We'llSee

I'm relatively new to HH as an RN, but I love it. I feel like I get paid ok money per visit, and if I add the time that I spend doing charting to the time that I spend with the patient, it still works out ok as far as money per hour. I get paid for mileage, but that's a bit of a joke, so I won't address it. Time spent charting is a pain for sure, but I'm hoping that as time goes by I'll get more savvy and find ways to speed it up. One thing is for sure tho, I would much rather work in HH than deal with the politics I've encountered in the hospitals! I really like making my own schedule and working almost entirely solo. Help is always a phone call away and they don't breathe down my neck. I like that, too! Farmer at heart RN, the docs should not be calling your friend at home, they should be calling her agency with any concerns they have. Never give out your personal phone number to patients or doctors!

Our charting is all electronic, but it still takes forever to get it all done. We have IPads that we're supposed to use at each visit for charting, but aside from charting the vitals, forget it. I can't do the narrative in the patient's home, and my IPad doesn't have a separate keyboard, so for me, it's a "one finger" job.

I started my RN pre-reqs right after finishing LVN school. The LVN school I attended didn't require any pre-reqs as they were all "built into" the program. I did very well in LVN school and worked as an LVN while doing my two years of pre-reqs for the RN program. I think RN school is the hardest thing I've ever done, and the careplans are the bane of my existence. Concept maps make sense, but they are the worst part of careplans, in my opinion. MelissaLPN, I think the biggest difference between what I learned in LVN school and what I'm learning now is that in LVN school we learned about different illnesses, but we didn't go into depth. In RN school we not only learn about the illnesses, but we learn WHY and HOW, on a cellular level. In LVN school, we were taught that if we saw something unusual, we should report to the RN. Now we're learning why those things are unusual (again, on a cellular level). Does this make sense?

I live in SoCal and have worked for Maxim for the past year and a half. I know that each office is different, and I have no experience with any except the one I work for. My experience has been almost entirely positive. There have been some in the office who have been more difficult to deal with than others, but fortunately they did not last long. Don't expect to be well paid, but the work isn't that hard, and there is time (on my cases, anyway) to do some reading and/or homework. As for orientation, I work with children and the orientation has come entirely from the parents. But if that weren't the case, I'm confident that I'd be able to get the training I needed from my supervisor, who is wonderful. That having been said, I'm not so sure about the employees being their greatest asset, at least not in general. They love you when you're available when they have a gap to fill, but they'll give you the boot from an assignment just as quick. The thing I like is that if I want or need time off, whenever, if I give them decent notice (which is only fair), there's never a problem. To me, it's worth not making quite as much hourly to have the flexibility with hours. Additionally, with each semester's schedule being different, they've always accomodated me.

It's very possible that you could successfully complete this semester, especially if your instructors are willing to work with you. My experience is that every pregnancy and delivery is different. I've given birth to 6 children and it was different each time. Sometimes the pregnancy and delivery was a piece of cake, and sometimes not. Each pregnancy was tiring at the end, particularly when I had other children to take care of. The thing that concerns me is that you've got a little one at home who is going to have to share mom very soon, and you might want to spend extra quality and unhurried time with that child as you and he/she prepare for the addition to the family. That having been said, I know you've worked very hard to get where you're at now and that you're motivated and ready. Deferring won't change that or take away from it, but the time spent with your 3-year-old might be a very special gift for you both. Whatever you decide, it will all work out. Having grandparents nearby is a huge help and blessing, too. The very best of luck to you, and congratulations on the new addition to your family!

It will be interesting to see what all of us have to say a week or two after our programs start. This might sound odd, but it's a little calming to know that I'm not the only one feeling the way I do. Maybe this is "normal"?

I've been at my current LVN job for about a year and a half. They are very supportive of me as I continue my education to become an RN. I asked them recently if there would be a place for me with the company after I become an RN. I'll have been working there well over 3 years by that time. I was told that unless I had a year of experience as an RN, they wouldn't hire me... but I would be more than welcome to continue working for them as an LVN, since I've done such a good job. Very frustrating.

I start on August 16th, and I'm nervous and excited. I'm more nervous since last week when I met someone in my CPR class who is a former nursing student at the school I'll be attending. She asked to talk with me after class and told me all kinds of stuff about school that pretty much rattled me. I keep telling myself that she's probably just a tad bit intense, but I can't help but wonder "what if she's right?" Good luck to us all!

I finished my pre-reqs in May, applied for the programin early June, took the TEAS the following week, and was notified in late June that I was accepted for the term beginning in August. I applied for the advanced placement program and for the 12-LVN-grant that the school recently received. I was accepted to both, but decided to start at square one so that I don't miss anything that will cripple me down the road. I am absolutely sure that 1) I was/am blessed big time, and 2) it has everything to do with the fact that I'm an LVN. I'm excited, but really nervous.

Since the time is going to pass anyway, I think it's a good idea to get your pre-reqs out of the way while working and gaining experience as an LVN. I did just that, finishing my pre-reqs in May. I had an appointment with my counselor in early June to fill out the applications for RN school, at which time my counselor told me that my school recently got a grant to admit 12 LVNs. I filled out that application and another that would admit me as an advanced placement student. Long story short is that two days later, I was called to schedule the TEAS. The following week, I was contacted by the school of nursing to inform me that I had a spot in the class beginning in August, and that I could choose advanced placement or join the grant group. My point is that you just never know, the waiting list might not be exactly what you expect.

When you work in LTC as an LVN (at least, in my experience), there is an RN on duty also. You can always go to the RN for help, or to ask questions. My first job was in LTC, and while I didn't like the job, I was very relieved to have the RN nearby. Good luck, you can do it!

