Lynker

Many credits are permanently complete, including things such as English and sometimes social sciences? Look into it!!

When I was an LPN (A little over a year into my career), I got a job in 2021 as a general COVID vaccination/post-watch nursing role. It paid well. I was there for about a month at the time. I was vaccinating, and for some reason, the patient got an immediate hematoma, although they were fine. I also accidentally talked to the state on "what they could do better", which included better training. A few days later I was fired. First time I ever got fired from any job, and it took a huge hit on me. Immediately after, I got a job at a pediatrics doctor's office, wanting to see if I wanted to do pedi. I lied, saying I wasn't fired from this job, and they took my word for it. However, a nurse from the other job apparently knew me and told the manager that I was fired. I got talked to about that. A few weeks later, I was fired AGAIN. This time for just not acclimating to the job, and the had a pretty crappy and rude preceptor which I got switched due to this. After that, I was never fired again. I also became an RN last year, became an ADON in a SNF, and a month ago I left that job for a Unit Manager job in a SNF and I'm happy. Being fired and messing up, even making big errors does not define your career. I promise. I've been a nurse collectively for 7 years this upcoming September. I've had my highs and lows. You will too. It's okay!

Hi! I'm a little late to the party, but I just stepped down from an ADON/SDC/IP position into a Unit Manager position, both in SNFs. I can answer some questions if you like!

I can relate to this a lot. I can share my story. I became an LPN in 2019, through a 10-month program. Graduated in August. I immediately went into LPN to RN school in January 2020. Passed the semester, two to go. COVID hit. In second semester, I failed. Then I had open heart surgery in January. I took that semester off and went back in September of the following year (2021). I passed second semester, and went into the final semester in January 2022. I met my best friend to this day in this class. I ended up failing every single exam, including the final this final semester. I already knew it was coming, but I was depressed, naturally. I took some time to keep working as an LPN. I eventually reapplied to a new school in 2023, and got in for the next year (I got waitlisted), so I joined in May of 2024, into a short Summer pharmacology course, then two semester after that. You know what happened? I passed all three semesters. I became the LPN to RN Representative for the class. I only failed ONE exam the entirety of the program. Achieved cum laude. Was awarded the LPN to RN award by the staff. I graduated with my RN in May 2025, and it will be a full year as an RN this month of June 2026. I didn't give up, despite such deep failure and shame in failing out so many times. It's embarrassing, time wasting and feels useless. But it wasn't. I used all my previous knowledge to do extremely well at the last school, and used a lot of my LPN knowledge over the 6 years of being an LPN in my program. Please don't give up. There are so many options. Have you considered doing the LPN program, and then bridging into RN like I did? I think it'd be a good choice, as they tend to be much shorter, 10-12 months. Usually 3 semesters. My point here is just please don't give up on your dreams. I am happier than I ever could have thought. I am an RN Unit Manager on a rehab floor in a SNF, and I'm extremely happy and make amazing money. You got this!!

Have you ever been to college, do you have any gen eds done? I would also consider an LPN program. They can be as short as 10 months like mine was. I made up to $50/hr as an LPN, right before I graduated with my ASN (ADN). Just something you may not have considered.

I was an LPN in LTC and rehab for over 6 years. I supervised in that entire time too. Did all three shifts, and even 7-7 overnights. I have severe ADHD as well, and I feel your struggles. I loved SNF work, especially LTC. After I got my RN, I started on a medical (surgical) floor, and I liked it... for like 3 months. I went so downhill it was scary. I did get a good, long orientation in a new-grad RN residency, and I learned a lot in the hospital. But even with 4-6 patients compared to 20-25 residents, it was a LOT. You are in patients' rooms for a long time in the hospital. IV and PO antibiotics every 2-4 hours, a lot more precautions due to different conditions (I had an ACTUAL tuberculosis patient in the hospital! And lots of COVID, c-diff and the flu). Lots of pain PRNs, depending on your population (I worked in a big hospital in an area known for LOTS of drug overdoses and addiction), lots of charting in Epic. There were many, many unbearable nights where I didn't sit down from 7pm to 1-2am in the morning. I just couldn't do it anymore. after 4 months in the hospital, one week in a psych hospital due to my depression from it, and a month in the outpatient neurology clinic (they treated me like I was stupid when I didn't even learn the job yet...), I just quit effective immediately and got a job as an ADON/IP/SDC in a new nursing home. It's a LOT of work, but I do make a more money than I did in the hospital, and regardless of stress I am happier. I'd rather have the same residents daily, with new admissions and discharges on the rehab unit often, rather than going into work every day not knowing if you'd get the same assignment, patients, med and treatment scheduling, etc. They are more acute in the hospital, they can crash at any moment. One night, a withdrawing patient off of opioids, had a BP of 200/100 and I was FREAKING OUT. No one really seemed to make it a big deal but me. But hey, they have seen it more than me. I'm absolutely NOT saying no to trying it, what do you have to lose? :) I just want you to see both sides. I think it's a great opportunity, especially for an LPN, as med-surg jobs are harder to get in certain states in that role. In MA and NH, they rarely use LPNs for hospital-based jobs aside from clinics and urgent cares. Go for it! But remember: SNF = (mostly) stable, more residents/patients with a lot to do. Med-surg = less-stable, can crash at any time, less patients with a lot to do. It won't change based on amount of patients, it will just be balanced differently! Good luck, and I will be here as a bouncing board for you! :)

