Please tell me I'm not crazy...

[mrf0609]

Hello,

I had posted a few weeks ago about not being able to find a job being a new LPN. Everyone wanted 1 yrs experience. I was getting desperate and spent 8 hr days going around applying everywhere I could think of. I had a few home health agencys very interested in me, but without money I was not going to be able to pay for my backround check, fingerprints, physical.... Was starting to get really nervous, this is my second career and I have never had a problem getting a job.

Well.... I finally got a call from the hospital I have always said I wanted to work for. It is one of the few that hire LPN's in the area. I am starting school in Nov to get my RN - BSN - prereqs 1st, and the job offer shifted from nights to days(although the pay is less, it fits into my life a bit better). I went and interviewed and was offered the job on the spot. I was so excited! I never really discussed money at all. Then I get a phone call to set up orientation - Monday, and she says "you do know the positon pays $13.68?" I look at it as if I really want to work in the hospital long term and will get a great education here. I have not had a job thru school and have lived basically on nothing for so long that something is better than nothing. It has moved so fast... getting the offer, accepting, doing the paperwork, starting monday. This is the way it is supposed to be - graduate one week, start work the following? I start school in November again and can defer my student loans hopefully till I am a RN ( who knows how high they will be, but if I die owing...) I have a young son and have been so blessed to have the support of many people around me. I have a few people I have to repay a few thousand dollars to. This is where my fear comes along. Did I do the right thing? I have talked with some friends at school and they have job offers at $20 - $23.00/hr. I am not doing this for the money and many people have told me that it has happened the way it is supposed to and the money will come eventually. After my 8 wks of orientation, I can work overtime, so I am hoping I can at least boost my salary that way. They say no raises until 1 yr, I am afraid of how little it will be.

Please tell me I am doing the right thing. I was ok with it until I filled out all the paperwork and was leaving and got a huge pit in my stomach.

Thanks so much in advance

Oh yea - I am REALLY grateful to have gotten a job, please do not take this the wrong way!

[scoochy]

Dear mrf0609,

I apologize for hijacking your post!

[OttawaRPN]

I guess it just depends on where you work, because I've felt much more autonomous in this LTC facility than I ever did in the hospital. I've also never felt like a "b!tch", and I had the ultimate say on what was or was not done for my patients, NOT management. I regret that you were made to feel that way. Unfortunately, all it takes is one experience to ruin it for someone.

But please don't lump all LTC's together...that is not how it is in every facility.

Consider yourself among the fortunate, and you're right all it takes is one experience. And I didn't even touch the tip of the iceberg with the major issues that infested that home during the 3 years I was staff. Trust me when I say Freddy Kreuger himself would be terrified by the atrocities going on there.

[Schmoo1022]

I think it is wonderful that you found a job. Any job right now is better than NO job. The pay isn't fantastic, but neither is the job market. take the job and the experience! Hospital jobs in my area are very hard to come by.

On the other post...I am a RN in LTC and make $29.00...sometimes it doesn't seem like nearly enough. I have a med tech, so the only meds I pass are narcs, g-tubes, and injections. Yet, I am still exrtemely busy. It is not usually exciting position, but I have spot on assessment skills. These residents go down hill FAST! I won't compare it the hospital. I love LTC. People ask me all the time why I am not working in the hospital because I guess it is so much better to work in the hospital? I tell them I have the best job in the world :)

[kcochrane]

Consider yourself among the fortunate, and you're right all it takes is one experience. And I didn't even touch the tip of the iceberg with the major issues that infested that home during the 3 years I was staff. Trust me when I say Freddy Kreuger himself would be terrified by the atrocities going on there.

Yeah there are places like that around here too. I wouldn't put my ex there. It does depend on the experience you have had. Working on certain LTC units can give valuable experience - especially to a LPN.

[PghRN30]

Ok, pay may not be great, will be a little under 30k a year, unless you get overtime. BUT, you got your foot in the door a the hospital you WANTED to work at. From everything I have read on here is the problems all new grads are finding with getting out of school is jobs want experience. So, get your RN while you work this, you have hospital experience, and then you will be in a possition to get a much better paying job once you are an RN. And one thing I know is true for the hospital near me, and may be for you as well, many places will consider applicants from inside before considering applicants from outside.

Sure keep your eyes open and if an opportunity comes up that would be equal or better with significantly better pay, then go for it, but really consider this job a means to an end....you have some income while you are still in school.....you are getting experience that all jobs want you to have...and you have your foot in the door at the hospital you want to work at so when you are looking for RN position, both that and experience will put you higher on that list.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

LPNs generally get higher wages in LTC, as they just want nurses to be the floor/bedside nursing...and the RNs generally are paperwork/IV nurses. just the way it is, there were many LPNs in LTC when I worked.