need advice from experienced lpn's

[deemarie]

hello. i am new to the site and i have been working as a new nurse in a pediatric clinic now for 4 months. i feel that i have made a mistake taking this job because i am not getting the kind of hands on experience that i hoped for. my question is should i keep going on or should i try to get a job in the hospital setting? any advice would be appreciated.

[caliotter3]

You can pursue a hospital job but may not be able to get one or to get one easily. Do the hospitals in your area still utilize LPNs? Many hospitals are getting rid of LPNs and only using RNs. With little experience you can expect a difficult time. I would try to stick out your present job for at least a year so that you aren't penalized by prospective employers for being inexperienced. JMO

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Or maybe try a nursing home to at least get the basic care downpact...such as tube feedings, injections, dressings, etc...

I work in a clinic and would not change it for the world. But, I did make sure that I did per diem on the floors to be able to have that under my belt.

[systoly]

Suppose you could get a job at a hospital or LTC setting, are you ready to trade weekends and holidays off for high speed nursing? I also would like you to consider the following. You take another job and you really don't like it. Changing jobs yet again would raise some flags for prospective employers. I think the per diem or prn somewhere else is a good idea.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Stay where you are, and do some hospital or LTC per agency. If you're in an office/clinic setting with weekends and holidays off, you have no idea how fortunate you are!!!!

[deemarie]

thanks for all of the advice given to me

[NaySway]

I have been an LVN since 1994. I haven't had a full-time job since 2002. What I decided to do for money and change of scenery is PRN and Per diem. I have so much work that it seems like I work full-time. I have tried staffing agencies but they always cancel you. Hospitals pay little money and want you to take their certification courses to be and LVN II or III. I currently work in LTC facilities, Hospice, and Home Health. I was fortunate enough to find a job through an on-line search where I complete Medicaid service reassessments for the state of texas. It pays 25$ PER ASSESSMENT, and each assessment takes about 10-15 minutes. It is different than home care because there is no patient care involved! Assignments are sent via email and you email or fax completed documents and time sheets in. They have continuous online and telephonic training and are available 24 hours for questions! I don't know what state you are in but this job is great and flexible. I start my LVN-RN bridge program next week and need to be flexible as well as pay the bills. If you are unhappy at your job, sign up for prn somewhere else. That way if you don't like it, you don't have to go when they call and you still have you full-time job.

[lpnflorida, LPN]

There is nothing that says you cannot look and apply for another job while keeping your current job. I would not quit the job you have until you have another one lined up. It usually is best to stay at a job at least one year, other wise 4 months is not viewed as having experience at all. 1 year on a job is still being a novice in that particular area.