K8TRN

I recently graduated with my RN in May and started a job at a children's hospital in CT in August. I was an LPN for 12 years before I graduated. I worked in LTC, homecare, a doctors office, psych unit and most recently, detox. I live in CT and have worked in MA my entire LPN career because I could never find an LPN job in CT. When I got my RN, my pay at the detox went up to $40/hour and I am still per diem there and pick up shifts occasionally. I was offered $34/hour at the hospital as a new grad. I didn't even think of negotiating my pay because the HR recruiter was so rude and kept asking me if I "really wanted the job" and "really wanted me to think about if this was where I wanted to work" and completely discredited the fact that I had experience and was an LPN. I'm float pool so once I'm off orientation my pay will go up to $37/hour with the differential. And overall the differentials are more at the hospital compared to the detox. While I absolutely LOVE my new job and being able to perform so many more skills that I would never do in detox, I am really regretting not negotiating my pay. Hospitals overall pay less compared to behavioral health and the detox just underwent a major pay increase as a whole for retention. Was I a complete idiot for taking this job without negotiating pay? I felt as a "new grad" I shouldn't be picky about the pay because eventually I will be making more as an RN. Once I am off orientation I can start picking up shifts for crucial staffing pay and they do pay an extra $120-150/ hour on top of base pay, OT, differentials, etc. but I still feel stupid for not standing up for myself.

I have been a nurse for a little over 8 years and in that time have worked a variety of shifts, but worked overnights for about 4 years. My schedule was always 2-3 nights on, 1 night off, 2-3 nights on, 2-3 nights off and so on. I started a new job at a detox facility in July per diem until something full time opened up. I told my manager I wanted days but would be willing to work nights until a day shift opened up. She said a day shift would be opening up full time in November. In the meantime I worked day and night shifts filling in until I was offered a full time position. Now, my manager has only been the manager for a few months and she is trying to transition everyone to 12 hour shifts. Most nurses are 12 hours but one part time nurse will not give up her 8 hour shifts. So beginning of this month my manager puts the schedule out and I see that I have a full time schedule (never spoke with her about this but whatever). It is a mix of 12 hour shifts, 7p-7a, 11p-7a and one 3-11 shift. It is also EVERY OTHER NIGHT. I had a fit when I saw the schedule because it is difficult enough as it is working overnights for me but to be scheduled every other night leaves no time for a life. Sent her multiple emails and she finally speaks with me and shows me a schedule with 12 hour shifts, every other weekend, pending two other nurses agreeing. A new schedule comes out yesterday- not at all what she had showed me. Still do not have nights in a row and it is mostly 11p-7a (because she just hired someone for a non existing 3-11 position) with one 7-7 shift. I am so frustrated with this and I really do like my job but can't deal with this schedule, especially when she had showed me a completely different schedule. What to do? So many other nurses are fed up with their schedules as well and have been going to HR about it because she is no help.

Has anyone been taken off the waitlist at Capital?

I work with someone who was #43 on the waiting list for Capital two years ago and she got in! She said a lot of people use it as a back up school when applying to BSN programs.

I completely agree! I have been an LPN for 7 years and it would really help if they did take into account any previous degrees and healthcare experience. STCC does and I applied there last year and got in but stupidly did not go because I wanted to do a bridging program because it is shorter and less money.

I completely agree! I am an LPN and I got into the program at STCC last year but stupidly decided not to go because I wanted to do a bridging program and STCC does not have one. They take into account experience and don't have this lottery BS.

60 out of 70 on waiting list for Capital, not feeling good about my chances. Going to apply to Greenfield Community College, their deadline is June 15th for LPN's to start in the fall.