I graduated from LPN school and took my NCLEX yesterday. Further down the road, I want to study for an RN. Nursing school is an expensive, hard journey which I am reconsidering due to all the negativity associated with the work environment where nurses are leaving the profession in droves.
I can understand the understaffing can be a problem but is it like this in almost every nursing specialty?
My goal is to work as an operating room RN. Would it still be understaffed?
Are there fields where I wouldn't have to deal with the massive understaffing yet still make great money?
I would really appreciate it if someone experienced can shed some light on what really goes on.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Just wanted to add that when I went into nursing, I was not looking for a niche or a dream-job. I wanted as many experiences as I could get, so that I would be well- rounded and not scared of trying something new. I did specify NO pediatrics, and NO burn units, but other than that I was able to consider whatever came my way. I really did like being a Float Nurse, as that kept me from being bogged down on one floor or working with the same staff all the time.
And I stayed an LPN, because you couldn't PAY me enough money to take on the ever-increasing duties of an RN. However that was back when LPN's were still used in hospitals to a greater degree than they are now. Seems like LPN work-choices now are restricted much more, and many LPN's end up doing long-term facility care, which can be extremely weary-ing, due to low staffing and high turnover.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
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Just wanted to add that when I went into nursing, I was not looking for a niche or a dream-job. I wanted as many experiences as I could get, so that I would be well- rounded and not scared of trying something new. I did specify NO pediatrics, and NO burn units, but other than that I was able to consider whatever came my way. I really did like being a Float Nurse, as that kept me from being bogged down on one floor or working with the same staff all the time.
And I stayed an LPN, because you couldn't PAY me enough money to take on the ever-increasing duties of an RN. However that was back when LPN's were still used in hospitals to a greater degree than they are now. Seems like LPN work-choices now are restricted much more, and many LPN's end up doing long-term facility care, which can be extremely weary-ing, due to low staffing and high turnover.
After covid, the hospitals began re-hiring the LPNs due to the RN shortage. Hospitals offer a significantly lower pay rate compared to nursing homes. I am planning on working in nursing home within a few weeks. I have done clinical at a nursing home and there did seem to be a very high turnover rate for LPNs. LPNs just seem to come and go. I don't know what other jobs these LPNs are leaving for because the 95% of LPN jobs are within nursing homes. If they're leaving for other fields, then it might mean I might be gone in not long down the road too. I'm just gonna continue pushing to become an Operating room RN. I heard the understaffing isn't as bad there.
RN NCLEX tests an RN candidate on a unique physical and mental situation I thought I gave a good example in my laboring and delivering mother. There is no 'memorizing" to know when to act when mother or baby are in distress. .
People all come into a health crisis with their own backgrounds, conceptions or misconceptions. A patient's solution to their health problem may be in line with traditional medicine or not.
I can compare the 2 exams because my husband took the CPA exam (passed on the first try) and I took my RN NCLEX (and passed on the first try). We both had 5-6 separate examinations in our respective disciplines. I am not a CPA nor is he an RN. We both learned about medical school tests because we have a son who completed medical school.
Calm down and get some LPN experience ( I congratulated you BTW) and I actually look forward to you taking total responsibility for patient care (unlike your previous pre CPA world where someone had to look over your workpapers),
I did not give you false information about nursing school. As I said, if you want to get into a non-profit, lower cost school you need a good GPA. Let's start there.
brandy1017 said:
The science is part background info and part weeding out process in my opinion. The most pertinent science is Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology. Depending on where you are getting your BSN you may have to take Organic chemistry, Physics, Algebra etc, and I believe BSN is mandatory in NY. You have to be able to pull it all together to take care of the patients safely.
Where do you plan to work as an LPN? Do they use LPN's in hospitals in NYC now? Wherever you work, you also have to take care of your physical and mental health from the stress. I advise staying active, physically fit, doing core exercises and hopefully they have lift equipment to protect your back.
