Passed boards! Have several job offers, which one to take????

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hello all,

Retired military man and New LPN here, I passed my boards, took them on thursday, got the quick results online today (saturday)!!! That's great news, I also went on 3 interviews on friday and was offered several jobs, which one to take. Factors to consider schedule, experience to gain and pay. The offered jobs are these:

1. Stay on my cardiac floor (now PCT) as a new LPN, PRN only, would be offered a fulltime job if sign agreement to get my RN within a year, I can't get the schedule aligned for that, so PRN is the only option. Lots of heart and diabetes patients, good experience, pay $12 hr, $2 night diff, 7% acuity pay and 20% if I skip benefits, ball park, including everything $16-$17 hr.

2. Specialty select hospital: $12.36 hr + $1.80 night diff, good experience, fairly low pay. About $14 hr

3. Nursing Home: 2pm-10pm, $15 hr, no RN on site, in charge of CNA's and passing meds, skin sweeps, etc

4. Home Health agency: scary, as I'd be "the Nurse", pay $17 hr reg patient, $19 vent patient, this job scares me, not sure about that, but good pay and one on one health care.

I'm still trying to get on with the VA, also looking at emergent care clinics, etc

Any suggestions on what to do, which is the best for a new grad, my goal assuming I make it in nursing is to eventually get my RN, seems like most hospitals here are phasing out their LPN's, harder to get a job.

Tony in TN

US Coast Guard, retired

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

First, congratulations for passing your boards!!! I would probably take the Specialty hospital, unless you you are absolutely sure that the place you are already employed will give you plenty per diem hours. In fact, I would probably take the specialty hospital as well as the per diem if they are going to give you that much experience! That's just me, though...Best of luck to you!

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Tony, I would go with Option 1 and for the RN. In what state do you work? www.excelsior.edu is a good option for someone like you.

If that doesn't work, option 2.

And congratulations!

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Specializes in LTC.

why is the pay so low? I'm a new grad lpn makin 22.50 an hr.

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Congratulations on your achievement! I would take the specialty hospital along with your present employer at PRN. Maximum experience. Income will come with time on the job. You could always add home health for a shift or two down the road after you are established in acute care. The nursing home gig is too much responsibility for right out of school. After one year experience it might be ok. I was the lone LVN on night shift and I can tell you it is a handful even when you have experience. Good luck with whatever choice you make.

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why is the pay so low? I'm a new grad lpn makin 22.50 an hr.

It depends a LOT on your area.

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What state are you working in?

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Forget the LTC until you get some experience. The hassles would out weigh the benefits.

I'd go with option 2. Do PRN with 1 and/or 4 dpending on how much having a life means to you.:chuckle

I had a couple or three offers when I graduated. Even though it was a little less money I went with a small, semi-rural acute care/swingbed facility. The pace is a little slower which means I have more time to learn. I am doing procedures and treatments that my classmates who went with Mega General aren't allowed to go near yet. I plan to start Excelsior sometime next year and these clinical skills I am being taught can't should help out a lot when I get to the clinical exam.

Of course you have to decide based on what your particular goals are.

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Specializes in L & D, Med-Surge, Dialysis.

In my state new graduate for LPN makes $19-22/hr while RN makes $27-32/hr. So cheap labor!

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In my state new graduate for LPN makes $19-22/hr while RN makes $27-32/hr. So cheap labor!

I'm in East TN, the RN's start around $17-$18 at the hospital, LPN's normally start about $11.25 at the hospital. Unfortunately most wages in East TN are low, that's just the way it is here.

Thanks for all the input, I need to let the LTC place know, soon.

I'd like to work my floor PRN for the experience, but it is very stressful on the step down unit and they aren't exactly welcoming as the Director said the only reason she would allow me to work there even PRN is that I'm a current employee. She isn't hiring anymore LPN's and converting the ones we have to RN when they leave.

Thanks again

Tony in TN

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I would go with option 1. But that's juts me, CONGRATULATIONS!!!. I can't even get an interview as a LVN here in the Bay Area of California.

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I would go with option 1. But that's juts me, CONGRATULATIONS!!!. I can't even get an interview as a LVN here in the Bay Area of California.

Good luck with the job search, the cut backs on LPN's are in many locations, but what I hear in CA is really bad. What's killing the census here at my hospital are the non-health care related layoffs, people are losing their jobs and their insurance, and they say it's going to get worse. The hospital is striving to save every penny they can, no annual raises, no time and half if they call you in on your off day, etc.

Take care,

Tony

p.s. At least when you find a job, it'll be much higher paying than mine, that's a positive :D

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