hate being a LVN

OK so I have been working in a Long Term Care Facility for almost a year and I really don't like it. The patients are very rude, and disrespectful and some family memebers .some of the staff is the same way, from the RN to other LVN's, admin.. being a nurse was always my dream. I always wanted to help people and I wanted to continue to climb and go on the be a RN. But being a LVN is nothing like what I thought it would be.. it's to the point to where I wake up every day dreading going to work, I work long hours, double shifts, sometimes I do an 11-7 and come right back for a 3-11 shift. The work load is very overwhelming and stressful... sad but I feel like a made a bad career choice.

Fast way to burn out. Put in your 36 hours and call it a week. Especially in your first year.

I work a large practice during the week and do a subacute on the weekends. While I love the facility I'm at and what I'm learning I would not want to do it long term ( the subacute). It goes double for LTC. It's just not my thing and that's ok I only do it to round out my skills. Ambulatory nursing I truly enjoy. You just need to find what you like. Most nurses I met don't like LTC or like their patients enough to stay. There are plenty of non LTC options for lpns ( as for actual jobs in those option that's area dependent). Getting your RN will open up all nursing has to offer. See your dissatisfaction with being an LVN not as a dissatisfaction with nursing but with a dissatisfaction with a small part of nursing.

I work a large practice during the week and do a subacute on the weekends. While I love the facility I'm at and what I'm learning I would not want to do it long term ( the subacute). It goes double for LTC. It's just not my thing and that's ok I only do it to round out my skills. Ambulatory nursing I truly enjoy. You just need to find what you like. Most nurses I met don't like LTC or like their patients enough to stay. There are plenty of non LTC options for lpns ( as for actual jobs in those option that's area dependent). Getting your RN will open up all nursing has to offer. See your dissatisfaction with being an LVN not as a dissatisfaction with nursing but with a dissatisfaction with a small part of nursing.

True that.

try a Plasma or blood donation centers, RED CROSS, CSL, BIOMAT and others, im currently switching from long term care to a plasma center, and i have to say its very different- you get to work with more young people and once you leave work you dont have that feeling of: "shoot maybe i forgot to do something or a treatment"... its a whole different world out there...

and at a blood donation place- people come out of their own will so naturally they are "willing to donate" so they will be more happy :)

hope this helps

Ever thought about advancing your education? or change of job? Good luck.

Working long term care for just under a year was the final kick in the butt I needed to go on to finish my degree that I started a decade and a half ago. There are many different things that you can do as an LPN that don't involve a LTC facility but the opportunities are much greater if you advance your career. Another thing to do is see if you possibly not work shifts back to back like that, that's a killer. by the time you get home, wind down, and maybe sleep you have to be back into work. It's a safety risk if you are not rested enough to be cognizant of what you are doing. Also, it sounds like a poor work environment with the attitudes of the staff. The grass isn't always greener on the other side and some other facilities will have issues like this too but it isn't like that everywhere. Check around, see if there isn't another facility that treats their employees better and has staff that work as a team. They are out there. Good luck.

I agree with a lot of what has been said here, working in LTC is tough and not for everyone, including myself. I also agree its only a small part of nursing as an LPN. Do not limit yourself. I branched out to one-on one hospice, but then decided home health was really my niche. I get to make my own hours, see patients for 15-30 minute visits, and its only one patient at a time VS LTC facilities where they give you 30 patients or so to pass meds to. I love my work now! Best of luck! If you decide to branch out to home health, make sure thy pay on time. It may sound crazy but one place I work for pays me 2-3 weeks late, others are much better and pay is decent. $15-20 per visit. You get paid the same if your there 5 minutes or an hour which is great!

Best of luck! Never limit yourself!

I started out in LTC, was able to work my way into pediatric acute, and now I am proud to say I am an LPN in Critical Urgent ZCare, I LOVE it. LTC is hard, but trust me, you didn't pick the wrong career, you are just not in the right spot Keep looking, it will get better.

Your options are limited by your area. There are many other options for LPNs. Some are working their way back into acute - inpatient care, then there is hospice, HH, School Nursing, OutPt MD office, Blood/Plasma Donation centers, Red Cross, Assited Living, case management, etc. Start looking around and networking.