Hi! I was a supervisor as an LPN myself, now an ADON RN in another facility. What kinds of questions do you have? What kind of tasks? Weights, meals, talking and communicating with the CNAs, etc? You have an upper hand, as you were a CNA before being an LPN. How much do you know about these CNAs? Are you new to the facility? What shift/s do you work? How many floors/units/CNAs per shift? All of this matters :) I worked in a very large facility as a 3-11 supervisor, as well as an average-sized one as the LPN 7a-7p supervisor on weekends.

I was actually voluntarily hospitalized for depression/SI at my old job. Afterwards, I got a new job and they didn't even mention it on the background check, as far as I know. You'll be fine.

Stay home for as long as you can! I did my LPN while at home, and did my RN after I moved out. Both had their perks, but saving money is key. If loudness is a problem, live at the library! Good luck on your journey!! Also, get your CNA ASAP!! It'll help you in the long run.

I wouldn't waste your time trying to get back into a regular RN program. Go for LPN to RN, and fill in the gaps yourself. You'll finish faster that way. If you're ever unsure of something, look it up or ask. You can do it! You became an LPN for a reason. Don't waste it.

Yeah haha, that was me. I agree with you. OP, are you using your 6 rights of med administration?

Question I'm honestly not sure the answer of: Can someone be section 12'd for low blood glucose levels and refusing treatment, which is technically causing harm to self? Similarly to suicidal ideation or self harm in a facility setting?

I have made a few med errors, all while an LPN admittedly. I'll never forget my first... I was training in a nursing home, in my second month. I got all the correct medications.... but gave them to the wrong patient. ?‍♂️ Included Eliquis as well as about 10? other oral meds. Luckily, we called the doctor and she was totally fine. I have made some minor mistakes in between, nothing I can really think of notably. Not many tbh. My last both as an LPN (About 5.25 years in) and an RN (so far) was the same thing.... It was my first day doing agency while finishing RN school, in a building new to me. I was doing 3-11. I was passing meds all fine and dandy until the end of the shift, a little before 10 I believe. I got patients mixed up and accidentally dosed a patient twice, if I remember correctly. I either gave the same patient's meds twice, and didn't give it to the other patient, or I gave the one patient his own meds AND another patient's meds. They were demented, and this one I especially felt bad about. There was no one to report to, and I hid it under the rug. I regret it extremely. I worked on that floor many times after, but the patient was fine even weeks later. It still haunts me. As an RN both in the hospital and now in the nursing home again, I have not made a med error. That being said, I haven't been on a cart at my current nursing home job as I am the ADON. I think overall that we are human, and even when we learn from our mistakes, we still make them sometimes. It happens. You don't have something happen just once and automatically never ever do it again. Give yourself grace. I know how it feels to make med errors, and it sucks. It sounds even worse with how you've described your errors. But we all make mistakes and luckily your mistakes haven't costed a life. We are human. We are not perfect. And when I come across my first med error with a nurse at my new facility, I will treat them with grace and find the root problem and how the problem happened. I think that's the best way to approach this. Continue to learn from your mistakes, no matter how little. To err is human.

I wouldn't worry too much. Just focus on getting that permanent license!

Can you tell us what state you're in? If I'm understanding correctly, you let your provisional license for Medication Aide lapse before you took your boards? I'm not sure of the technicalities behind it, but it sounds like you might have to work as a PCA until you get your permanent license.

Have you thought about care management remotely? My best friend is an LPN who does it and loves her job. She works full-time but I know some of these roles are per diem and part-time.

Thanks Davey, forgot about this policy from my hospital job. Gonna start doing this with my nurses and CNAs after events. ?

I 100% agree! I have been in a facility as agency where CNAs got vitals for their nurses WITHIN a certain amount of time. As a past CNA and LPN, I get it. CNAs have plenty of work right from the get-go, and a lot of nurses don't seem to get that, especially on 7-3. At my new facility, my nurses get their own vital signs PRN and through the shift. Things such as BPs and temps should be gotten at the point of administration, especially for blood pressure or fevers. But hey, what do I know. ?

I've had plenty over the years.... Had one this morning. I missed most of the interaction but my nurse felt attacked by the emt/paramedic (not sure). Most of them don't care about how they treat people, including this nurse, and partially me. My nurse, a new 7-month RN in LTC got talked to rudely and plenty of eyerolls, meanwhile she was sweet as pie. SHe's a baby nurse and the paramedic is asking her irrelevant questions related to the patient that she didn't know. Newsflash, we're never gonna know every little thing about a patient, nor do you NEED to know! The paperwork and call-in report will explain itself at the hospital. No need for healthcare workers to be rude or mean to each other. Have some compassion.

