OgopogoLPN

BC, Canada. 5 years exp. $26.80/hr plus various shift diffs. LTC and acute care/same pay. Fully paid benefits/pension also with that

Yikes, I better follow what's happening...if I stay on my self imposed timeline, I will be writing the CRNE in 2015, or 2016 at the latest. Either way, it will be the new format.

It's hit and miss. There's 3 schools pumping out new grads to very, very few jobs. Some new grads are being hired casual in LTC and acute care, but get very few hours. The summer is busier of course, but for casuals right now, it's very slow. I graduated in 2008 and it took me 2 years to get a permanet position (in LTC). I now have over 5000 hours and still can't get a permanent or even a decent relief in acute care. There is the odd private home that is hiring, but one of the two is just brutal to work at. Very, very high workload, poor management, high turnover of staff. They went to a private provider like Advocare or one of those a few years ago, so I think the pay rate is much lower than union pay.

I live in the Okanagan, and from everything I've heard online, in person and 2nd hand info, then entire Lower Mainland right now (and for the past few years) is completely brutal for LPN jobs. There are NONE. Experienced LPNs are applying everywhere like crazy and not getting ANYTHING. From UBC, to North Van to Chilliwack. NOTHING. Public, private, acute care, LTC.... I know it sucks.

I usually cannot sleep beforehand. I can never nap in the afternoon as I have 2 young children. I sometimes try to lie down at 7:30pm (11-7 shift) but I almost never can sleep as my normal bedtime is about 11pm. So I'm basically up for 24 hours when my first nightshift ends. Subsequent nights are easier as I have slept usually until at least 2pm or so.