CNA to LVN to ADN - I thought getting my RN would open more doors for me.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Nurse Beth,

I'll start with a little background about myself. I started first as a CNA which I hated for many reasons, got my LVN in 2012, and now my ADN in 2015. I started as a LVN at an urgent care clinic and I'm still here. I thought after I got my RN so many more doors would be open. I'm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I've always been behind. When I got my LVN they were phased out of hospitals and LTAC's are a death sentence for your license. Now with ADN everyone is going magnet. I will hopefully be starting a BSN program this fall. At my job there are not very many IV opportunities or blood draws due to having a lab tech. My skills in that area are very lacking. Through school I found out what I didn't want to do but not a lot of clarity on what I do want. I've been looking into OR but with terrible IV skills and most requiring BSN. I think that the longer I stay where I'm at the more skills I'm going to lose. Yet, I don't think getting a med surg job which I would hate would benefit me at all except make me more burnt out. There are surgical internships out there but for BSN. What I'm asking is would it be wise of me to wait until I have my BSN to make a job move? Hold out for an internship?

Dear Still an LVN,

It's best to get your first entry level RN job as soon as possible, given that you graduated in 2015. There is about a one year window of time in which you are considered a new grad. New grads are eligible for transition to practice or residency programs, but non-new grads, even without experience, are not. The clock is ticking. If by hold out for an internship” you mean wait until you have your BSN and are offered a residency in OR- no, that would not be wise.

Take what you can get right now. Contrary to your belief, getting a med surg job as a new RN would benefit you tremendously. After one -two years in med surg, you are marketable and have many more options available to you.

Don't worry about your IV skills. IV skills are the least of your concerns right now. New grads are not hired based on their IV skills. Your main concern should be landing your first RN job.

As far as deciding ahead of time that you will be burnt out”, try it and see. You are making some self-defeating and limiting assumptions. You have a lot to learn. Give yourself time to grow and discover what is the right fit for you.

Best,

Nurse Beth

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I'm curious. Why do you feel that LTACHs are a "death sentence for your license"? The only things that can impact your license are your own decisions and actions. Do you feel that these environments push nurses into license violations? How?

I'm just looking for insight.

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I can answer that question, You will have 22 to 44 residents to give medication to in a one hour window, IT AIN'T HAPPENING. When I worked as the only nurse on a weekend night, it took me 3 hours to pass my medications. It didn't include the treatments. Documentation is not honest unfortunately. not to mention when a new admission arrived. You have to leave your med cart, which means again a late med pass.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I can answer that question, You will have 22 to 44 residents to give medication to in a one hour window, IT AIN'T HAPPENING. When I worked as the only nurse on a weekend night, it took me 3 hours to pass my medications. It didn't include the treatments. Documentation is not honest unfortunately. not to mention when a new admission arrived. You have to leave your med cart, which means again a late med pass.

Ok? There are nurses out there who have taken a job in an LTAC to then transition into hospital nursing. A job is only as bad as you make it.

Also OP, have you thought about relocating? If you're having difficulty finding a job as an ADN, why don't you move to find a job? But I definitely wouldn't wait until you get your BSN or else people will be weary of hiring you.

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Specializes in pcu.

OP Baylor University Medical Center recently opened up it residency for new grads which I think begins in September. They have tons of specialities available, even OR. I just started in the June residency and there's a girl on my floor with her ADN so don't give up hope. Start applying now and keep your options open. BUMC is a great hospital to work for!!

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Apply at a Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital. They hire ADN's and will pay for you to get your BSN. You'll build a solid foundation of med surg skills with 5 primary care patients max or 10 patients with a tech. We do IV's, picc line draws/care, trach care, peg tubes, wound care, wound vacs, osteomyelitis care, etc. I'm on my 3rd year there and love it! Learn something new everyday.

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Specializes in ICU, Neuro ICU, LTACH.

I am curious. Twenty two to 44 residents in a med pass? Are you confusing LTAC with LTC? (Or did the original poster possible mean LTC?) I work LTAC, which is long term acute care, and very different from long term care. I don't believe there is an LTAC with that ratio, but it could be possible in LTC. LTAC patients are mostly step-down ICU, usually either on a ventilator, or some type of gtt, and very sick.

Just curious.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/.

Yes she is talking about LTC not LTAC....I could say be lucky she had only 44. Some have more. I worked at an LTAC in FL on contract. It was great. When census went down I went to neuropsych,tele,med-surg. I enjoyed the change. Last yr did one in WF. I loved the Nurses and we had 4-6 pt. census was low.....LTAC would be good experience for new grads....

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