I can second this!! I went to an inpatient mental health facility that was lovely, because of my first RN job. It made me suicidal, once at work and once at home. It helped me start socializing again, eating three meals a day, do activities, start new meds, and get on a consistent sleeping schedule. I was SO scared to go inpatient.... but it quite literally saved my life.

I think both choices are good ones, and while this may be old, I want to touch on a subject that Beth did not. The pay for LTC/rehab tends to be a lot higher than clinics, both in an outpatient primary care office as an LPN, and a hospital's outpatient neurology office as an RN. I made the same amount as the MAs in my LPN job. I'm not sure of the difference between an MA and RN in the neurology office, but I got paid $7.50 less an hour compared to working on a med-surg floor as a new RN with 6 years of LPN experience added on. I also want to mention I got a job offer when I first graduated as an RN of $44 an hour in an LTC I was currently doing agency at. Just something for someone to think about if they come across this thread. I know every office and LTC are different, but generally the pay scale ratio seems to be the same. I personally re-found my love in LTC/rehab, and became an ADON of a facility. I found out even after trying the clinic setting twice that it wasn't my thing, and I was anxious all the time, because more eyes were on your work (it seemed like, anyways). - Jared ?

I have not experienced a code in my time being an CNA, LPN or RN (Knock on wood). However, I have frozen up in situations similar to a patient on the floor with blood ALL over the room at 5am right before med pass in LTC, and a patient having a behavioral episode in the hospital and me freezing after not knowing what to do as a baby RN, while everyone around me was barking orders and telling who to do what. I would try your best to shake it off. I know how hard it is even just saying that, as it's easy for thoughts to run through your head. Thinking you're gonna get fired, written up, lose your license, be the "bad guy" for the rest of this job.... I understand. But it was your FIRST code... NO ONE should be blaming anybody for ANYTHING, especially for something simple as someone freezing up in an emergency. When you live and do your job, you learn. You just lived your job, and you just learned. Take that knowledge and move forward for your next code! I personally think you did a GREAT job. You initially froze up, which is anyone's first reaction. Then you jumped in and did what you need to do. Anyone to blame, scold or make fun of that.... simply not a good medical professional. No compassion or empathy = Not a good healthcare worker/doctor/nurse/CNA/whatever. End of story. Sorry not sorry.

I was an LPN for 6 years, became an RN about 7 months and started in a big hospital. After 6 months, I was completely burnt out and went back to be an LTC ADON with my 6 years of LPN LTC supervising experience. I think I found my niche. That being said, maybe the hospital isn't for you, like it wasn't for me. I would look into different fields of nursing, and see what you like. Do some YouTubing on different specialties, and ask yourself questions. You brought up that you had 6 patients in one day discharged and got 6 new patients the same day. I assume you had many similar days. This brings up a great question; do you like taking care of the same people every day? Or do you like the changing patients, and it was just overwhelming that you had so many discharges? Do you enjoy day shift 7a-7p, night shift 7p-7a , 7-3, 3-11, or 11-7? What works best for your life and sleep schedule? I did nights all my LPN and RN life up until now, and I loved it. But now being in day shift, I actually learned to love it all over again, after going 7-ish years without it back since when I was a CNA for 7 months in LPN school. How about office work? Do you like office duties? Filling prescriptions? Rooming patients like MAs? I did it for 3 months as an LPN, and one month after transferring from the hospital after a huge mental health breakthrough involving hospitalization I had while working at the hospital (Feel free to message me if you need to talk by the way, I probably get how you're feeling!). Found out it wasn't for me and didn't pay enough. What about money? Would you rather work in a more stressful environment with more responsibilities for more pay, or a less busy setting for less? My point being is that you need to look deep inside. Look into different specialties. See what attracts you. There's a lot more to nursing than just hospitals out there. ? Good luck!!

Thanks so much, Davey. That's all great to know! I'm willing to put in more work nowadays, especially with a $30k+ salary bump! I think it'll be a good thing for me, as you said, I've seen it from all parts. CNA, LPN, and now RN. I start sometime next week. I know what to expect, but also not..... I'm nervous for sure!

Hi! After transferring to outpatient from my hospital job, I realized I just took way too much of a paycut and I'm not enjoying outpatient as much as I expected. So, I just accepted a job offer as an ADON in a SNF. I have prior LPN experience as supervising, which entailed a lot of the ADON's job duties. SO, I know a decent amount of what I will be doing. I've never had a job that is salary, and corporate casual. I'm currently looking up how to dress and recently looked up duties of an ADON and such. My new job is training me on everything I need, and were very impressed with my experience and knowledge on nursing homes in general. Does anyone have any tips for me for this position? ? Thank you!!