GWLPN

Because it's seem like that is the only way to get into LTC in my area but I haven't tried applying as an LPN in probably 5 months. And I've been told that with my office work experience doesn't count as " nursing experience" which is a BS in my opinion.

Hi everyone, I currently work in a medical clinic and love what I do but can't help but wonder about working in LTC like I have wanted to since I graduated. But there is limited jobs in my area as there has been a hiring freeze because of the economy. I know that quitting my job currently would be a big mistake without having another job lined up but I can't help but wonder about what it would be like working in LTC. I have thought about maybe getting a job as a nursing attendant/health care aide and trying to get into LTC that way but I'm hesitant as the job I have currently is Monday - Friday 8-4 and can be very stressful at times but not as much as hospital nursing was.

Thank you to all of you for your amazing suppportive and eye opening responses! You guys do not know how much I appreciate all of your kind words :) All of you guys are 100% right. I am a nurse and no matter what anyone else says I have my license to prove it! And I know what I do everyday is appreciated and valued. In a way I think I won the lottery with the job I have. I have always been a insecure person and have always cared about what others think of me but I am slowly but surely coming to realize that the only opinion that matters is my own. I recently was just asked to move to a new clinic that is apart of a big company in the city I live in with 3 of the doctors that I work with currently at the new clinic so to me that validates that I am a good nurse and my work is appreciated!

I think I may get my RN in a few years as I have only been an LPN for just under a year now. You are right, I just need to not care about what others say and do what makes me happy. And also ignore that comment as well.

Hi everyone, I am an LPN working in a family medical clinic. I love being a nurse and working in family medicine but recently I am becoming more and more discouraged because of the comments I receive because I do not work in hopsital or acute care. I am always told " Your job does not make you a real nurse or a " medical office assistant could do my job". I still d nursing skills and majority of my job is critical thinking. Anyone could measure vital signs or do weight/height or do health history but as a nurse I have the medical background to understand what a patient is sick with based on their symptoms. I am just frustrated with being told I am not a real nurse. Does anyone else that works in a clinic feel this way? I try to push it away as much as I can but it is starting to get to me. I feel like maybe I made a mistake by going into community nursing or clinic nursing and I should have gone to the hospital or acute care instead. ( I didn't go into the hospital or acute because I did not like it during nursing school and I knew I wanted to go into ltc or clinic nursing)