New Graduate/First Job Med/Surg

[tara3hughes]

I just got my first job on a very busy med/surg unit, I start Feb 10th. I'm the first LVN they have hired on this unit in about 10yrs. I want to do a good job and impress them! They went out on a limb to hire me and give me a chance over a few experienced nurses.

I'll eventually be taking 6 pts on my own, like I said a very busy unit, and they have a lot of traumas! What are some must haves, that I will use everyday for this job, and any advice to impress the RNs I will be working with!?

Thanks in advance!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Not "become" a trend. They were doing this where I worked 10 years ago. Running off experienced RNs who cost $$$$ and hiring new grad LPNs who cost $.

But great for OP!! Congrats on the job. Be organized. Ask questions.

It would be something new around here. Absolutely NO LPN's in the hospitals. Congrats on this opportunity!! Good luck. Make sure to ask for help when you need it.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Not "become" a trend. They were doing this where I worked 10 years ago. Running off experienced RNs who cost $$$$ and hiring new grad LPNs who cost $.

But great for OP!! Congrats on the job. Be organized. Ask questions.

Hmmmm.....I personally think the OP must have made a wonderful impression in the application/interview process in addition to being in the right place at the right time:yes:, given the fact that the hospitals that I've gone to in my travels/contracts/PRN positions over the past 3 years are forcing experienced LPNs back into nursing programs or unemployment lines, but are definitely not hiring any more of them. (But different areas are doing different things).This is what motivated me to blow the dust off my transcripts in late 2008 to begin the return-to-school process. My hospital didn't mandate it at the time but they darn sure cut my hours like there was no tomorrow and the No-LPNs-Allowed (experienced or not) when I sought supplemental income elsewhere, sealed the decision to pursue higher education.

Even now, there is this GREAT opportunity that I inquired about, and with all of my years of experience and one course away from the BSN, they said "but you're not a BSN yet; the day you get that, give us a call". I still will not have worked one day as a BSN-prepared nurse by the time they said to call, but......

Anyway, that's a whole other argument or TEN here on ALLNURSES.

[Practicalone, LPN]

To answer Mr. Murse's question,

NO LPN/LVN's can do almost everything an RN can do. Each state is a little different, but for the most part we can do the same patient care. I can not push meds and a few other things, but I work right along side the RN's here.