Precepting & A Broken Heart...

[p2o8]

:angryfire:hdvwl::cry:i :crying2:am going to be doing my precepting in august. sadly we have to find our own facility to do this at. i have been given a great oppurtunity to do this on a med-surg floor and in the or. sadly today i learned that the hospital organization that owns both hospitals i would have been at will not allow lpn's to precept there:( please don't get me wrong i have worked as a stna for six years in geriatrics. it is not that i do not find reward and enjoyment from helping them.this is just not what i want for my career. now i am left with no choice but to do geriatrics. i always assumed that it is in your best intrest to precept in the field you want to work. i was informed that this conglomerate of hospitals does want to do a precept program with lpn d/t they would rather have rn's. i plan on going back for my rn, just not right now, i need a break from school. i am so hurt right now that i have even considered dropping out of school and just going for my rn. if we are valued so unworthy to work in a hospital setting what the heck is the point in being an lpn. also why do they allow us to go there to do clinicals? today after i got this heartbreaking news, i checked our local paper for job listings as an lpn. the only places hiring for lpn is a dr office or geriatrics. i feel as though all this hard work has been for nothing. that since i don't have a disposable income to do a 4yr program that what i have accomplished doesn't mean a dam thing! school is stressfull enough. i sure did not need to hear this. we need an icon of someone kicking you when your down.

:watherthunderstormc

[Fiona59]

Ok, back in the dark ages when I was a student, I really wanted to do womens health for my final placement. The place I really wanted wouldn't even take RN students and the hospital would only take me if I did 12 hour shifts (which due to family reasons was impossible).

I located a geriatric day programme that was willing to take me. I honestly knew that I wouldn't make it if I went to LTC. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Honed some skills, met some great nurses, and enjoyed most of the patient interaction because they were a population I could relate to. Some came back from acute care to the programme and we were responsible for the wound care that otherwise would have been done by homecare.

That final placement can be what you make of it. And yup, now I'm back in acute care. The managers at the hospital valued that experience because I worked with a diverse group of the elderly with varying degrees of health.

You just have to sell yourself and your experiences.

Good Luck.

[missjennmb]

I'm finding the same thing here, albeit before I've even started class. I was told the reason they have this nursing program (its a new addition to my local CC) is because of the nursing shortage, but then I start looking for jobs and there are VERY few LPN jobs at all and those there are, are mostly in nursing homes.

The good news is, it takes a year off of RN school, so I can get my LPN, get some experience in anywhere they'll take me (I too am hoping to avoid geriatrics, but I figure I can deal with anything for a year or two if I need to) and it will propel me through the RN program. Its not for nothing I promise! Just the fact that you get to skip the 1st half of your RN prog alone makes it worthwhile. Plus you'll be ahead of your game when you do go because you'll have some time in the field.

Chin up! We can make it! This is a small hurdle on the path to our dreams, not a roadblock!

[MAmom81]

I'm finding the same thing here, albeit before I've even started class. I was told the reason they have this nursing program (its a new addition to my local CC) is because of the nursing shortage, but then I start looking for jobs and there are VERY few LPN jobs at all and those there are, are mostly in nursing homes.

The good news is, it takes a year off of RN school, so I can get my LPN, get some experience in anywhere they'll take me (I too am hoping to avoid geriatrics, but I figure I can deal with anything for a year or two if I need to) and it will propel me through the RN program. Its not for nothing I promise! Just the fact that you get to skip the 1st half of your RN prog alone makes it worthwhile. Plus you'll be ahead of your game when you do go because you'll have some time in the field.

Chin up! We can make it! This is a small hurdle on the path to our dreams, not a roadblock!

I totally agree with you. because once I finish school I will work in an LTC facility for a year or two also if I have too & then go for my RN because my CC does the samething as yours by letting me skip a year of the RN Program and the big bonus is that you get experience in the nursing field as a nurse & that will help you out in so many ways once you are in the RN Program!!!!

[Jules A, MSN]

It depends a on the area where you live because here there are still a few hospitals and other facilities that hire LPNs however as we all know it is mostly LTC for LPNs. Your preceptorship as a LPN should be in keeping with realistic LPN opportunities. While I understand your disappointment it isn't unusual so please don't take it personally.

Perhaps you can call around or even better hit up all your hospital contacts and see if anyone will let you do it on their unit. That is how I got a good spot for one of mine. Was there a unit at the hospital where you made a particularily good impression on one of the nurses? As with anything its often who you know. Think outside the box, is there a LTC facility that includes a rehab-wing? That might be more interesting with tons of good skills to practice.

Good luck and if nothing else just pay your dues, avail yourself to any opportunities that present and remember that it won't be long before you graduate.