DyerRN

Hoosier thank you for your comment! I hope LTC doesn't even up being my favorite sense I will be leaving a management position tomorrow! It seems like you ventured around a lot to come to that conclusion and if that's what I need to do to find peace in my career choice then I guess I am taking the jump!

Both of your experiences sound very interesting! I tend to preform smaller facilities vs larger ones because as you stated, I don't like feeling lost in the sea. I have changed jobs a couple times now in my healthcare career and can tell you every time I regretted it for the first couple weeks. I would find my mind wondering what could of been. I recently turned down a promotion to MDS coordinator at a SNF I've been with for a couple years and am going to hospice as a case manager next week. I came to these boards to seek to ease my mind like you in the switch. I am already semi regretting the choice, but I feel like there is never a need to go back just progress on. Sure I may of made DON of the SNF in a few years, but I didn't want my entire career to be in nursing homes. I switched to experience something new as I am only 28 and have time to go back to nursing homes if I want. I have to constantly remind myself of this even today so I don't go crawling back to the SNF begging for the job offer back. It hard.... so very very hard, but since we are in the same boat I would suggest sticking it out for a little at the new job to see if it is just jitters. If you still hate it then wait for an opening at your old hospital.

My LPN was paid for by scholarships and some out of pocket. LPN-RN I took out 6,800 to help cover some costs, but worked full time to not have to take out more. RN-BSN I currently have 3 months left and am paying completely out of pocket. This has put a hold on paying extra payments on the 6,800, but worth not taking more out. When I start my MSN next fall I believe I will have to take around 12-15k out in loans. I am planning on paying off the RN loans prior to entering for MSN.

I would love to experience school nursing! Very hard to get into due to the rural community I'm located in. Those nurses tend to stay put like you! ? Thank you for your input! I'm interested in how long you worked LTC? Only because like I've said it is all I have done and you made large jump to school nursing!

Okay I'm here for the cartoons! LOL Goes to show we have to have a sense of humor in this field to survive!

Thank you for the comments! The position I am going into is Mon-Fri 0830-1700 case management with 1 on call day (24 hours) every 2 weeks. It is travel inside my county only, so I do not feel it is too bad. I always wanted ED! The EDs in my area will only hire BSN. My plan was always to go there after that degree (in a couple months) unless I really love this new job! Davey I agree with you that the people who surround you can make or break a job! This goes back to even my STNA days and having the "dream crew". Some great insight into the many fields of nursing here! Anyone else want to chime in?

Davey, that is great and funny advice from your past manager! I agree though that transition is difficult to make. I was an STNA, Lpn then RN manager and getting that respect from both the aids and nurses was Not easy! I did what you have done by offering to jump in and help when they got behind, which gained the respect from maybe half of them. The other half abused it. This lead to me having the pull "The Card" and tell them this is a warning, the next time I catch you out smoking when there are call lights going off you will get a write up. They still did not listen to my empty statement or so they thought. The next time a resident had a fall while 3 of my 4 aids were smoking. I was definitely not pleased and those 3 aids got write ups. I believe strongly in if you do you job well and efficient then you deserve an extra break (rather it being going to get a snack or out to smoke). However, having 75% of the crew out was not efficient. End of the day after this point in time my crew ran well and efficient with the occasional hiccup.

I have been in healthcare for 9 years. Some as a STNA, lpn and RN. I will soon have my BSN and am getting the itch to try something other than a SNF. I recently accepted a hospice job with great hours and pay. However, with all the resources on this site (all of you), I wander what everyone's favorite field is? Has anyone tried hospice and hated it/ loved it? Maybe the vast majority of you love the hospital and wouldn't trade it for anything? Maybe some love the routine of a SNF. Lets talk about your favorite fields and why to give some of the newer nurses on this site (like me) some wisdom ?

I enjoy this post since I can relate to all of your advice! Like EDNURSE said they changed jobs to a larger facility and hated it. That could be you or me with my transition out of office/management and into the field with hospice. You never know until you try and if you regret it there are a dozen other similar places within driving distance to apply to.

I agree with Libra, the VA has amazing benefits and usually great pay. Mon-Fri is nice because it is "normal" LOL. I see friends and family a little more than when I worked 12s.

Sadly we have lost two MDS coordinators since then. I semi regret not taking the job. Putting the little pieces together to get the most payment would be fun, but I'm only 28 and feel it is best to experience things outside of a SNF for awhile. Never know I may come back!

Congrats! MDS is definingly a difficult, but interesting field. I was recently offered that position, but declined it because I want experience outside of LTC (Been with it for 9 years). If it wasn't for that I would of easily accepted it!

Like the above poster said try to stick it out for another 3 months! I have done LTC since I was 19 (now 28). I was a STNA, LPN, RN and about to have my BSN. I still have no idea what I want to do for a long period of time. I am currently a nurse manager, but next week will transition to a hospice case manager to try something new. Like you, I am very freaked out over this change. LTC is all I've ever known, but I can no longer see myself doing it for the next 30 years. Luckily as nurses we have so many different specialties do not give up!

This is coming from another Monday through Friday nurse 8-430. I honestly do not mind it. I regularly get to have dinner with my family, enjoy weekend events and can plan events in the future because of the set schedule. I am a manager of a SNF about to transition to hospice case manager with the same hours. Like the above poster I do miss running my errands on a Tuesday morning when I worked 3 12s. I also like the fact of guaranteed 40 hours a week. Like every nursing field there are pros and cons. This may shock you, but if I were to pick it would probably be to stay with transplant. Even though it sounds like a stressful job the experience you get would be pretty interesting correct? If you need the better hours for family or for your sanity you will not go wrong working with the VA. I have some nursing school friends who work in different segments of the VA with a pretty high job satisfaction. Whatever your choice good luck and know there will always be more jobs out there!

Hello, You're right it is not all about the money, but that is an important part of any job. In my area of Ohio LPNs are paid around $20-$22 an hour in a SNF. LPNs are not used in the local hospitals, but their doctor offices connected to them make between $16-$18 an hour. Keep in mind the stress levels, hours and skills used when making your choice! Hope this helps!