don't know if nursing is right for me!!

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi, I am a new grad LPN, just started a job in the middle of January at a LTC/special care (HIV/AIDS...so not all of our patients are geriatric). The work is ok, but i'm really starting to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what I'm doing and everyone is talking about me not knowing what to do!! They left me alone as the "charge nurse" to make assignments for 3 CNAs and 3 CNA orientees, with some patients going out to clinic with escorts and so on and so forth, then going to morning report, and the patients asking me for pain medication the first thing I walk thru the elevators at 8am. I couldn't even start my 10am med pass til 10:30!! And on top of that, because the CNA's were understaffed, they were complaining about their assignments. The time they spent to sit there and complain they could've used to start their assignments!! I've never had a bad day like yesterday, but I was just overwhelmed. This facility also has issues starting from management downward, even with scheduling. Schedules come out 1 month in advance, and sure enough, when there are not enough nurses, they are calling people at the last minute to float. SO there will only be 1 nurse on a floor. I find this ridiculous, and I'm really starting to think nursing is not for me. I want to try pediatrics, but I don't know how to get into it. The thought of starting all over somewhere else frustrates me. I wanted to get into the union first and then leave. Now the facility is worse, trying to catch up on a year's worth of paperwork because the state survey is coming anytime soon. So the pressure is on the nurses. I am attending school for my RN, I would really hate to leave the field and know that i wasted so much time on my RN. I think my issue is the field I'm in, any advice on how to bow out gracefully from this LTC after just 2 month of employment? And where I should go?

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Start over somewhere else. I just came out of a similar situation - made me charge after four months on nights - and went after my license after a bad day. See the "Pick up malpractice" thread.

Their willingness to thrust an inexperienced new nurse into such a situation exemplifies their disregard for both patients and staff. Get out now.

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Oh, and as an LPN, you're pretty much stuck in LTC or a doctor's office. The only LPN's I know doing cool stuff have been doing it since the earth was forming. But there ARE good LTC's out there.

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LPN's are not limited to doctor's offices and LTC in the Atlanta area. In fact, LPN's are hired at several hospitals in and around Atlanta. There is a misconception that LPN's can't get a job anywhere --- other than boring stuff -- and that's not true --- atleast in my area.

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suesquatch is kinda right. here in the nyc area, there are lpns in the hospitals, but few. most are in ambulatory care and lpn's basically run ltc's. i would just like to know how i can bow out of this place gracefully. and how would i explain to another employer why i was only there for 2 months???? i just can't say "ltc wasn't for me".

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I also am in agreement with suesquatch. I am in Canada and even here, the opportunities for LPN's vary with where you live but make no mistake about it, most hospitals other than Alberta hire RN's mainly and in the future will be trying to hire all RN's. It is hard starting out in this situation because you are not experienced and the only places to get experience are those with licence risking working conditions. I know because I am in this situation right now.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I also live in NYC, and thus far, I have not had any real difficulty with opportunities. I do work in a municipal hospital that paid my way through school to become an LPN. I work in a clinic, but that was sort of by choice. I do admit, though, that the pay sucks at this hospital compared to long term care. I work for two great agencies that pay decently. There is home care, corrections, assisted living, etc... What I do find is that many LPNs are not that interested in this type of work and different people have different views on what is available (meaning that some LPNs want more that what I've mentioned), but, I can't say that I met many LPNs in my particular area that were starving or didn't have a way to make a living.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I think that you need to search for another place to work. Maybe you can try and not mention this place at all, if you are a recent graduate and have only been there for two months...it may not be worth mentioning at all. I would not be so quick to throw away the towel for the RN if that is your goal. It sounds to me that, unfortunately, you are currently working for a place that sucks like lemons. In terms of where to go, that is hard to say...it depends on where you live. I have a side job at an agency (home care) that pays me more for three days of work than what I bring home in two weeks. I walked in there and was honest...I had no experience and was a new grad. They took me, anyway, and I decided to be careful with what cases I would accept. I visited my client and checked out the environment before I started working there. You may be able to consider that. Keep us posted!

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i would just like to know how i can bow out of this place gracefully. and how would i explain to another employer why i was only there for 2 months???? i just can't say "ltc wasn't for me".

Ask about different facilities. People know. As an example, I grew up in Staten Island and everyone knew where one would and would not want Gramma placed. Where they'd put her is where you want to work.

Your reason for leaving is, "I was being asked to perform duties for which I am not qualified by experience. I was charge, and I do not have sufficient knowledge to identify emergent situations. I felt that I was putting my license and my residents at risk."

Other places know the current one's reputation. Don't worry.

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I think that you need to search for another place to work. Maybe you can try and not mention this place at all, if you are a recent graduate and have only been there for two months...it may not be worth mentioning at all.

I don't know if I should just NOT mention it. I want to get into the 1199 Union and I have to work there for 3 months before I get in. I don't know if not disclosing my current employment would cost me not getting into the union. I think the new employer would find out sooner or later.

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I am dreading going in to work tomorrow, I am researching other majors that I may want to switch to. I am considering Dietetics, it seems like something I would really enjoy. But I don't want to give up on nursing altogether. I am so confused and I think I am making a bigger situation of this than it really is!!! I keep telling myself that other people have it worse than me, trying to stay positive, but it really sucks "like lemons" (lol) when you know you have to work tomorrow and don't know what floor you'll be put on and what situation you'll be in!! Sorry just venting...

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PPLPN~

I too took an overwhelming LTC job right out of school and left after ONE DAY. It was awful and I was asked to pass meds I didnt pull, the whole thing overwhemed me and I freaked out and called them after my **** and told them I regretted to inform tehm I would not be returning. That was in July 06 and I havnt worked since. I think it shook my confidence and now I'm petrified to go out and look for another job. In all honesty, I had a lap band done the end of Jan 07 and am just now feeling like I'm mentally ready to jump back in. It's going to be hard for me, since I've no experience, but I'm going to try my best. Please keep me in ya'll prayers.

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