New LPN, should I go back to hospital CNA instead of long term care?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Specializes in Ortho/Neuro.

I'm a new LPN who graduated last May & am bridging to become an RN, which will be completed next Aug. I've been working night shift in a nursing home and have approx. 55 patients with only 2 CNA's. Long term care is definetly not for me, however, hospitals in my area no longer employ LPN's.

Should I stay working as an LPN at a job that I hate, or should I go back to working in a hospital (which is where I want to work) as a CNA until I become an RN?? I realize I will also be taking a pay cut, which will not affect me.:confused:

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Find a different LTC. That's an obscene ratio even for LTC.

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never take a step backward, always forward. One thing I have found is that new LPN's need one years experience in something(anything) to move on. Work experience is just that, WORK, not something you learned in class or in clinicals. Your work experience as an LPN will count more for you than your work as a CNA.

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Specializes in Biomedical, Hospice, LTC, Office.

Wow. That ratio isn't even acceptable in Oklahoma, which I consider to be seriously behind the times in LTC ratios. Find another job, STAT. Even in LTC there'll be plenty of them. There's plenty of jobs for new grads out there, I'd try to get one in home health or hospice where they are a little more appreciative of your efforts. Other options include your local plasma center if you have one. They generally need a nurse or two, and are also generally flexible with scheduling. Good Luck!

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if u really want to work at a hospital u'll try really hard to get one even if it takes for u to travel a bit... unfortunately...

LTC is not too bad but having 55 peeps to take care... unless if u're confident with urself is not that bad... it's just risky with ur liscence...

i guess for now... take it as a challenge...

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you would not be gaining any experience that will help you in rn field in either the ltc or as a cna in hospital

i agree with others, you are putting your license in jeopardy by working in your current facility

try and look around, there are other options

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working as a new lpn is good i understand most hospital do not hire lpn any more the hospital i work in do not hire lpn.if i were you i will rather work in the nursing for now until i get my rn degree than you advance to the hospital.working as a c.n.a in the hospital is not a good idea for now

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I know exactly how you feel! I am a six month grad LPN working in ltc. I ALSO am third shift charge nurse to 60-bed skilled care unit with three CNAs. I'm totally miserable in third shift alone, not including the utter chaos of the pt-nurse ratio. I've been desperately trying to find anything else in my area, I've even been thinking about going to work in an endoscopy for physicians office. BIG paycut. yes. But the truth is, if i'm happy doing it until I get done with RN school, then it's totally worth it.

And if you can do it too, I totally agree with that!

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