LPN 7 Years Experience Needs INFO STAT!

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

Hey Everyone I need some info like yesterday! Ok, I was seriously considering about joining the Army but, last night I got a call from my son, telling me that my grandmother had a fall at home and is currently at Good Sam and doing well; no broken anything, thank goodness! However, now all of my plans and considerations are on hold so I can help my mom take care of her now. So, I left with 6 months experience in ltc; now, I will be returning from Atlanta with 7 1/2 years experience in ltc/skilled rehab (by the time I make it back). Where in the world can I land a job and How much is the pay with my experience? If I stay in ltc, I will be looking for a supervisory/unit manager job if possible in either Columbus or Dayton. If that's not possible, how much are they paying now with my experience working as a Charge Nurse in ltc? Do the ltac's hire LPN'S????? I remember when I was first starting out, an agency was hiring and sending LPN'S to Select in Columbus; is that still the case??? Sorry this is soooo long and, thanks for all your responses.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I'm an Ohio LPN with 8 years experience in LTC / Rehab, so I'll try to give a good answer here: (And it's not good news I'm afraid...)

The Columbus area currently has a glut of new grad LPNs / RNs. There are too many schools pushing out too many grads, so there are more nurses looking for jobs than there are jobs to be had.

As far as finding a unit manager / supervisor job as an LPN, that's going to be VERY tough. Most facilities are only hiring RNs in those positions, and in most cases are promoting from within before going to outside candidates.

The LTACs are NOT hiring LPNs any longer. (At least the ones here in the Columbus area). Agencies are not sending LPNs to LTACs either. Places like Select and Regency are hiring RNs almost exclusively.

Hospitals? Forget it. Most hospitals in Columbus are magnet hospitals and are only hiring BSN grads, IF they hire new grads at all.

Pay for experience is almost unheard of right now. Most facilities start LPNs at the same rate or close to the same rate as new grads.

One more problem, is that here in Ohio, medicaid reimbursement has been reduced, but facilities are able to recoup some of those loses by meeting certain "Quality Indicators" One of those indicators is the number of RN hours worked. Because of that, many facilities are no longer hiring LPNs to fill open positions. They want RNs so that they can reach that increased reimbursement threshold. (I work for a fairly large LTC / Rehab company and most of our facilities are doing this.)

Sorry to be so negative, and i do wish you luck in your job search.

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

OMG. Companies are paying experienced LPN'S the same as newbies.....WOW. What are the facilities paying per hour now?

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Specializes in Hospice.

I can't speak for anyplace else, but the company I work for typically starts LPNs at about 20.00/hr.

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

Does anyone know about the Dayton area? What about agency and how busy they keep you?

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There have been some ads in the Dayton paper for LPNs in LTC, you can look online for them. Also some LTCs in Washington Courthouse have been hiring recently. Pay is lower in the rural areas though, usually $16-18 for an LPN.

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

Does anyone know about this agency in Dayton.....I think its called Caring Hands.

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

OOOPS! It's called Hearts on Call! I was way off! LOL!

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I am you guy 20 year veteran, combat nurse for 6. work ltc now 15 year expereince. lpn working on rn.

FIRST : 10 years ago as an lpn with 3 years of hosptial experience I made 25.oo hour. at a small private ltc.

after 10years more experience hospital cleveland clinic 7, 2 other hospitals. I went back to a sniff I was making 20 at clinic. then 19.00 agency, and now 19 at ltc. If I dont get rn soon Jobs are getting tougher to find.

SECOND: iVE BEEN A ARMY NURSE

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I HAVE BEEN AN ARMY NURSE

RULE NUMBER ONE RECRUITERS ARE LIARS THEY ARE THE WORST CAR SALES MEN YOU WILL EVER MEET. KNOW THIS THEY HAVE SLOTS TO FILL. THEY WILL WITH HOLD BONUSES AND OTHER THINGS GIVEN TO OTHER OF YOU SAME MOS JOB SKILL

THEY CARE MORE ABOUT FILLING SLOTS THAN MATCHING NEEDS INTEREST AND CAPABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ARMY NEEDS SHAME ON THEM. IF YOU GO IN GET EVERY PROMISE IN WRITING ON YOUR CONTRACT.

JOINING THE EVEN THOUGH I WAS LIED TO WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

AN AMRY NURSE: CAN WORK ON BASE HOSPTIAL (taking care of dependents) OR A COMBAT NURSE

DONT LET THEM SHOW YOU CLINICALS PICUTURES OF AN ON BASE HOSPTIAL THEN SIGN YOU UP FOR COMBAT MOS

HERE IS THE DEAL YOU ARE A SOLDIER FIRST THEN A CLINICAN SECOND. so take this riffle out to the permiter we are being over run. IF YOU DO THIS, DO IT FOR COUNTRY. dont be one of these weenies when it comes war time who says I SIGNED UP FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM I DIDNT SIGN UP FOR THIS. Go help our boys who legs get blown off ok. Dont be a wuss who says I did not come in for this. If you do this, go hard core for the right reason.

