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.
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.
You are correct on working anywhere on your license with the govt. I can be licensed in any state and work anywhere in the country and not need to transfer it while working in the federal system, also you don't get sued, the govt does, in case something goes wrong.
Only bad thing about LPN at the VA, is that they restrict things for the LPN, no IV push, etc. We do team nursing, RN in charge, LPN passes meds and/or does patient care with the CNA.
Overall not bad place to work, just different and I can see why it's not for everyone. I just finished my 3rd day on the floor orientating, not bad so far.
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
I'll happily keep my job at the VA thank you very much. With my experience, I get paid more than new RN's. I'm safe, competent and if they want to pay me to do patient care, then I'll happily do it. I don't want all that responsibility every single day. I like the flexibility. One day I'll do patient care, the next I'll get assigned as treatment nurse, the next meds with team leading. I don't do the same thing over and over and over again. Thank God for that! I'd be bored out of my mind! The getting sued part..., well depending on the case, you could still lose your job. If they want you out, they'll find a way, it just may take time and a bit of doing. I've seen it happen. I carry my own Liability Insurance just in case. The government doesnt' care about saving your house, only theirs. I have a Florida license and work no where near Florida. You still have to meet your licensed states CEU requirements and the VA has it's own set of requirements to maintain for competencies.
I'll happily keep my job at the VA thank you very much. With my experience, I get paid more than new RN's. I'm safe, competent and if they want to pay me to do patient care, then I'll happily do it. I don't want all that responsibility every single day. I like the flexibility. One day I'll do patient care, the next I'll get assigned as treatment nurse, the next meds with team leading. I don't do the same thing over and over and over again. Thank God for that! I'd be bored out of my mind! The getting sued part..., well depending on the case, you could still lose your job. If they want you out, they'll find a way, it just may take time and a bit of doing. I've seen it happen. I carry my own liability insurance just in case. The government doesnt' care about saving your house, only theirs. I have a Florida license and work no where near Florida. You still have to meet your licensed states CEU requirements and the VA has it's own set of requirements to maintain for competencies.
All very good points, glad you like the mix, but I can see why some people don't. For me I think I'll like it, so far I love the vets, they're salty old men like me My wife is going to start working as a CNA soon at the VA, she makes almost as much as I do as an LPN, not sure how that works, but hopefully the pay will get better as I advance.
Specializes in LTC, Neurology, Rehab, Pain Management,.
Of course the pay will get better. Also here are a couple of tips I've learned to help you along the way. Don't be a brown noser to the nurse manager, everyone will pick up on that and you will not have a very good time. Keeping a low profile until you are there for awhile would be your best bet. I've learned that some people like to play one against the other and I don't put up with such nonsense. Don't call in alot, your loyal co-workers who show up day after day will think less of you for it. We do have those who are chronically calling in and unless you have a medical condition which warrants a doctors note, no one can say anything. Some people call in all the time and are brown nosers to boot! That really makes it twice as challengin, as they get away with it without anything being said to them. I'm very hopeful for you that you work for a very fair, compassionate and understanding nurse manager. Wish I could say the same. Remember, family comes first, do not be intimidated by anyone telling you other wise. Come hell or high water if your family needs you, take a CB day(care and beravement) this comes out of your accrued sick leave time and not your AL(annual leave). If you run short on sick leave, then you have the option to use your AL time. One more thing..., after your orientation and you learn all the ropes, inquire to your nurse manager about getting on a committee of some sort or take on a project. This will look very good in your evaluation next year. You could become a member of the Code Committee, Safety Committee or Documentation Committee just to name a few. The Skin Care Committee is a very big deal as well as the Safe Patient Handling Committee. Nurses week is in May and they will present an "LPN of the Year," award. I'm not a brow noser, so I've been overlooked for 18 years, it's par for the course and I'm okay with that. I am very conscience on what is going on and I do my job well, I just don't want you to get your hopes up and get overlooked. If you get the award, then I'm sure you deserve it. Good luck to you in your VA career.
Of course the pay will get better. Also here are a couple of tips I've learned to help you along the way. Don't be a brown noser to the nurse manager, everyone will pick up on that and you will not have a very good time. Keeping a low profile until you are there for awhile would be your best bet. I've learned that some people like to play one against the other and I don't put up with such nonsense. Don't call in alot, your loyal co-workers who show up day after day will think less of you for it. We do have those who are chronically calling in and unless you have a medical condition which warrants a doctors note, no one can say anything. Some people call in all the time and are brown nosers to boot! That really makes it twice as challengin, as they get away with it without anything being said to them. I'm very hopeful for you that you work for a very fair, compassionate and understanding nurse manager. Wish I could say the same. Remember, family comes first, do not be intimidated by anyone telling you other wise. Come hell or high water if your family needs you, take a CB day(care and beravement) this comes out of your accrued sick leave time and not your AL(annual leave). If you run short on sick leave, then you have the option to use your AL time. One more thing..., after your orientation and you learn all the ropes, inquire to your nurse manager about getting on a committee of some sort or take on a project. This will look very good in your evaluation next year. You could become a member of the Code Committee, Safety Committee or Documentation Committee just to name a few. The Skin Care Committee is a very big deal as well as the Safe Patient Handling Committee. Nurses week is in May and they will present an "LPN of the Year," award. I'm not a brow noser, so I've been overlooked for 18 years, it's par for the course and I'm okay with that. I am very conscience on what is going on and I do my job well, I just don't want you to get your hopes up and get overlooked. If you get the award, then I'm sure you deserve it. Good luck to you in your VA career.
Thank You for the advice, have a Happy thanksgiving!!
My wife is going to start working as a CNA soon at the VA, she makes almost as much as I do as an LPN, not sure how that works, but hopefully the pay will get better as I advance.
Tony1790123
19 Posts
You are correct on working anywhere on your license with the govt. I can be licensed in any state and work anywhere in the country and not need to transfer it while working in the federal system, also you don't get sued, the govt does, in case something goes wrong.
Only bad thing about LPN at the VA, is that they restrict things for the LPN, no IV push, etc. We do team nursing, RN in charge, LPN passes meds and/or does patient care with the CNA.
Overall not bad place to work, just different and I can see why it's not for everyone. I just finished my 3rd day on the floor orientating, not bad so far.
Good luck
Tony