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Jupiter101- I would not know, I only attended class for a couple days. However personally I think I should’ve just done the RN program instead of the LPN. The long gap between completing the LPN program and getting enrolled in the advanced standing RN program was difficult for me. When you enter, you are expected to still have a clear understanding of all the concepts you learned previously in the LPN program, it is easily forgotten in that time frame. You also pick up bad habits working in the field, and what you are taught in school is not usually how it reflects in real life. I do think the skills I have picked up while I worked as a LPN would’ve benefited me in the program. And I have heard lots of LPNs do very well in the RN program, but for me personally I was overwhelmed, far more so than when I entered the LPN program. I think it was because I worked my tail end off in the LPN program, and I knew I would have to repeat that to complete the RN program. Also I don’t have any momentum built up. I got too comfortable not being in school, and didn’t feel like I was ready to give up that freedom again, especially after this pandemic has already got me feeling hopeless. I am not in a good mental space to succeed in school right now. In short I think the RN program would offer the most opportunities, and doing the LPN program first really doesn’t take very many credits off the RN program. I am still hoping to become an RN one day.

How do I find michigan's scope of practice for LPNs? I went to michigan LARA website, and searched for the NPA, but it says michigan does not have a NPA, but instead it is a consolidated practice act. I cannot find it for the life of me.... help please.... I feel like an idiot.

I recently withdrew my spot in the RN program ☹️ I had gone on call to accommodate the schedule, but ended up withdrawing. It seems like the right time to pivot into a new position. For job #2 my would be supervisor is actually also an LPN. So I am not sure if that factors into why they are looking for an LPN? But they did say they are also interviewing RNs as well. I also think that all healthcare facilities are very short staffed at this time. I applied for other clinics in my area, and helping with phone triage seemed like a common task listed in job responsibilities. ?‍♀️ So I guess I haven’t thought much of that. Thank you for helping me, this is great to hear what other nurses have to say. Maybe I need to just keep looking.

They did say they were also interviewing RNs for this position as well. I appreciate your input, you have raised some good points that I need to consider. I don’t think you are a weirdo! LOL

I have a couple pending offers, and I am looking for advice. I have already consulted my friends and family. And general consensus is do what makes you most excited. To give you some background, I am in my late 20s, and have been an LPN in sub acute rehab in a long term care facility for almost 3 years now. My tasks include administering medications, PICC line antibiotics, wound care, PEG tube, initiating physician orders, assessing patients, collecting VS, supervising CNAs, collecting lab samples, reviewing results.... etc. In my state hospitals do not hire LPNs, but will hire them to fill patient care technician roles. Job offer #1: Non profit hospital, GI technical specialist. I was told they prefer LPNs for this role. I would be assisting the physician with colonoscopy and upper GI scopes, and collecting biopsies. Each tech takes a turn once a week to be placed in the the scope cleaning room. I did a job shadow today, and all the staff were super friendly. It did seem like it would be a nice change in pace. However in this position I would no longer be considered a nurse. And the pay is significantly less, $7 less per hour than my current rate. However, I do like that I get to work closely with the physician, RN, and anesthesiologist. It was also interesting to get to see inside the GI tract, and learn identifying landmarks, and see some common abnormalities found. I don't know if this would get old? But right now it seems new and exciting. The other downside to this role, is it is not uncommon to get low census depending on how many procedures are scheduled. So I am also not guaranteed all my hours. This hospital has a family oriented feel. Job offer #2: Profit Hospital, much larger. LPN role in post surgical office. My main role would be phone triage. The position is actually new, because it is an office full of MAs. They are still shaping the position, and I anticipate lots of changes along the way if I were to fill this role. They said I would also be implementing orders, there to support the MAs, and do 48 hour follow up phone calls with patients. This seems more like a desk job. This company said they will most likely be able to match my pay, if not more. They have not given me an official offer yet. I am hoping to hear back tomorrow. Some negative things I have heard about this hospital is that since it so large, and have many locations that people feel like a number, and more expendable. Neither job works weekends or holidays. Job #2 is 5 days a week, and job #1 is 4 days a week. Which job would you consider the better offer to gain new nursing skills, and become more knowledgeable? I am still not sure if I will go back to school to become and RN. Right now I am just trying to make the best out of my current LPN license.

I am curious, is it worth it for LPNs to obtain extra certifications? I am from Michigan, and they do not hire LPNs anymore in hospitals. I currently can work in clinics, in home care, and long term care settings. I want to open the door to other opportunities, and wondering if extra certifications would help with more opportunities in facilities that typically don't hire LPNs. Does anyone have any personal experiences with this?

Thank you, I ended up cutting down my hours. I think I was getting burnt out, and started to have a negative attitude. I feel like I can add more hours later once I get my mojo back. I also work on the long term care side more, gives me a break from rehab. I appreciate your advice. I never know whether to start with meds vs assessments. So it is good to to hear your input. There is already a checklist provided for us, and I use it with every admission.

I like it. But it seems like the volume of work in such a short amount of time is impossible. Especially when we get 3-4 admissions back to back toward the later end of our shift. What did you find helped during these busy times?