Military pay is not always that hot. (if you are trying to escape a crappy economy) Ask yourself will these skills and experience I get here work for me on the outside. Unless you plan on doing 20 years.

WHATS IT LIKE TO WORK IN A COMBAT HOSPITAL I WORKED IN A C.A.S.H. ITS A MASH BUT THE C STANDS FOR COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL

ALL YOUR PATIENTS ARE YOUNG ITS TRUAMA TRAUMA TRAUMA NUCCLEAR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CASULAITIES, SNAKE BITES NO DIABETICS. CAR ACCIDENTS , STAB WOUNDs GUN SHOT WOUND ALL THE WAR STUFF. AS AN LPN YOU WILL BE MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGMENT. YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO PROTECT YOUR PERIMITER. MAYBE EVEN TREAT SOMEONE YOU SHOT. GENEVA CONVENTION

YOU WILL HELP SET UP A COMBAT HOSPITAL IT WILL TAKE 300 PEOPLE 3 DAYS TO BUILD CONNECTING TENTS, GENERATORS AND PORTABLE PHARMACYIES AND SURGERY BOXES. ALL INTERCONNECTING GOOGLE COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPTIAL THEN CLICK IMMAGES. YOU WILL HELP RUN ELECTRICAL LINES, WATER LINE , HELP WITH GENERATORS YOU WILL SLEEP IN TENTS YOU WILL LINE THE HOPITAL WITH AIRCONDTIONING DUCTS AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS. IT WILL SEEM PRIMITIVE THERE WILL BE FOOT PUMP HAND WASHING STATIONS. YOU WILL SET UP IN A BIG FIELD OR RICE PADDY IF YOU ARE OVER SEAS AS AN LPN YOU CAN PUSH MORPHINE SUITURE AND INTUBATE. IF YOUR RNS HEAD IS BLOW OFF, YOU WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE SKILLS

YOU ARE USUALLY PROTECTED BY INFANTRY AROUND YOU. (the enemy may think wouldn't it be demoralizing if we hit their hosptial) geneva war convention says thats a no no but will the enemy fight fair) YOUR M16S WILL BE LOCKED IN A RACK AT ONE END OF YOUR WARD. IF AN ENEMY GETS INTO YOUR PERIMETER HE CAN USE A KNIFE SLICE YOUR TENT BE IN YOUR FACE BEFORE YOU CAN GRAB A RIFLE. ITS NOT A COMBAT MEDIC JOB OK BUT... YOU WILL OFF LOAD HELICOPTERS WHILE BLADES ARE STILL SPINNING. YOU WILL KNOW WHY THERE IS A FAT BOY PROGRAM IN THE MILITARY 4 FEMALE NURSES CARRYING SOME BIG STRONG STRAPPING GUY ON A GURNEY IS A BLAST ACROSS AND UNPLOWED FIELD FULL OF MUD. I HAD A BLAST.

HUHHHHH.....

IT WAS NOT EVEN WAR TIME THOUGH. IF YOU LOSE POWER OR SOMEONE SPRAYS CHEMICAL WEAPON ON YOUR HOSPITAL WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE GUYS ON RESPIRATORS. YOUR JOB WILL BE TO RETURN GUYS TO COMBAT OR MEDIVAC THEM BACK TO VA FOR REHAB. AMPUTATIONS SECOND NATURE WOUND CARE OH YEAH SUFFERING THAT TOO. VERY FEW HEART ATTACKS IT NOT SO USEFUL STUFF TO THE OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU WORK FOR A TRAUMA HOSPITAL OR ER. IN THE MILITIARY YOU MOVE EVERY YEAR OR 2 ITS HARD ON A FAMILY BEING GONE TO THE FIELD FOR 30 OR 60 DAYS AT A TIME. COMMUNITY SHOWERS IN THE FIELD. TENT FULL OF WOMEN SHOWERING AT THE SAME TIME. YOU LEARN TO GO IN AT 5 AM FOR PRIVACY. WHEN YOU GET BACK TO BASE AND SHOWER YOU WATCH THE DIRT RUN OFF YOU DOWN THE DRAIN. DONT FORGET THERE WILL BE AN ENEMY WARD. NO ONE CAN SUE A MILITARY DOCTOR WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS HMMM.

