Ivytech fall 2013

Medic/RN2B · May 31, 2013

I'm having panic attacks as of late. Severe, emotional attacks. IU health doesn't want new ASN grads and says if u are an ASN, you must obtain a BSN within five years. In addition, IU has done away with evening shift differentials.
This past Thursday, St. Vincent has declared a mass lay off citing ACA and an unexpected lower # of procedures performed this year/last year and thus a severely depressed income.
That leaves Community and Wishard; both of which are expected to be rid of their evening shift diff at a later date as to follow the IU precedence- bc really: why would an employer continue to pay based upon an outdated 8 hour shift basis when most employees work 12 hours. By cutting the 3pm-11pm shift diff, the organization is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now the 7a-7p shift earns base pay without diff, but the 7p-7a shift earns base pay for the first 4 hours and only getting a diff at the last 8 hrs, thus saving the organization insane money.
I am so worried that when I'm finally an RN, I will lose all opportunity to work in an environment of my choosing, make the money I expect, and be regarded as an RN with a lesser ability to "critically think".
Now most of this is not a rational fear (for myself since I'm of the last LPN generation to be hired by my hospital and thus WILL be hired as an ASN RN by my hospital per my managers), but among those new grads without experience as a nurse, I greatly dread and fear for what is to come. I am terrified to think of all those ASN RNs without experience being forced into LPN positions and the LPNs who will be denied positions bc the RN was hired in at an LPN rate while being forced to take more duty on board. Yes, with the market becoming exceedingly saturated with nurses it only makes sense that the LPNs be done away with, ASN RNs become new LPNs and BSN RNs take over all acute care environments. No longer will there be a difference based upon license, but rather upon degree.
I'm typing from my phone and this is becoming tedious. I have so much more to add but it is all my own personal fears, Fears expressed from an LPN getting an ASN in a hospital environment. I will only be an LPN but instead my tag will say ASN RN and now when ppl see me they will no longer ask, "what is an LPN?", they will ask " what is an ASN?" I'm still going to live in a shadow of inferiority until I obtain a BSN.
This inferiority complex is enough to drive one's self into a severe emotional depression.

IU bloomington has not done away with evening shift diffs. My mom is an RN on med/surg and still gets shift diff. But yes IU you have to already have your BSN or get it within 5 years of employment or your gone. My mom had to sign that with them and she has been with them for almost 2 years but she was already working on her BSN when she was hired so she didnt care. Any LPN's that already work at IU have to have their RN within 5 years too.

libran1984, ASN, RN · May 31, 2013

The IU campuses in Indianapolis definitely have removed their evening shift diffs- I have confirmation ^_^

Medic/RN2B · Jun 1, 2013

Yea that is why I said IU Bloomington. My mom said it must be an Indianapolis thing :/ sucks to work up there then! She works 7a-7p. Her evening shift diff starts at 3p.

adcoffman · Jun 1, 2013

I am currently a patient at the laf campus so I asked my nurses & they had no idea what I was talking about. So maybe it is just Indy

libran1984, ASN, RN · Jun 2, 2013

First day of LPN-RN transition was great. I got to publicly get off my chest all the angst I've felt during my time as an LPN. We spent 2 of our 4 hours in class just venting about our reasons to change from LPN to RN. The biggest reason being "respect". A few ppl were upset that they were not allowed by their facility to go near an IV. Which I laughed at since I start and perform IV therapy every day. Then our third hour brought us to the point of what difficulties we would encounter as ASN RNs. It was still infuriating. I realized, many of my LPN counterparts that were going to end up as ASNs that would STILL be forced to remain in LTC. I was lucky that I was at least guaranteed a position at the hospital I'm employed .

I have but an exasperated sigh to end this. Yet, this is not the end... It is only the beginning.

Medic/RN2B · Jun 2, 2013

Still waiting on lawrence letters for RT and medic to RN but when I got home from Ft Knox today I had a letter from the Terre Haute Ivy Tech and I was selected as an alternate for the RT program there!!! Pretty excited about that because I still have a pretty good chance of getting in.

libran1984, ASN, RN · Jun 2, 2013

Still waiting on lawrence letters for RT and medic to RN but when I got home from Ft Knox today I had a letter from the Terre Haute Ivy Tech and I was selected as an alternate for the RT program there!!! Pretty excited about that because I still have a pretty good chance of getting in.

Now that is good news!

Medic/RN2B · Jun 3, 2013

Now that is good news!

Yes it is! Considering I had to apply with my first TEAS score which was pretty low...cuz their deadline is a month before nursing and it was a last min decision to apply for RT. So pretty darn good :)

Medic/RN2B · Jun 3, 2013

Libran1984....have any of the medics you work with got their letter's?! I was hoping they would send em out early but I haven't got anything yet!!!

libran1984, ASN, RN · Jun 3, 2013

Newp, they were told they would not get letters til after 6/15

Medic/RN2B · Jun 3, 2013

Ok just making sure. Since lpn and rn letters have already went out :/ just stressin like everyone else lol. Hope class is going well :) thanks for checkin for me

libran1984, ASN, RN · Jun 4, 2013

Class is going well. I'm mostly stuck in the review rut since I've been out of school > 2 years. Just lots of the same thing. This coming Thursday, I think we'll finally hit the books and theory stuff. Lately it's just been "what is the diff btwn LPN & RN?" And other such abstract concepts. Definitely good debates bc we talk about LPN vs RN vs BSN a lot and each day I feel a little bit better.