For me and many new grads stress and anxiety are the hardest part about nursing, especially in the beginning when you are still learning and not sure when to call the Dr, don't want to make a mistake or miss something. With time and support it usually gets better, but each person is different. If you feel the need it is OK to seek out a therapist to help you cope with the first year or two and or mentor or support group of your peers, especially as patient acuity has increased, short staffing remains a problem so I've heard some places have cut their orientation down to get nurses on the floor quicker.
For me the mandatory psychology class opened my eyes about my dysfunctional family and how it had affected me, and I had a therapist during nursing school and my first year or two as a nurse. She had been an ICU nurse in the past so that helped with understanding the stress of working on a cardiac unit.
I think psychology classes should be mandatory, as well as personal finance, for high school students and definitely college students since they are both very important and useful to having a happy life and future regarding choosing wise personal relationships and making sound financial choices. The good news is even if one hasn't taken such classes there is a lot of free information on the internet and on YouTube, but you have to be able to analyze if it is sound vs if it just an add or a scam.
Nursing is a great field. But unfortunately, after hearing so many stories from older, more experienced nurses, I don't think its a good idea to spend the rest of my life in this field. Nursing is not what it seems to be looking from the outside. The back pain, feet problems, health problems associated with chronic daily stress isn't something I want to deal with when I get older. I might just stay in the field for the job stability until I can find something that is healthier.
I think that it's important for you to accept the fact that there will be exams that are harder than the NCLEX. I don't think it's fair for someone to get harassed by just stating something that is true. I spent a lot of time studying for the CPA. CPA really is not the same as NCLEX in many ways.
You failed the CPA exam. No body died. You hope to pass the RN NCLEX . You don't know what you do not know!! Scary! Stop boasting until you achieve your Professional Nursing License and additional certification for OR.
You failed the CPA exam. No body died. You hope to pass the RN NCLEX . You don't know what you do not know!! Scary! Stop boasting until you achieve your Professional Nursing License and additional certification for OR.
I didn't fail the CPA. Theres no reason for me to continue studying for CPA if I don't want a career in accounting.
Errors in accounting are no joke. It can ruin someone's life. And it can also ruin your professional reputation and business. Thus your livelihood
In my opinion, CPA is a much harder than NCLEX. The NCLEX was a piece of cake compared to the CPA exam
The most important thing is to act prophylactically o These are some of my tips
How do you work to avoid job burnout?
- Maintain a work-life balance. Don't let work-life balance be just an empty phrase.
- Learn to keep your distance from work - remember, you don't live by work alone!
- Don't take on tasks you can't handle. Learn to say "no" and to ask for help. Identify your own possibilities and set limits.
- Learn to recognise your own needs.
- Listen to your body's signals. Get effective rest.
- Nurture your passions, nurture self-development.
- Maintain relationships with friends, then they won't leave you in your time of need either.
A lot also depends on the people you work with and even your employer.
Errors in accounting are no joke. It can ruin someone's life. And it can also ruin your professional reputation and business. Thus your livelihood
that is why someone else in the company who was a CPA looked over your workpapers.
The RN NCLEX will be on the same par as any other professional test that one is eligible to take after college. Years ago a new GN (Graduate Nurse) could work until the RN NCLEX was passed as it was only given 2 times a year. You are comparing the PN NCLEX (a one year program) to an RN NCLEX program (ADN ,Diploma or BSN). Obfuscating the two doesn't help your case
that is why someone else in the company who was a CPA looked over your workpapers.
The RN NCLEX will be on the same par as any other professional test that one is eligible to take after college. Years ago a new GN (Graduate Nurse) could work until the RN NCLEX was passed as it was only given 2 times a year. You are comparing the PN NCLEX (a one year program) to an RN NCLEX program (ADN ,Diploma or BSN). Obfuscating the two doesn't help your case
The NCLEX is 85 questions. The CPA requires passing all 4 exams plus 3 yrs of professional work experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA.
The pass rate for CPA is 40-50%. The pass rate for NCLEX RN / pn is 70%-80%.
NCLEX RN is a way easier exam than CPA. Thats part of the reason why I picked nursing. The questions tested on NCLEX PN are also same questions tested on the NCLEX RN. The NCLEX RN only tests on 2 tiny extra sections. It's not a huge difference. In my opinion, NCLEX was way easier in comparison to the other professional licensing exams I had to deal with in my past. I have studied for the CFA too. CFA is way harder than CPA.