YOU WILL HAVE MEDICS UNDER YOU 8 OR NINE YOU WILL SCHEDULE, COUNCIL, ACCOUNT FOR PROPERTY 100 OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT. YOU WILL BE HOUSED IN A TENT NEAR BY THE WARD YOU BUILT. MINE WAS ICU. SUMMERS OK I CAN DEAL WITH 106 DEGREES IN THE SHADE IN CALIFORNIA DESERT. (SOME TIMES IT IN A FOREST AREA AND TEMERATURES ARE OK SOME PARTS OF THE HOSPITAL ARE AIR CONDITIONED.

IT WILL BE FUN DRIVING TENT STAKES IN THE FROZEN GROUND IN THE WINTER TIME. GUARD DUTY IN THE RAIN. HUUHHHHHH

oH AND THE FOOD IT WILL BE THE FINEST. STAND IN LINE IN THE COLD TO GET YOUR FRENCH TOAST WHILE YOU WATCH THE GREASE HARDEN ON IT. IT ISN'T CALL A MESS TENT FOR NOTHING SLOP SOMETIMES YOU EXPECT ME TO EAT THIS. THEY CALL IT FEEDING IN THE MILITARY NOT DINING. YOU LOSE YOUR DIGNITY SOME TIMES EAT WITH YOUR HANDS YOU DON'T CARE ANY MORE. JUST GET FOOD IN YOU ARE HUNGRY. YOU WILL LEARN TO SWEAR LIKE A SAILOR THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL HEAR. YOU WILL SEE AMERICANS AT THEIR FINEST AND THEIR WORST.

BY THE WAY DON'T GET FAT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIX THIS OR GET OUT.........

THAT IS FIELD EXPERIENCE:

WHEN YOU ARE BACK ON BASE IT WILL BE MORE LIVABLE

THERE WILL BE CONCRETE BARRACKS TO LIVE IN

PERHAPS YOU CAN LIVE ON OR OFF POST

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FED. BACK ON BASE FOOD IS GOOD TO OK BUT IN THE FIELD YOU ARE SERVED BY MESS SERGEANT WHO WILL SERVE YOU UP SOME MESS THEN YOU WILL BE FED M.R.E.S MEALS REJECTED BY THE ETHEOPIANS COMBAT RATIONS THEY BIND SOME PEOPLE UP. GET USED TO PORT A POTIES IN THE FIELD OR SNEAKING OFF BEHIND THE BUSH TO DO YOUR BUSINESS.

FOR MEN MILITARY EXPEREINCE IS KIND OF LIKE PRISON SHAVE YOUR HEAD DRESS YOU ALIKE CUT OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE

SUBSTANDARD LIVING QUARTERS. RESTRICTIONS. ITS PART OF THE BRAINWASHING EXPERIENCE TO TRANSFORM YOU INTO A SOLIDER. ITS EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. LIKE GOING TO THE GAS CHAMBRE.

IF YOU D LIKE THE CONFIDENECE YOU COULD SURVIVE ALMOST ANYTHING

WANT THE PRIDE TO SAY YOU SERVED YOUR COUNTRY (REMEMBER YOU ARE EXPENDABLE)

THE MILITARY HAS THIS TO OFFER YOU. GO GET SOME THEN GET OUT. DON'T STAY TOO LONG. YOU WILL BECOME BITTER

ONCE YOU SIGN ON THAT DOTTED LINE YOU LIFE WILL C H A N G E .

OFFERED THE CHANCE I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. DO IT WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG. WHEN YOU TRAVEL IT WILL BE TO ARM PIT PLACES LOST IN THE WOODS.

IT TOUGHEND ME UP. HUHH COME GET TOUGHENED UP IF YOU DONT KNOW BETTER YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF.

I AM PROUD OF MY SERVICE I LEARN ALOT STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IT MADE ME A MAN.

I CAME BACK MATURE AND THANKFULL I WAS BORN IN AMERICA I SAW HOW RICH WE ARE MADE ME APRECIATE AMERICA. THE POOREST KID ON WELFARE IS BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ITS MOUTH COMPARED TO SOME COUNTRIES IN ASIA.

IT BUILT CONFIDNECE IN ME I COULD HAVE GOT NO OTHER PLACE THEY PUSHED ME TO NEW HEIGHTS I AM A BETTER PERSON FOR IT

I WOULD NEVER DISCOURAGE YOU FROM GOING I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT HONEST TO GOD NO SARCASM.

HAY MAYBEE YOU CAN GO WORK WITH PTSD OR AT THE VA. YOU WILL HAVE EMPATHY

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE IN FOR.

HUHHHHHHHHHHHH

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