I have no idea where I want to work. Please help

[Skwidward]

I'm an lvn student, and I graduate in the fall. I reckon I have 3 general options.

1. Hospital (med/surg)

Good-Good orientation, good experience, good base for nursing, possibility of doing 12 hr shifts which would be good for going back to college to get my RN, IV certification etc.

Bad-Pay sucks, rough job

2. Nursing home

Good-Great pay, good job, I like geris, less stress than hospital.

Bad-8 hr shifts so not so good for going back school, but could be good for online LVN-RN

3. Psych hospital

Good-This is why I originally got into nursing, the facility I'm looking at is state so good pay etc., it has criminally insane pts too.

Bad-Not sure if that's what i want to do or not

I want to get my RN, but I've been in school for so long now (I have my prereques for RN), I just feel like I wanna work for a bit. I like the sound of psych, but I feel like it's wrong to just jump straight into that without getting some experience on the floor honing my assessment skills, gaining valuable knowledge etc. or even knowing if that's really where I wanna work. I like the nursing home too, but I feel after a little while there, I'd be itching to get my RN and move on. Could be a good thing. It's just I'd have to do my RN online.

Sometimes I feel like I should just go for the nursing home seeing as they pay so well and not worry so much about my skills, as I'll be going back for my RN anyway. I can regain or relearn my skills then plus I'll have more money to help pay for it all. Also, I've heard it's easy to get into bad habits at the hospital, then when you go for your RN you have to relearn it all over again anyway.

I really like the sound of home health. This is what my wife does as an RN, and after 3 years on a hospital floor (which she hated), she is loving it. I know for this I'd definitely need at least 6 months med/surg experience. Its just, I don't know if I'd rather do that as an RN than an LVN.

lol...see I'm kinda at a loss as to what to do. I guess ultimately home health seems like a good goal. I'd love to be out and about all day visiting with my pts. I just don't know whether to go for med surg and work for my RN or go to the nursing home and work for my RN first. I guess the difference between the two would be being able to attend college for my RN (3x12hr night shifts med/surg) or having to it online (nursing home). I guess I could always get my experience then work home health as an LVN and just work on my RN later..I dunno.

any advice would be appreciated

[Wren]

All of the choices you have listed have their pros and cons but given your indecision right now...consider starting in med surg. You will develop great skills and it doesn't have to be forever if it turns out to not be your bag. You will find med surg to be a good training ground though for ANY place you want to work after this. Psych could be an awesome choice for you in a year or two and you will only benefit from having had med-surg experience.

I agree with you though that it is time to get out of school and into the work arena. You can always go back to school to get your RN degree once you have been working awhile and you might have tuition help then from your employer. Good luck!