rulguil01

CPR is usually offered by the company who hires you but if you are thinking of getting one before applying, I would suggest to look for a hospital. In my case, I took it at Sharp. I have paid a fee and then I went to the on site training. It took a day and the simulation was done on the same day and as far as I remember, I was able to get my card right on the spot and I think for others, they mailed it to them. Not sure though if it's still the same and if this also applies to the rest if teaining centers. I think, it really depends on where you took your certification. As for IVT, try to also look for a hospital. I have not tried taking it in any other training center except for trainings being offered in hospital. Try to work on your resume and interviews. I'd say there is no such thing as "NO EXPERIENCE". It is how you qualify yourself for the said position. The mere fact that you have clinical trainings, these for sure equipped you and somehow prepared you to be where you are now. Don't belittle your learning, instead, use that to your advantage. Some employers love a new grad and are willing to train for as long as you have the right attitude towards work. Godbless in your journey!

Med pass was a lil easy for me as I was then a med tech to the same facility for almost 2 years. That helped me so much to transition in becoming LVN and the rest, I just learned it as I go along such as noting and carrying out order. Do you guys do paper charting? For medpass, it would take some time for you to get until you have your routine and you have known the patients so well. Always base it at MAR and you will lessen med error. I like to be organized in med pass so it's either I start from.back to the front of the hallway or the other way around not unless there are some who will go for an appointment that they will have to take their meds first. I always bring my medcart with me at all times to avoid running back and forth and for blood sugar check, I do it while doing my medpass since that saves me more time by not going back and forth just to give the insulin and medicine for that same resident. If you do papercharting, I always try my best to sign after I give the meds most especially the blood sugar because there are times you will forget to sign up for those. As I pass along meds in each resident, if Ive already seen that there are meds to be filled, I take the stickers out and if there is no sticker, I will write it down on my sticky pad that way I dont forget. I phone or fax the refills while I do my alert charting. Multitasking is the key! But of course, sometimes emergency happens so thered be times that you will need to forget your medpass and deal with the emergency. If it's not that of an emergency, you can politely say a time frame of you getting back to them just so you can finish med pass and not to be distracted. The more distracted you are, the more likely you commit med error. As for my RN application, this is going to be my first time to apply. I am already ready to apply. I already prepared myself of knowing that the board will not let me sit for NCLEX and would instead require me to get MS and OB due to concurrency issues. This is the only way I can take the RN so I might as well do it as there'd be no other way. If you will be taking it in other state, you will need to still comply with California BRN rules. That means, transferring your license here wouldn't be easy as they have different rules. What's good is, if you pass here, it will be vey easy to endorse your license to another state. And yes, it's a $750 fee. Your decision of becoming an LVN is a great walk. Some questioned me several times why did I end up an LVN if Im already an RN. This time, I can say, because being a foreign nurse, there'd always a different approach of nursing. The country where we are at, I have never heard of hospice and what it entails. I never encountered PT or STeval and there are times these things are so hard to absorbed so I tried to get myself familiarize and learn as much as I can on these subspecialty and how they go about with it. Trust me, up onto this day, I am still a floating LVN who sometimes not know what to do so I ask. Thered be times I am so shy to ask why and how but don't be like me lol. I will keep you posted on my application. For now, just absorb the learning from being an LVN and save that way you can also apply for RN and pay for the classes they will require to sit for an NCLEX. We can do this!

Congrats! I told you so. Sometimes it is your determination that will lead you to where you are. It doesn't really have to be your experience at all times as some prefers someone who is freshly made and is willing to learn who eventually, will deliver good work by showing such commitment in all aspect at work. Just like you, I am still learning. I have graduated year 2011 and it is true that knowledge gets rusted if you don't practice. So right now, I'm taking baby steps as an LVN and before this year ends, I will be applying for NCLEX RN to see which subjects do I need to take (looks like OB, Med surg, Pharma) so I can sit for NCLEX RN. Are you by anychance an RN from Philippines?

Though they can verify your license # through the website, it is still best to wait for the card before applying, as most of the employers will have to get a photocopy of your license during job offers or on hiring day. If I would suggest, try to work on your resume and get trainings such as BLS/IV if you dont have any. But usually some facilities will provide these trainings but still, it is a good thing to have.

Goodluck! Just like you, I'm a foreign grad and once challenged the LVN exam. Prior to becoming an LVN, I had a medtech and caregiving experience in a retirement home which is the same place who then hired me as an LVN. I have also tried other facility but I preferred the one where I was previously working. Don't believe those who say that there's no job out there for new grads as that is just a hear-say not until you have tried your hardest and exhausted all the infos you can get. You can put your clinical exposure or volunteer experience than nothing at all. Also, being prepared in an interview at all times is a key despite not having so much experience at all. God speed in your journey! You can do it :)

There's a lot here in San Diego! You may want to reconsider relocating.

@SmilingBlueyes: I am not a US graduate . I hold a BSN RN license in other country. I challenged the board for LVN in one of US's state knowing that the BRN will not grant me to apply for an RN exam not until I finish prereq and comply to their standard. But yes, I understand what you are saying in terms of salary. I would of gone to get my prerequisite and apply for RN before but the thing is, I am not prepared for it. I am out of school for 6 yrs. My conscience of getting paid for an RN salary (if ever I pass, challenging the board) and not knowing what is safe to do for my patient will surely hunt me. But you knoW what, hopefully next year I get everything straightened out and gain my confidence back to start pursuing RN but this time, here in US.

