Hello LPN's, anyone from LA.,MISS,TENN.?

FocusRN · Jan 27, 2005

I am very interested in relocating, would like to be in these states and much info needed before choosing. If anyone has the time and would care to share with me working conditions, good facilties, pay home prices, etc.
please respond. Hope to hear something soon.

Well I am not an LPN yet, but I do live in Louisiana, and can give you some info. Okay, in the nursing homes that I have had the joy or terror of working in ,in some capacity, pay and working conditions are about the same. Working conditions: usually a really laid back atmosphere, never too much work to do (unless you are working in acute or something like that, but even then not really), short alot (but the good thing here, is if they are short and you work your floor and another, you get paid your regular pay, plus you get paid time and a half, because working another floor is like overtime),. They only do that for nurses, but ohhh well. That is about all for working conditions, ohh one more thing if they are short and you are off, expect all call. (I would have caller ID just to make sure I didn't answer it). As for pay at most LTC's you can expect $12-15/ hr (seems kind of low, but cost of living isn't that bad). Pay at hospitals is different. It all depends on what hospital you are at. A lot of them have what they consider LPN 1, and LPN 2. What is the difference, in work or experience? Hell, if I know. But I do know, that LPN 2's are paid more. I also know that hospitals down here that hire LPN's really base pay on experience. There is an add in the paper today, that says pay for LPN 1 is $11.25-19.50, and the pay for LPN 2, is $11.54-$24.30. As for good facilities, I can't really name one, because as we know all of them have their big pitfalls. A nice clean hospital to work in is Tulane University Hospital. But If I were sick, I would be going right acroos the street where you are likely to see people coming in with bullet wounds all day, and blood gushing on the floor. that is Charity Hospital (A state facility). A really nice hospital is West Jefferson Medical Center. It's clean and really modern, from what I hear the pay is good, and you don't have to deal with too many disturbances (bad apple nurses). They do a good job of weeding them out. As for LTC's, I really can't name a one. Oh yes I can. But it is more Assisted living than anything. Most of the residents, can basically care for themselves. And they are sooooooooo laid back. They don't even like their staff to wear scrubs. They say they want their resident to feel more at home. I can't remember the name off of the top of my head, but it is on St. Bernard somewhere. Ohh, they pay very well, also. And last but not least home prices. If you come to live in my city (New Orleans), you will find dirt cheap ones, and ridiculously expensive ones. It usually comes down to where you want to live. If you want to live in the city, and find affordable housing, a good place to Start is New Orleans East. You'll find perfect 2 or 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom townhomes, from as low as $50,000. Why they are that cheap, well I have no idea. But I do know a freind of mine just bought one for about $65,000. It is a 2bed/2bath wonder. The only problem is you really won't get that big of a yard. But You'll have (usually), in nice sized living room, and a huge den. Other homes, normal ones I mean you'll find anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000. There are also subdivisions out in the east like Eastover, Bullard Estates, Sring Hill, Fairfeild Estates, and two or three others. Their prices in housing usually range from $100,000- 350,000. Most of the homes you'll find are new construction (less than 5 years old), and are nice homes, very spacious priced around $175,000. That is the most I would pay. You could also live in the garden district (way to pricey), the warehouse district, nice but too much crime, or in one of the suburbs. Let's see, in out suburb category we have Metairie, Jefferson, Harvey, Gretna, Terrytown, Algeirs, Marrero, Kenner, and I think that is all. They are our city, just further out from Greater New Orleans (the real city). The thing abot them is, they are way too confusing to navigate through, and you'd think they are of a substaintaile size, but one minute you are on the interstate at the Terrytwown exit, and 5 minutes later your at the Westback Expy. Exit in Grenta, and 3 minutes later your getting off at the Manhattan exit in Marrero. I hope you get the point. Basically all of the burbs have less crime than the actual city of New Orleans, a lot more stores, shopping malls and strips, and more nice homes to pick and choose from that are way more expensive. All of this and I would still rather live where I live now (New Orleans East, in the actual city). It is just more exciting. Hope I helped in some way.

jmp22 · Jan 31, 2005

Great info, thanks, new orleans sounds interesting I've seen that ad for Lpn

that salary appears very good especially with all the culture and history that city has to offer, I really appreciate your response, are you familar with Oschner Foundation, do hospitals there offer bonuses. hope to hear from you again. wish more people would respond with info.

wishing you the best

1BlessedRN · Feb 1, 2005

Hello I am a 5yr LPN and RN/BSN upgrade student that lives in Meridian, MS the pay isn't a lot here well it depends on yrs of experience as well as location... in Jackson the start out pay ranges from $15-$28 dollars tops for LPN's the cost of living in MS is not very expensive. Remember the larger the state and population the increase on cost of living. I hope this helps you. For more answers try www.salary.com

Lisa:)

jmp22 · Feb 10, 2005

Hello I am a 5yr LPN and RN/BSN upgrade student that lives in Meridian, MS the pay isn't a lot here well it depends on yrs of experience as well as location... in Jackson the start out pay ranges from $15-$28 dollars tops for LPN's the cost of living in MS is not very expensive. Remember the larger the state and population the increase on cost of living. I hope this helps you. For more answers try www.salary.com
Lisa:)

Lisa, thanks so much, your info very helpful, i like miss, i need to come look at the areas there i hear it is very progressive, alot of good things happening in that area, do your know if you have a tri-stae licensce there? also do hosp there pay bonuses or offer overtime. i have heard great things about the area brookhaven, any info.

laboi22 · Feb 10, 2005

I live in Lafayette, LA and work at a fairly large catholic hospital called our lady of lourdes regional medical center. I work 3east which is a medicine floor. I started out making 12.50/hr with 5 years of previous med/surg exp. I work at night and make an addition 3/hr so that gives me 15.50 per hour. Thats good for this area full time with great benefits. Our nurse to pt ratio at night max is 7 pts and the town is safe and housing is affordable. I rent and pay $350 for a nice neigborhood 3 bedroom mobile home.

FocusRN · Feb 11, 2005

Great info, thanks, new orleans sounds interesting I've seen that ad for Lpn
that salary appears very good especially with all the culture and history that city has to offer, I really appreciate your response, are you familar with Oschner Foundation, do hospitals there offer bonuses. hope to hear from you again. wish more people would respond with info.
wishing you the best

Sorry it took so longfor me to reply but I had my son last week, and I'm just getting back into the swing of things.

Anyway, hospitals do offer sign on bonuses, but they are easier to find for Rns than LPNs but their out their. Your best bet is to get a hold of a Sunday Times Picauyne, newspaper. Anyone hiring offering bonuses, will usually have a big picture ad. Most of the time, the Medical emplyment section is like 3 or 4 pages, so lots of options. I think just about everyone has heard of Oschner. If you live down here and you haven't, it is safe to say that you have spent most if not all of your time here in a cave. They do hire LPN's. But you have to understand something about Oschner, they are a "Foundation", meaning they have hospitals, and clinics in many different areas of the city. For the most part, as an LPN ast Oschner, you can expect to work in a clinic, and not the hospital. Truth be told I would rather work in a clinic. Their clinics are not a clinic in a traditional sense. I mean yu can work in one of their pediatric offices, in the oncology clinic, ect. ect. Another place like Oschner is Children's Hospital, which of course is all pediatric medicine, but you have alot of options a to where you want to work whether it be in hospital or clinic. Both of these places (Oschner's and Children's) pay very well , and offer benefits.