LPNTELE

I very much appreciate your input. I agree that it will probably always feel like I can find better. That's just our nature as human beings. In the end for me it's all about making the same (if not more) money for a lot less stress. That to me seems like a win.

Hello, young nurse looking for some advice. Sorry for the long post! I graduated with my LPN 2.5 years ago. I have worked my first (and only) LPN job as a night shift telemetry nurse for nearly 2 years. I would like to add, night shift has been difficult for me, but I have gotten somewhat used to it. Day shift is totally out of the question for me. It is 100x worse than what I deal with on nights; but that is a different topic. I am at a point to where I am comfortable with my position as a telemetry nurse and I am content with the pay. The only problem is: I am not happy. In fact, I am realizing that I do not think I will feel happy being a nurse at all. I understand that this is a bold statement, especially coming from someone with barely any experience in nursing. However, I have found that any time I am floated out of the telemetry room (due to short staffing) I am extremely upset because I actually cannot stand doing nursing duties. I will always do my best, and will always take the very best care of my patients. I just hate it with every fiber in my being. The atmosphere is terrible. None of the nurses seem happy, unless we are extremely over staffed (which happens rarely). For the most part, there is an insane amount of drama and everyone turns on each other and bites everyone else's heads off. It's terrible! I always walk into work in a wonderful mood and leave completely the opposite. Everyone (family included) tells me that I have a "dream job" or a "sweet gig" and I should not quit and I should be thankful because I won't find anything better as an LPN. I understand this. However, I just can't see myself doing this forever. The point of this post: A job has opened up in my town for data entry. COMPLETELY not nursing related. It will pay roughly the same as to what I earn now as an LPN with an unlimited amount of overtime available. It has nearly all the same benefits minus the pension. It is a stable job, and it is completely work from home. I do not see a down side to working this job (other than not using my LPN whatsoever...what a waste! ugh!). I have heard nothing but good things about the company. I have been researching it up and down. Since they are looking for several positions to fill, it is a guaranteed job with plenty of room for advancement. I have been computer savvy since Jr. High. I have always had a passion for computer work. My dream job has always been to work from home, but nothing was ever legit. This is legit, and it is calling my name. I am just afraid of leaving my current job and instantly regretting it. I don't want to let my family down, or hear the "I told you so's". The conclusion that I personally have come to is this: The worst case scenario is that I will hate the new job. (At least I followed my heart and tried, right?) I can always find another job at a clinic somewhere with my LPN and hope that the nurses are happier there. I just won't have the benefits that I did at my old job, and I will be taking a pretty big pay cut. This is potentially a pretty big jump for me. I am just afraid to take the plunge. Any thoughts?

First off, I am sorry for the long post.. I tried to be short but I am a talker. When I started my LPN program I had all my intentions set for RN. LPN was supposed to be a milestone for my RN. Well, after I graduated my LPN program and passed my NCLEX I applied for 15 different jobs within a week, one of those jobs was my dream job which I never expected to land with 0 experience. Somehow I landed this job (woo hoo!) and I have been working here for almost 1 year now. This job is strictly LPNs only, and if I were to get my RN I would no longer be able to work as a telemetry nurse here. I'd be forced to take a job on the floor. I love this job, but.. the pay is very poor. I make slightly more than half of what an LPN anywhere else would make. I am realizing that the salary of this job is not going to be enough for the lifestyle I planned on having in the future. It's a shame because if this job paid more I would never be thinking of changing anything! LPN school was a HUGE struggle for me. I was one of the younger ones at 20 years old. Even from the very beginning, I only got accepted into the program because someone dropped out before the program started! There were several tests where I just barely made the mark... and don't get me started on those horrible ATIs... I had to retake half of them in my LPN program. It seemed like no matter how hard I studied I always just barely passed. I also felt very stupid during my clinicals. When everyone else seemed to have their stuff together I was almost always lost. What I am terrified of is that RN school will be like LPN school on crack. I am also not sure if I am smart enough to be an RN even if I manage to get through RN school. There are so many quick decisions that an RN is expected to make. I even catch the doctors on my floor asking the RNs here what they think he should do! It's like the RNs run the whole show! I am not sure if I am smart enough to take on such a responsibility. All in all, I am scared I am going to hurt someone, and I am scared I am going to regret leaving my comfy underpaying job. I am torn! Any advice would be VERY appreciated.