This is a long vent post. Sorry, have to vent. I think it's safe to say I may be done with nursing, & feel like I barely began it. I'm a 33 year old female, married, mom of two great kids! I became an LPN in 2008 through my local community college. I am a stay at home mom and have mostly needed part time & PRN jobs because of my kids. I have had several part time LPN jobs since becoming an LPN in '08, and have yet to find one I like. I think I may have chosen the wrong career. I am seriously thinking of going back to school to be a dental hygienist (what I wanted to be in high school), surgical tech, or an elementary school teacher.
I am currently working as a health screener LPN, and it's the best LPN job I've had so far. I work as a contractor LPN. I go in with other nurses & set up health screening sites for companies. We do height & weight, BP checks, cholesterol screenings, and BMI screenings. I work when I want, good hourly pay, great schedule for moms. But I don't get near as many hours as I would at a regular LPN job, have to drive quite far to clinic sites, & the work isn't steady. I also rarely work with the same people, and it's hard to get to know each other.
I was excited after making it through LPN school, and receiving my LPN license. I was excited to have a job where I got to truly help people, and make a great living for doing so... That was until I took my first LPN job. The first job I had was in a nursing home. That place was a NIGHTMARE! 24 pts. to one nurse, no help from staff, combative patients, foul-mouthed unprofessional LPNs, and everyone working there was in a terrible mood. Plus, the place smelled awful. It was the most depressing atmosphere I'd ever been in, and I pray I never end up in a place like that when I'm elderly. I quit and then moved on to the second job, which was a nightmare as well.
I thought it was a dream job at first. This was in an urgent care an hour from my home. The nurse manager who hired me said it was a "great place to work." She said, "friendly, helpful staff, always get 30 min to an hour for lunch, the urgent care didn't get too busy, time to chart, etc. Friendly, helpful doctors." This place was anything but everything she said. My first night was a nightmare! As soon as I arrived the LPN in charge of the floor looked at me and said "who are you?!" very rudely. I explained that I was the new LPN and excited to start working there. She just rolled her eyes at me & didn't say a word. I thought how rude & unprofessional! We seen over 100 pts. in one night to three LPNs in that urgent care!! Every single doctor & nurse I worked with was rude & nasty to me. I was coughed on, threw up on, caught the flu, & brought it home to my baby that week, etc! I got 5-10 minutes in my car for lunch, & an LPN weighing about 100 lbs. more than me started bullying my first night, and I lasted about 4 or 5 shifts there. I stayed in the bathroom about in tears the last two shifts. If I'd stayed any longer, I would've had a nervous breakdown. I took two years off after that to raise my kids, and rest my nerves. Fortunately, my husband is an engineer, and makes a good living for our family. He has allowed me to stay home with my kids, and work when I want. (yes, I'm extremely blessed to have a husband like this, and am greatful for him)
After taking two years off from nursing, I heard through a friend who was a receptionist, her boss who was a doctor, was looking for an LPN. She wanted a nurse to work part time in her private practice. She said it was a relaxed atmosphere, and would be a good place to work since I'm also a busy mom. She said the doctor was flexible with work schedules. I went in for an interview, and was hired out of 14 other nursing/medical assistant applicants! I was so excited. The doctor was a dermatologist, and it was a small practice in a rural town 25 minutes from my house. The doctor only paid $9.50 an hour, but I didn't mind as she was flexible with my schedule, and it seemed like a relaxed place to work. That was until my first day. I worked with one other nurse there, and we were worked to absolute death in this place! I worked there about 6 months before hitting my breaking point and letting that job go as well. We were SCREAMED at on a regular basis in front of patients by the doctor & office manager, we roomed patients, charted, called patients back, assisted with surgeries, cleaned surgical tools, were made to clean the office (yes, even toilets, and I did not go to nursing school to do maid work), removed stitches from infected wounds (I thought this was something the doctor should be doing), gave injections, assisted patients with photo light therapy, assisted with Botox injections, sold makeup, and other skin products, etc. The other LPN & I were doing the work of 10 nurses at low pay. I would sit at the nurses station and envy the receptionists who were making close to the same pay as me, while they answered the phone & played on their computers. I gave my two week notice after six months and left. I never regretted it either. I have been home since.
I have been taking college classes towards my associate in science & arts degrees, and have lots of credits through my local community college. I just can't decide what I want to do yet. My husband is getting frustrated with me considering changing careers. He knows I worked hard and spent a lot of money to be an LPN. I just don't know if nursing is for me anymore.I did not become an LPN to be yelled at, talked to rudely, & worked to death for very low pay. I knew nursing was hard when I went in to it, but nothing prepared me for the depressive atmosphere until I actually went in to it. I also know not all nursing jobs are terrible, I just haven't seemed to find a decent one yet. Any other LPNs/RNs starting to feel this way? Thanks... sorry so long...
