Not Learning anything New.....

agldragonRN · Feb 1, 2012

ok, i have a job in homecare.
i am an lpn. i do not feel i am learning anything new.
overall, i like home care. i really do.
but i am not using many of my nursing skills.
i am "scared" to leave my job, because it is very stable and gives me full time hours.
i don't want to be trapped though. and as you all know...the economy sucks.
willing to hear anyone and everyone's .

maybe you can do per-diem/agency at snf or ltc? you will learn tons of stuff there.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 1, 2012

I am surprised you feel you aren't learning anything new.

Isn't each patient dfferent, with a different set of needs?

I'm sure they all have psych issues, financial problems, etc. Try adding additional support you can guide them to through the community.Home bound patients have a ton of needs.

MinnieMomRN · Feb 1, 2012

Hi Pat,

It is hard to think about leaving a steady job in this economy, so you might have to think outside the box. Perhaps take a class in a new area to support your nursing practice? It could be something to further develop your clinical skills or to add to your daily skills -- like Reiki. Or there are tons of volunteer opportunities for nurses -- shelters, schools, after-school programs, non-profits... Do something that you enjoy.

I know it's difficult to do when you are already working FT, but I think being challenged is part of avoiding burn-out. I know that for me, the day I stop learning is the day they put me in the ground ;-)

Best wishes!

~Minnie

allnurses Guide · Feb 1, 2012

Are you doing visits or 1:1 private duty care?

If it's visits you should be learning or gaining experience in a variety of diagnoses and nursing interventions as well as seeing the client/pt in the home environment which I think is invaluable.

I started out in a hospital before I did anything else, but the skills I used there were all new anyway because it was a peds hospital.

I found myself doing private duty cases and worried about being bored but I learned so much by doing this that is not abc, step-by-step stuff that was just as meaningful and enriching to me as a nurse. I learned how to take care of vent patients which opened an entirely new area for me.

How often do we say (at least I did) "I wish I had the time to just talk with my patient for longer than 3 minutes" - in home care you have that chance, and the extended time gives you a window into what it's like to actually live in the world with a disability or chronic condition.

Yes - full time hours are getting darn near irreplaceabe now depending on your location. Just some thoughts :twocents:

pat8585 · Feb 1, 2012

thanks to all your replies.

I do 1:1 visits. I work in a small agency, and I have not had any

new patients in over a year.

Although I like my job overall, I am not challenged anymore.

Right now I work only with ONE client.

I lean towards taking a class of some kind.

But I also want to put into practice more nursing skills.

Guess I have thinking to do.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Feb 1, 2012

At some point, you've done it all and there just aren't that many new challenges, unless you like changing specialities every year. Just be happy you have a job, and look for ways to make it more interesting. There is nothing wrong with coasting along doing a good job for a while. It might be a good time to get some education that you can tuck away for the future. I used a period like that to get my Masters.

caliotter3 · Feb 2, 2012

Security versus adventure. You have to make the choice, or do what many do, hold two or more jobs in different areas.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Feb 2, 2012

I agree with taking a class. Maybe one of the ones on the LPN-to-RN route. It might stretch your mind in ways you didn't think were possible. At least, that's what my classes are doing.

For me, the BSN-to-MSN route feels like it's job security insurance, too.