I passed NCLEX PN with flying colors. The CAT testing system was so sure of my abilities that I passed with the minimum number of questions 85. Adding 2 tiny extra sections (NCLEX RN) is not going to complicate things significantly for me.
You're wrong if you think there is someone to check over your work for you in accounting. 90% of the time there isn't anyone to check over your work for you. Your work is your product. If you make an error, it will ruin your professional reputation. Thus , your livelihood will be taken away from you. Reputation means everything in accounting. You could've made absolutely no errors in a 30 yr career. But even 1 simple tiny error after 30 yrs of amazing accuracy, can still ruin your reputation permanently. It takes 1 simple mistake to ruin a winning streak.
Okay - Here is how the NCLEX has mastered turning 5 exams into one...For exam, you have a woman in labor who is an insulin dependent diabetic. What are her insulin needs? What can you expect to see in the baby? The baby is born and becomes lethargic ten minutes later - what should you check FIRST - temperature or blood sugar? What changes should be expected in the mother's insulin needs? What questions might she have about breastfeeding? How might the family dynamic in the home change because of another family member?
A series of 4 -5 questions will measure the knowledge of a couple of nursing areas:
Neonatology
Maternal-child
Pediatrics
Pharmacology
Nutrition
2 patients in the bed, labile blood sugar of mother, LGA baby. ,Mother with high blood pressure. babies born with history of congenital anomalies. maybe a host of other things,,,, Should you start thinking a C-section will be needed? You think ..."My actions are all related to memorization". These are questions on RN NCLEX
Okay, you want to be a OR nurse. Things start going wrong in the OR. The surgeon starts yelling "you're killing my patient!" Do you yell back "But I can do your taxes!!"
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
nursingcand said:
But even 1 simple tiny error after 30 yrs of amazing accuracy, can still ruin your reputation permanently. It takes 1 simple mistake to ruin a winning streak.
A simple "tiny" error in nursing can cause someone to die --- affecting MANY lives with ruined reputation, loss of license and livelihood secondary.
Been in your shoes as brand new LPN moving to RN role so I could do interventions my patients needed timely instead of waiting for RN to restart IV, hang blood, adjust ventilator and get financial $$$ for skills I was performing as LPN on Telemetry Respiratory stepdown unit. Moving to RN role after 5 years, I was the final say responsible for all activities my patients needed + wheeling/dealing to get a resident to see my patient who I knew were about to have respiratory arrest (days prior to rapid response teams). Best wishes in your nursing journey
A simple "tiny" error in nursing can cause someone to die --- affecting MANY lives with ruined reputation, loss of license and livelihood secondary.
Been in your shoes as brand new LPN moving to RN role so I could do interventions my patients needed timely instead of waiting for RN to restart IV, hang blood, adjust ventilator and get financial $$$ for skills I was performing as LPN on Telemetry Respiratory stepdown unit. Moving to RN role after 5 years, I was the final say responsible for all activities my patients needed + wheeling/dealing to get a resident to see my patient who I knew were about to have respiratory arrest (days prior to rapid response teams). Best wishes in your nursing journey
I would very much agree. Nursing is a profession where work ethic is highly prioritized but so are many other fields. One death related to a mistake can cause one's livelihood. Under staffing increases risk of errors which makes me uneasy.
No Stars In My Eyes
5,636 Posts
Just wanted to add that when I went into nursing, I was not looking for a niche or a dream-job. I wanted as many experiences as I could get, so that I would be well- rounded and not scared of trying something new. I did specify NO pediatrics, and NO burn units, but other than that I was able to consider whatever came my way. I really did like being a Float Nurse, as that kept me from being bogged down on one floor or working with the same staff all the time.
And I stayed an LPN, because you couldn't PAY me enough money to take on the ever-increasing duties of an RN. However that was back when LPN's were still used in hospitals to a greater degree than they are now. Seems like LPN work-choices now are restricted much more, and many LPN's end up doing long-term facility care, which can be extremely weary-ing, due to low staffing and high turnover.