@Nature_walker: Yes indeed. It is really tough for me. There are times I would have a blank stare towards a family member, colleague, a patient or to a doctor. Moments where, while they are talking, I kinda need to put the puzzle together and it would sometime take me awhile to even respond back to them because I want to make sure that I respond appropriately and that I get to understand what they're trying to say. In the past few days, I am learning to ask more and I would tell my co worker if what is the meaning of it or what they meant about it or sometimes, I would paraphrase it to make it not too obvious that I didnt really understand what they said. I am just way too shy most of the times to ask because I feel I ask a dumb question. For instance is one time I saw a note hanging outside the chart saying "Thinning". And Im like hmmmmm thinning? At the back of my head "What? This pt. needs thinning like thickening liquid. Why? I didn't know he has having problem swallong." So... I didn't touch the chart. At first, I was too busy to even handle that and I don't know why they need to have that order. Since the note has been bothering, it came to a point where I ask this one nurse and I told her " Hey I know you're busy but quick question. This tag here says thinning, how do we deal that order?" And this one nurse told me, "Oh dont worry about that. Medical records would handle that since the chart is so bulky that they need to remove some stuffs away from the chart so we have enough space to put a new file on it". I laughed but feeling so embarassed and she asked me why I am laughing. I told her the truth that all this time is I am thinking why the pt needs a thickening liquid well in fact he has no problem swallowing. I thought it was just mispelled or something. She laughed as well but told me, "Thats okay. Sometimes it happens that we interpret things differently" but good thing you asked. I think my co workers don't realize that they help me so much when I ask simple questions yet, not so simple to me. I just hope they don't get tired of me asking because really, the things I asked maybe simple but not for someone like me whose first language is not English.

@Crush: Your advice is wonderful. I am actually taking into consideration of taking a refresher course or a possibility of repeating my whole BSN program which I finished 6 yrs ago. I have never took my education here in US so there is this feeling of " Why not take the program here this time in US". I lnow it is going to be expensive and might sound impractical but I feel like if you really want it, nothing is really impossible of doing it. *Although the uni I went before taught us in English medium and have used US based books and a very good approach in teaching, 6 yrs of not applying it has made things rusted. My confidence has been very low and I feel bad when my coworkers would know I graduated as a BSN and yet doesn't show with the work I am producing. I feel challenged mixed with insecurities and embarassment. It is really painful to feel that I have lost most of the nursing knowledge I worked before. I* also regret of not putting my 100% in BSN school and just merely do it with the mind set of just passing it. But now that I am practicing my LVN, with these insecurities of how good my colleagues are challenge me to pursue to be an RN again but this time, a more devoted one in terms of school (if ever I go back) and in also in terms of becoming one into the field.

@meanmaryjean: Thank you. It feels good to be reading everyone's advice and the fact that you all took time to write back and share is very much appreciated.

I think my comprehension is really bad. Its hard to explain but I noticed, everytime I talk to someone whose native language is English, I get lost, such as for instance is when the Director said, " They have found a Medicare bed for her". I thought what she meant was, they got her a "real" bed provided by her insurance under Medicare and so, I asked my coworker, "So when is the bed coming?" and my co worker responded, "Oh no, what she meant was they already found a different facility for her where she can be transferred whiich is approved by Medicare". Things like that I am having trouble with. Probably because I don't really have a good grasp of how skilled nursing works or how the process works and I have never really dealt with anything like this before. So far, when it comes to writing, I think I'm better but, there are times I am having hard time to formulate sentences which is bad because it consumes so much of my time. We just had an inservice of what to write and not to write on the chart and I am being careful because there was an instance where our company was sued and has lost a case because of an error in charting.

I don't know how to start. Just wanting to share. I have graduated BSN year 2011, passed the boards but have never practiced my profession as an RN since 2011 till now. Later in 2017, I have chosen to work as an LVN instead in a skilled facility. This is my first nursing job and currently on my 3rd month. As days go by, I feel so dumb each time that it makes me want to quit and to either go back to school and repeat the entire nursing program. I feel like for those 6 yrs gap that I have been out to school made me feel ineffective to function as an LVN. Deep inside those smile I carry at work is a feeling of embarrassment of not able to put the required work as charge nurse. First of, I am terrible with handling admission. In my 3 months stay, I had 2 admissions. The 1st one, I was assisted and on the 2nd, I tried to do it on my own. I noticed that I am having a hard time dealing with doctors, hospice, etc. English is not my first language so there are times that its so hard for me to even say the words that I want to say. People say I speak good English but for me, I am just really having a hard time communicating and comprehending. There are times I feel so embarassed, not able to comprehend what they told me because they most of times talk "slang" English. I most of the times feel left out too because they would talk about a case of a pt. and I am just there listening and quiet because first, I cannot express myself well in English and second, I have no idea on what they are talking about. Most of the times, they would talk about care through hospice, or some PT or ST eval and I'm like "what are they talking about?". I feel really dumb not knowing things I'm supposed to. Like literally, everything sounds so new to me that I do not know how to intervene. Secondly, I noticed, I have a poor nursing judgment. It looks like since I have been out for school for 7 yrs, my nursing skills are gone. I literally would be panicking going through my phone and search because I totally forgot it already. This is really embarassing as there are times I would be just google searching on what to do instead of thinking what I should do as a nurse. I really feel like if this continues, my pt is very unsafe in my hands and worst is, to lose my license because of wrong judgment. There are also moments that I feel like im inefficient because my CNA's know better than me and who am I to even impose as their charge nurse. It was so hard for me to tell my CNA's on what to do because I myself doesn't know on what to do. Most of the time, I would consult my conurses before deciding because I am totally not knowing on what to do. There are so many more reasons why I feel so dumb each time but those times where I feel dumbest is where I always try to finish my work and do my best as I can.