or study thru ur work, or thru ur local college? Maybe that will give you more qualifications and you can start doing different duties.

It's good ur thankful to have a job, I would keep a hold on it I reckon. I read too many stories of unemployed, depressed people on here and I'm into mental health, so it's hard to keep their spirits up.

MegNeoNurse · Apr 5, 2011

Have you thought about getting your RN? I don't know how easy it is for LPNs to switch to different areas of nursing, but it's fairly easy for RNs. I felt unchallenged after about 2 years of being an RN in the NICU, so I switched to PICU where the pts are much sicker and it's more of an ICU environment, and I'm so happy! Best of luck with what you decide to do!