I think it's great that you know what you want to do at such a young age. I agree with the previous poster that you should get the general education classes out of the way (a good idea no matter what your ultimate goal is). I also think that you should pursue your area of interest simultaneously. I'm a big fan of starting out at a J.C. No sense paying more than you have to for classes that are transferrable. I think the place to start is with a nursing counselor at your local J.C. Good for you for starting to get your "ducks in a row", it never hurts to inform yourself about the realities that lie ahead of you. Best of luck to you!

Thank you for starting this thread, ZiggysGal. I've been worrying over the idea of being part of a study group, too. I do much better on my own, but my school strongly recommends that we each be part of a study group. I'm very focused in my studies, but I'm also very friendly. I would probably be the one to start conversations that were off-topic. At any rate, I'm feeling more confident at this point, about not participating in a study group. Thanks again, and best of luck to you when school starts!

I'm an LVN who, if all continues according to plan, will become an RN shortly after my 56th birthday. I'm thinking that, God willing, I should be able to work until age 70 or so.

I was unable to obtain a conventional loan, so the school offered me their loan, which had to be paid back in full prior to graduation and eligibility for the NCLEX. I attended the LA campus, on Vermont St.

One more thing about paying the loans... if you aren't able to secure a loan elsewhere, you can get one thru WCU. The problem is, it has to be paid off in full before you can graduate/take the NCLEX.

I have worked for Maxim for over a year. I'm in California, so I have no comments about how they are in your area. It's not my dream job, but it works well for me as I continue my education. I feel like I've been treated fairly thus far. If you need flexible hours, this may work well for you. Best of luck to you!

I'm a good student and a quick learner, but the one week that I spent as a student at West Coast University was more than enough for me. Fast-paced is an understatement. Somehow managing to pass a test doesn't work for me. I need and want to understand what I'm studying and to spend enough time with the subject to have a prayer of remembering what the course was about. Just way too fast for me.

I'm not sure how it works in other places, but I wasn't allowed to take the TEAS until I'd finished all my pre-reqs and applied to the nursing department. When I was accepted, the nursing department contacted me and arranged for the scheduling of the test. I took the test last Friday and passed!

Hi Amber! Welcome soon to Ventura County. I live in Thousand Oaks, very near Los Robles Hospital. When I was in LVN school, we did our clinicals there, and I know that some other schools have RN clinicals there, as well. From what I hear, it's not a bad place to work. Your commute from Ventura shouldn't be too bad, either. Let me know if I can be of any help to you :)

I live closer to Moorpark College than to Ventura College, but I opted to attend Ventura College rather than Moorpark College. I've completed my pre-reqs and applied last week to the advanced placement RN program. I got a call two days later to schedule my TEAS, which I'll be taking one week from today (yikes!). To be fair, I've heard very good things about the RN program at both schools, and am sure that an excellent education could be obtained at either school. When I spoke with my counselor last week, she told me that there is a one to two semester wait at Ventura College, and that a grant has been received from the state to make room for 12 LVNs in the advanced placement program. She was very vague about any details concerning numbers of applicants, etc, but I'm hoping that the fact that I was called so quickly to take the TEAS is a good sign. Sweating bullets about taking the test, however.

One of my patient's parents are constantly bad-mouthing the other nurses, and I did tell them that I was uncomfortable with it. They blame everything that happens in their home on the nurses. I had to bite my tongue HARD to not comment when this family saw roaches in their kitchen and blamed it on the nurses. These people seldom do their dishes and the garbage is almost always overflowing. They claim the reason they saw roaches is because the night nurse doesn't always rinse out the Jevity cans before putting them into the garbage. It's all her fault! Sure thing, guys.

Hi Gladiola, Your nursing counselor should be able to easily answer that question for you. I understand your frustration because I had the same question when I was deciding which Chem class to take... but my counselor had it all figured out. If push comes to shove, look at the schools you are most interested in and find out which one(s) they require. I'm surprised that your school has two micro classes, mine has just one (which I'm currently enrolled in). Not my favorite class, but not as bad as physiology was. Good luck and hang in there!

I'm now 53, but at age 50, after finally leaving my 1st husband, and with 2 out of 6 children still at home, I relocated from northern California to SoCal and went to LVN school. A little over a year later, I graduated as valedictorian (motivation, NOT smarts!) and am now working as an LVN while finishing my RN prereqs. I'll be done at the end of this semester (unless microbiology kills me, which it's trying to do), about a month before I turn 54. God willing, I'll pass the TEAS test and then be placed on "the list". I've maintained a 4.0 average (micro will change that), but I do agree that it takes me longer to grasp things than it does my younger classmates. I'm just really motivated (family and friends say that in my case motivated=anal) The time is going to pass anyway, so why the heck not? Now, if I could just get these youngest two out the door! Also, I remarried in November, so life is very full. BTW, I am tired ALL the time! Hang in there, younger as well as older students. We've all got our stumbling blocks, but if you want it enough, you can do it!

Several years before I decided to go to nursing school, I became interested in Hospice and took a 50-hr. course that, when completed, allowed me to volunteer. When I went to nursing school, I had Hospice in mind. I received my license in March (2008) and a job in LTC fell into my lap, so I took it. Long story short is that it was SO NOT for me! I decided to apply with a local hospice and thankfully, was hired. I now work at a lovely 10-bed Hospice facility. I get to actually be a nurse rather than merely a pill-pusher (makes me shudder when I think of the ratio in LTC). While I'm busy and have no time for a break, I feel like I'm truly taking care of these gentle people and am learning much from them. When I applied with Hospice, I had hoped to be doing home visits, and wasn't too excited initially about the facility. They tell me that soon I will be doing both- home and facility, and while I'm looking forward to what's to come, I am very happy with the here and now. I have only been at this job for a little over a week, but already, I feel like I am home. For me, this is a very good fit.