New grads a good idea?

[chavezm1109]

Hey y'all I'm a new LPN grad with a few months experience in mental health. I'm going to interview for home health for a better schedule to go back to school for my RN. I have heard from my clinical instructor that LPNs tend to have less responsibility. So of the patients are more acute than not is it okay for a new grad?

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

I can only speak from my experience. I hire LPN's & brand new RN's to perform less critical types of cases, for example: simple wound dressing changes, Foley Cath's, or to set up routine medications. I leave the complex cases & management to experienced R.N's.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I say go for it. One of my classmates in my LPN-BSN class was a home health nurse and she got great experience. And like you mentioned the hours were very flexible for her schedule.

[tinker_bel06]

I actually did the same thing you are doing. After LVN school I worked in Mental Health but also wanted another Pt job..HH fell in my lap and I never even thought about it. Thank goodness it did cuz I love it! I learned so much as an LVN from home health then eventually got my RN and love it even more. As an LVN you will only do Regular visits: wound care,foleys, lots of patient education on disease process and medications, lab draws, etc. Sometimes there are RN's willing to train you to do new clinical skills if you are not proficient. If you do not feel comfortable or have knowledge deficits in something, then let Supervisor know. You want to protect your license, especially if you are going for your RN. That's more school and time spent to not be able to sit for RN boards. Overall, it is doable. Helps if you get really good clinical sites in RN school and you try to absorb as much as you can.

[KaeliF]

I would say it's not a great idea for a new grad. I started HH nursing about a year out and I wish I would have stayed in the hospital for another year or so. I dunno about you but when I was new I had to ask questions CONSTANTLY and in home health there is no one to run and ask, no charge nurse, no one to say "Hey I'm not entirely sure if I need to call the MD over this (fill in the blank) can you come take a look for me?" I'v been home health nursing for a few months now and I don't feel entirely out of my element but still I think if I had stayed in the hospital a little longer I would have been way better prepared cause you learn the basics in school but you REALLY learn how to be a nurse on the job