I want to add that all the other nurses in my unit feel the same way, and I have heard from CNAs that the nurses have left the floor in tears many times. The nurses I am in close contact with sometimes text while I am off and they are working that they are having a panick attack at work. Although I am glad to hear I am not the only one overwhelmed, and pushed past my limits, it sucks to know that we all feel this way, and have for months. It seems like this is considered the norm. And the DON says that is the nature of rehab. We often are work 2 hours past our 12 hour shift, do not have time to take break or even pee during our shift. All we get are nasty emails when things are missed or done incorrectly. I am all for taking responsibility and holding myself accountable. I am naturally very self critical, and have considered that to be one of my biggest down falls. However I can't help but feel that some of the errors are the result of an impossible amount of responsibilities and lack of support to complete these when getting slammed. It would be nice at the very least to get some recognition from management how much stress we are under, especially since covid. But instead they throw parties for each other, and lack empathy for their staff.

Curious if there is anyone out there who feels they have mastered the rehab unit in long term care. I have been working in rehab for about a year and half now. I would compare it to being on a rollercoaster. But the with more lows than highs. For the rehab unit I work in we get mostly hip fractures, CHF exacerbation, covid recovering patients, asymptomatic covid patients, tube feeds, wounds, and other miscellaneous things. Majority hip fractures though. Often the above are also fall risks, increased confusion secondary to their current condition. The part I struggle the most with is that they seem to not care what we are actually physically capable of handling. The social worker seems to plan all the discharges on the same day. Discharging 3-5 residents in the morning during our morning medication pass. Then in that same day the admissions team will schedule 3 admissions all scheduled to arrive the last 3-4 hours of my shift. The nursing skin assessment and head to toe nursing assessment are supposed to get done within the first 2 hours of arrival. Then there is of course code status paper work, consent forms for antipsychotic/antidepressants/antianxiety, fall risk, wandering risk, and calling the doctor to review medications over the phone, putting med orders into PCC, and finding a kind soul who has time to double check medications. Is it just me or is rehab super dysfunctional? Like not physically possible, and sometimes unsafe.... I have been relentlessly working my tail end off, working as efficiently as possible while tending to all my resident's needs. The worst part is when you admission arrives and is super painful right off the bat... It is a process to get medications reviewed, input, and activated. On top of this there is of course all the medicare charting for the residents currently there. I am grateful that we have 16 beds, I have heard of other rehab units having more in other LTC facilities. But they are all rehab patients. The other sub acute rehab units in my town have a mixture of LTC residents and rehab patients in their rehab unit. I also find it very frustrating carrying the portable nursing phone, because it rings non stop. I feel like a dang receptionist. I have huge empathy for the families, since covid the amount of phone calls I get during the day are near impossible to keep up with while juggling all my other responsibilities. Most of the time the calls are asking about the routine of the facility, and what they can expect their family members stay to consist of, or asking if can retrieve items dropped off up front, set them up for a window visit, set their family member up on the phone, and etc. All reasonable requests, but something anyone other than nursing staff could easily respond to. There is also a phone in the office that we are expected to check voicemails on, but the other nurses don't keep up with them so when I come in my shift there are 10+ voicemails unanswered and take forever to go through. Maybe I am being a little whiney, but it just seems so easy to add just one more thing to our plate, and it all adds up and takes away from actual patient care. And sometimes leads to errors being made.

I have been an LPN for a little over 2 years now. I have been slowly working on general education courses required for the ADN program. I am expected to start the program in Winter or Summer 2022. The past month I have been doubting this path. In the past I was so excited about nursing, and truly felt this was my calling. Lately I feel so discouraged, and doubting if I am truly capable of becoming a competent RN. I also fear I am already losing my passion for nursing. I love the variety of patients I get to help care for in the sub acute rehab unit I work in, but I find all the documentation and passing so so many medications dreadful. I also feel so discouraged how politics seems to have wormed its way into our field, and I don't want to get into that. However, It feels more divided than ever. I also find it so discouraging with Covid 19 how much it has affected our patients and how many inconsistent policies have been put in place. I don't feel excited about this career path anymore. But this was huge goal of mine, and I also do not want to be disappointed for not accomplishing this goal. Maybe I just need a change of setting. This is the only setting I have worked in as an LPN. I am finding that I dread going to work everyday. Do you guys think this is a sign that I should switch paths? I honestly don't even know what else I would do.

With the opioid epidemic, Im curious if other nurses have switched up their strategy for medicating patients for pain. I know pain is subjective, and it is up to the patient to state their pain. But truly so many patients will rate their pain high, but appear as comfortable as can be. I work with old school nurses who seem to always resort to strong opioids. What have you found helpful, especially from someone who is recovering from surgery. When do you try to wean them off their stronger pain medications?

Hello, At my current place of employment we use Point Click Care. If a medication error is made then an incident report is made, and you have to sign it. The incident report can be seen by everyone who uses point click care. I feel this is violating my privacy. I understand if I make an error, that is my own wrong doing, but I don't feel comfortable with the fact that anyone can view this. I was wondering what other facilities do for this. This is a newer process for med errors that started a few months back.