Job at RISK, PLEASE HELP with ADVICE

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I work In Iowa at a private owned Hospital and when I transitioned to the role of LPN I was in shock that base pay for LPN was 10.84 and I was "lucky" to start at 11.94 because I had worked at the hospital for a year and a half. The hospital also did away shortly after with LPN's in an active role about 2wks after I got the position. My unit is the only unit in the hospital that still has us in an active role. I later found out that our Nurse manager fought to keep us in that active role. I was given a .5 RN position because my director and nurse manager did not want me to quit and go somewhere else. The down side to that is every year the hospital does a cost of living evaluation, and now because they do not actively hire LPN's, we were not considered for a cost of living raise, and we did not get one, where as the RN's and every other employee did.

Our hospital has also now gone through a "restructuring" and we have lost 30 employees, and 16 positions are left unfilled. I am worried now because i feel I will either lose my job, or when I finish school and hopefully pass boards for my RN in November that I will not transition to the RN position that they gave me. I also have tuition assistance with them and am wondering if I will have to pay that back if they let us LPN's go or there is not a position for me after I finish. I just don't know what to do.

They say they are done "restructuring" and that they will not eliminate any nursing positions, but about 10 of the positions left unfilled ARE nursing positions, and a lot of people aren't sure whether to believe this. What should I do, should I start looking for another job, or just ride out the wave and hope that this fall I will be transitioned into the RN role?

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Because your future seems so uncertain at that facility, enough to scare you, I would look elsewhere.

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I don't think I am old enough to be this cynacle (sp) about alot of things, but our hospital is living through huge amount of changes as well, it has been 2 years since our facility was purchased by a company that turned it from a not-for-profit, to a for profit facility. They came in here like a bull moose, destroying everything in its path, then said, uh! oh!, wait a minute, okay no more changes. Of course they all continue to happen, they are just more sneaky about them, in hopes that no one will notice.

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Because your future seems so uncertain at that facility, enough to scare you, I would look elsewhere.

Tazzi is absolutely correct...anytime a place of employment (hospital or otherwise) starts letting people go, something is "up" and you need to find another job.

A hospital will tell you ANYTHING, lie or not, to get you to stay to prevent short staffing issues, because it's more convenient for them to have people leave when they want them to leave rather than them quitting.

If they are phasing out LPN's, then your job is highly at risk, regardless of what they say.

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Specializes in med-surg.

Our hospital has also now gone through a "restructuring" and we have lost 30 employees, and 16 positions are left unfilled. I am worried now because i feel I will either lose my job, or when I finish school and hopefully pass boards for my RN in November that I will not transition to the RN position that they gave me. I also have tuition assistance with them and am wondering if I will have to pay that back if they let us LPN's go or there is not a position for me after I finish. I just don't know what to do.

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

I can't believe you are only getting about $12/hr...

I was an LPN before and I was working for an agency....It paid me $25/hr without benefit...

Regarding to other questions, there is not much you can do at this time...stay right where you are or go get another job.

Good luck.

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The down side to that is every year the hospital does a cost of living evaluation, and now because they do not actively hire LPN's, we were not considered for a cost of living raise, and we did not get one, where as the RN's and every other employee did.

What should I do, should I start looking for another job, or just ride out the wave and hope that this fall I will be transitioned into the RN role?

To give you no raise is just so WRONG.

If they value you so little now I can't see it getting any better. I'd take my purse and head for the door and keep stepping. You can do better.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Normally, I'd agree with everyone else here and say you might do better elsewhere, except for the problem of the tuition reimbursement. You might keep an eye out other places, but try to stick it out here. If they hire you as an RN when you graduate, well and good, but if they let you go, then they lose their reimbursement because they broke the agreement, not you, and you're free.

I hope that made sense. Do you still have your tuition reimbursement agreement? You might want to look it over and see if it says anything about a situation such as you describe.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
Normally, I'd agree with everyone else here and say you might do better elsewhere, except for the problem of the tuition reimbursement. You might keep an eye out other places, but try to stick it out here. If they hire you as an RN when you graduate, well and good, but if they let you go, then they lose their reimbursement because they broke the agreement, not you, and you're free.

I hope that made sense. Do you still have your tuition reimbursement agreement? You might want to look it over and see if it says anything about a situation such as you describe.

I think what your saying is right. I know for a fact that with federal student loans if the college you go to no longer is accreditated or that it just goes bankrupt and closes that you DO NOT have to pay back that loan. I think the same should be said for you because its not your fault.

Didn't think LPN's made so little. I live in NC currently and the CNA's around here make that much. NC is in the south too so it's not like the COL is high like up north where I am from.

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Specializes in ER.

I disagree with the majority. In November you will be an RN, and they kept you on (your manager fought to keep you) probably with that fact in mind. Your position will change totally for the better when you get your new license, and probably they will have completed the cycle of layoffs by then. Your manager may have really gone out on a limb for you as well, and to leave after that would be politically unwise.

Starting a new job along with studying would be really hard. If they are going to let you go the new job is just as easy to find now as later. Plus the tuition reimbursement headache- if you quit instead of being laid off they are not going to be as forgiving to you. Never mind the stupid raises, you will be getting a huge raise in a few months. It was a stupid decision by admin, but you will not find an admin group that does not make stupid decisions regularly and often.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

:yeahthat:

Appears this manger sees something great in you so keeping you onboard....I'd ride out the wave. Many facilities find out after initial layoff round, need to rehire staff to get the work completed 6mo-1 yr later. Tuition assitance will need to be repaid if part of work agreement. Since you only have 6 months left to graduation, know in's and outs of this facility system, why leave and add more stress finding new position?. Payoff will be completing RN program and salary increase upon passing NXLEX.

Good Luck in your career.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm with Nrs Karen-stick it out. However, let me tell you about my tale of woe with tuition reimbursement. I worked for a hospital for 10 years (big hospital->700 beds). I did tuition reimbursement for my advanced practice nurse. When I graduated and passed my certification exam, I was told there were no APN positions available because they had just restructured this part of thier long-term business plan. However, they did say that I could cont to work as a staff RN for two years in order to pay off my debt to them. Otherwise, I could pay them $9000 for the tuition reimbursement. Needless to say I left the hospital though I really didn't want to. However, I was concerned about having an APN license and no way to practice. So...look over your contract very carefully.

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