Job hunting- Considering agency.

[nursnancy, LPN, RN]

I am an LPN living in Olive Branch, MS, which is adjacent to Memphis, TN, and have a current multi-state license in the compact states. I have about 10 years of LPN experience, about 8 of which was in long term care facilities (4-1/2 yrs) and on a Geriatric Psych Unit (3-1/2 yrs). The remainder was in a family practice clinic, which was not a good fit for me. I have no experience in Med Surg. We sometimes had some pretty acutely ill pts on the Geri-Psych floor, but for the most part, they had to be more psychiatrically acute (e.g., Alzheimers pts acting out) than medically acute to be on that unit. I would like to work for an agency for the flexibility to take time off when I want to, but I'm really worried about it. I realize that my best bet of work through an agency will be long term care, and that's okay - I like the pts in long term care, but I'm worried that the agency will send me to facilities & tell me that I will have 20 or 30 pts, and I'll get there and have 40 or 60. I would not be able to handle that kind of patient load since we do not have med techs in this area - the LPN has to do all the med administration and all the charting in nursing homes here. Has anyone had that experience, and what did you do?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

That is one of the reasons I have avoided LTC; those numbers are frightening. But, what you can consider is working nights. I keep hearing that nights is usually easier to handle than the other tours.

[nursnancy, LPN, RN]

That is one of the reasons I have avoided LTC; those numbers are frightening. But, what you can consider is working nights. I keep hearing that nights is usually easier to handle than the other tours.

Thanks for your response! But I have a medical problem that precludes me from working nights - Meniere's Syndrome exacerbates if I stay up all night and get my Circadian rhythms out of whack. Otherwise nights would be attractive.