LPN/RN ...Is it all the same? Please Advise!

[j464335]

I have been a LPN for 10 yrs, the majority of my work being in LTC/SNF. I recently took a job where I lasted all of ONE day. Definitly learned some major lessons, like...check to see if the DON is on censure due to Narc. diversion:facepalm: I couldn't tell you without writing a novel about the list of problems this place had but I worked 15.5 hrs without a break, never even peeded, was staff shorted a med tech and 3 CNA's... My orientation was one day and after requesting more time was "reassured" I would be "OK" because there would be other staff having POS meetings in the building:banhappy: SERIOUSLY!! Is this what our profession has been reduced to? When I came on for my shift there wasn't even a nurse to give me report! Honestly, I have worked in some places that reminded me of purgatory, but this one took the cake!

I am now at the point where I am 100% sure that I can no longer work as a LPN in a LTC/SNF... I am not the kind of Nurse who signs that i gave a pill or did a Tx when in fact I didn't...If a Res. is crying telling me "PLEASE, I need to go to the bathroom" I won't walk off to let them pee/BM in a "adult brief", I actually care about their diginity and take them to the toliet! URGH!!!!

Maybe I care too much?? Am I cut out for this line of work?

I am now in limbo about trying to carry on with school and get my RN because I HATE being a LPN!! As a LPN you are either treated like crap at the hospital by your co-workers making wages like a high school student working at McDonalds OR your stuck in a LTC/SNF working like a dog and so time crunched that there is NO POSSIBLE WAY to give proper, legal, dignified care!

So are you RN's dealing with these issues too? Is ALL Nursing jobs like this? I am seriously at the end of my rope, I love taking care of people, not neglecting them...

RN's Please tell me there is hope, that you have a area of work a new grad RN can break into and LOVE.....

[miramanie]

I have worked in LTC since 1995, most of those years in the same LTC facility. I started out as a CNA and was strongly "encouraged" by my DON and Administrator to go for my LPN. I loved working in this field. It hasnt been an easy adjustment to accomodate all the changes forced upon us by the local state and government agencies as well as the feds. The short staffing has always been an issue, however the policies and regulations do not fully cover LTC, they mostly cover hospitals. I did do some research on this subject for a paper during my LPN training. The staff to patient ratio in the LTC are lower than the hospitals. 1 nurse to 30 LTC residents, 60 to 1 for rest home. the CNA ratio is 6 to 30. but only during the 7-3 shift, on 3-11 it falls to 4-5 and on 11-7 its 2-3. There is legislation pending to change this. But it mostly relates to hospitals. I did refuse an assignment on the rehab wing once, because they were expecting 2 nurses and 3 CNA's to care for 32 patients. I felt this was very unsafe, did the research for the scope of practice, and cited this when I refused the assignment. Not only was I sent home, I was written up for refusal, docked the days pay and put on probation for 6 months. My managers told me that because they were in the facility, it was not an unsafe assignment because I could have called upon them at any time for assistance. however, in the past when they had been asked to help out....they were nowhere to be found or I was told "you can handle it". I chose to move on....I am now Training CNA's .....the challenge is great, the reward from the students is phenomenal....the pay could be better...but the stress is more than the LTC facility. I sometimes dream of going back...I loved the residents and the families....they made me feel that I was doing a wonderful job.

[tokebi]

I don't think it matters so much as in LPN vs. RN, but rather depends on what kind of facility you work regardless you're LPN or RN or CNA. I had an OK experience in a community hospital as an LPN, terrible experience in LTC, and now wonderful experience as RN in a large teaching hospital.

I was so frustrated with LTC for the same reason you just said, but loved working with elderly population. I felt guilty for leaving it but I had to when I could, in order to preserve my sanity. If there was an LTC facility where each resident is given proper, dignified care, provided with adequate staffing, I would be there in a heartbeat.

I am happier now not because I am an RN, but because I am able to give attentive care to all my patients, and feel valued for my knowledge and hard-work.