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.
Now that you've been offered a job with the VA, I would definitely take that offer. So far, it is the best all around situation. You could possibly rent a sleeping room near the job and go home on the weekends.
Just how much hassle would moving be compared to commuting? The VA job seems to have everything- pay, benefits, education op, and retirement. It gets my vote, even with state income tax.
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Congratulations Tony!
Bravo to you for serving our country in the Coast Guard! I salute you! I am a Navy Veteran myself. I just looked at the usa.gov job website in Tennessee and there are openings for LPN's. I don't know your location, but I thought one was in Chatanooga. Anyway, check it out. Your military time will bridge in the VA and it will give you quite a seniority boost. You might even be able to the VA to pay for your RN, they have programs, I just don't know all the specifics. Good luck to you.
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Sorry I missed your post about the VA prior to my post. Anyway, you might have to start out in the nursing home of the VA, but remember, it's a stepping stone. You can transfer from one department to the next once you get in. Kind of like "you have to take the bad with the good." Let us know how you make out.
I've been working PRN at my original hospital on med/surg floor and I started fulltime at the VA on a medical floor this week, mostly pulmonary patients. Overall the pay is good, with prn pay, night diff and acuity, I'm making over $20 at one and about $19 at the other on nights, $22 on weekend nights.
I don't get any special benefit at the VA because I'm a retired vet, and retired vets can't add to their time at the VA.
It's good to be in the position of turning down 4 other jobs, currently I'm working 7 days a week, I'm in orientation in both hospitals. Once out of orientation, I'll work 6 days a week until I can get my financial situation a little better and much more experience on the floor.
If you can not do #1 I would do #2. You say you can not get the schedule...if they are asking you to get your RN shouldn't they be flexible with your schedule? How can they expect you toge it then not allow you to have a schedule that will able you to go to school?
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Congratulations Tony on getting into the VA. Being a Vet, taking care of Vets is very honorable. It enables you to want to give them your all. It won't be easy, as some of the guys can get pretty salty at times. And the psych pts, I myself am more of hands-on type of nurse. I know you are in pulmonary, which will be a great start. If you decide to go for your RN, get them to pay for it. Again, congratulations and best wishes in your career. You will do great! From my experience, the vets respond better to male nurses in a lot of ways, especially when they learn that you are a vet.
Hey Tony Congratualtions on the VA job!! I just applied for one in my area and I was wondering? How long does the process take? From reading your posts it looks like it took 6 weeks for you? that's pretty quick--Anyway the job I am applying for says day shift and rotating to evening shifts. My question is what is considered evening shift at VA and how often do you rotate? Thanks
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Hello kittykatty,
I'm a seasoned LPN with the VA and I'll be happy to help you. Evening shift at the VA is traditionally 3:30pm to 12midnight. There are abundant options as far as shifts are concerned. Perhaps once get through the orientation, you can negotiate with your supervisor. I work 6am to 2:30pm during the week, so that I can pick up my children from school. I also work many of my night shift off tousr which is 12midnight to 8am. There usually are not 12 hour shifts for LPN's, those are only for the RN's, at least where I'm at. However, there is also the 1pm to 9:30pm shifts or 12noon to 8:30pm shifts. These two are not very common, but yet will be utilized on an as needed basis. I hope you enjoy working with the technology the VA has to offer, which was first in electronic medication administration and charting. Also there is a no-lift policy and we use all ceiling lifts, not those old crank ones.
I graduate in 3 weeks and am really thinking about the opportunities with the VA. The best part I think is that you can transfer ANYWHERE and not have to change your license.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I graduate in 3 weeks and am really thinking about the opportunities with the VA. The best part I think is that you can transfer ANYWHERE and not have to change your license.
I do believe that you have to obtain a nursing license for whatever state you reside in, or you can't work. The transfer opportunities are certainly great, but, keep in mind that you need to inquire about reciprocacy (did I spell that correctly?) for the state you plan to move to.
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caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Now that you've been offered a job with the VA, I would definitely take that offer. So far, it is the best all around situation. You could possibly rent a sleeping room near the job and go home on the weekends.