New LPN grad, and new job! Not sure what to think of it

mamakp · Sep 23, 2012

I am a new LPN grad from Ontario Canada that recently moved to Edmonton Alberta due to my husband being in the military. I have applied to tons of jobs in the hospitals here which is where I really want to work, but have had no luck yet. Maybe once I get my license I'll have better luck, as I just wrote my exam a couple weeks ago.
Anyways, I ended up getting a job in homecare that is didn't like at all. But I got lucky and recently got a job with a specialty pharmacy as a nurse. I've been training there for 1 week and I actually really enjoy it. It's Monday-Friday 9-5 kind of job, going to assisted living facilities / retirement homes for a couple hours do to a blood pressure clinic, deliver medications, answer client questions, advocate for clients.
My issue with this job is that I am not using any nursing skills and I am afraid I will lose them. I want to stay with this job as long as I can though.

Hey I too live in Edmonton and am a newer grad. I feel the same way about applying at the hospitals and no luck. Where did you find this pharmacy job??

wasntbuilt2lose · Sep 23, 2012

Job Bank - Home I've applied to a few jobs from there too. That is where I got the pharmacy job from. There are quite a few retirement home jobs on there.

mamakp · Sep 23, 2012

Job Bank - Home I've applied to a few jobs from there too. That is where I got the pharmacy job from. There are quite a few retirement home jobs on there.

I'm being picky. I don't wanna work in retirement or nursing homes lol

wasntbuilt2lose · Sep 23, 2012

lol, I was like that too when I first started school, but now I don't think I would mind it. Well, working in one of the newer nicer assisted living facilities.

mamakp · Sep 23, 2012

Ya you're right. That probably wouldn't be so bad! Did u apply at the royal Alec

wasntbuilt2lose · Sep 23, 2012

Yeah, I applied to tons of jobs at the royal alec...both LPN and HCA jobs. I think being a new grad, you just gotta get out there and get experience.

artsmom, BSN, LPN · Sep 24, 2012

From what you described about the job details- you won't be losing skills. You may get rusty on some, but will hone in on things like patient education and advocacy, which are critical skills for a nurse to have. You will also master Bp's, something many new nurses struggle with. Plus, no matter what job you end up with, you will never utilize all your learned skills at once, every job is so different. If you like everything about this job, and plan on staying, then you will become a master of those skills, and can learn more as a new job may require. I worked six years in LTC, and spent the past one in acute (which I hate), and believe me, I felt like a new grad, but figured it out. Good luck to you!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2012

Whaddaya mean, won't be using nursing skills? Since when are assessment, patient interviews and teaching, and advocacy not skills?

I know you're an LPN and many LPNs' education is more focussed on manipulative tasks (that they teach you to call "skills") than on higher-level assessment and intervention skills, but consider this interim job a godsend. You'll learn a lot by talking to those people in a more relaxed environment, more than in an acute or subacute care setting.

netglow, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2012

Don't worry about bedside nursing. If you find you make decent money and enjoy your job - you've scored!