3sodapop

I had a similar situation. I was hired to do this person's old job and she was supposed to train me, but she never lifted a finger to help me and constantly criticized me behind my back and sometimes to my face. I was trying to be patient and wait for this miserable person to realize that I wasn't an idiot... guess what?... I was called into the office and told that "it just wasn't working out" and they "decided to go a different way" with my job. I was stunned. They said not to "take it personally." I asked them if they would give me a letter of reference and they said yes, but after 3 unanswered requests I gave up. That was almost a year ago and I've been unemployed ever since. My advice to you is: Don't let them label you. You need to assert yourself and demand some respect before it's too late. Good Luck!:redbeathe

I would also consider which has the better commute, better hours. Most importantly, which place will treat you the best? What is more important to you: money, experience, or quality of life?

If I say I'm a nurse, people automatically assume I'm an RN. I usually wind up saying "no, I'm not an RN.... I'M JUST AN LPN. If I say I'm a licensed nurse I think that clears up that issue and sounds more professional too. So, from now on I'm going to call myself a licensed nurse and see how that flies.

What if we just started calling ourselves LICENSED NURSES, or LN's and just dropped the unnecessary word in the middle? Hello, my name is Jane Doe and I'm a Licensed Nurse.

Why does it have to be so confusing?? A "practical" nurse sounds like you're saying you're "practically" a nurse. And to me a"vocation" means a religious calling... What about simply calling ourselves LICENSED NURSES? Registered nurses will still be the same.

Well maybe California and Texas BON's should get on board with the rest of us :)

What's up with the LPN/LVN situation? It's very frustrating that the same job with the same credentials is called by 2 different names. To me, it doesn't show the world a solid and substantial reputation and unified front when we can't even agree on what we're called. I wish a nursing organization would step forward and declare us as either LPN's or LVN's. Just my

The only nursing shortage is a shortage of experienced RN's. Good luck finding a job when you graduate.

Congratulations, first of all! Getting a job offer these days is no easy feat; and you've got 2 I worked 2nd shift in LTC for a year, and I've worked in Dr. offices for 6 yrs. Working 2nd shift was AWFUL for a mom with school aged children. I had to stay up late & get up early, then the 2 days off I had were spent recuperating from my lack of sleep. My family never saw me, and working every other weekend was a major pain. I started to feel like a stranger in my own house. Granted, 2nd shift is ideal for some people, but it's definitely not for me. As for working in a Dr.s office, I like the fact that it's less hectic than all the buzzers and bells going off in LTC. The people seem happier there. No job is perfect, but that's just my ... Good Luck with whatever you choose!

After a year of working LTC, I just got a job in my local high school as a 1:1. I ride the sped van to & from school with a medically fragile child. During the school day I monitor the child and work as a 1:1 teacher's aid. I like the pace, the benefits, and the M-F hours.

wow! having phlebotomy skills on to of being an lpn is a huge asset to your skills. congrats & good luck 2 u!

I got an associate's degree in medical assisting right out of high school. I liked the courses and thought it would be fun. Well...looking back I wish I had used that 2 years to become an RN instead. I had a hard time finding clinical work and ended up working mostly in secretarial duties. In the Dr.s offices I worked at, the clinical MA's did the mostly the same work as the LPNs and RNs; the only major difference was the pay. I got laid off and applied to LPN school. It was VERY hard, but I made it through and after much searching found a job at a nursing home. I never thought I would say it but my job seems even harder than nursing school! I'm hoping to go back to a physician's office where the pace is easier and more predictable. I don't know where you want to work, but being an MA and an LPN might give you an edge over other new grads looking to work in Dr. offices. You will have more administrative knowledge. A lot of LPN's don't know how to answer the phone, schedule, type etc... Good luck!

In my case this is how I interpret the quote: It's not about downplaying education, it's about possessing all the true qualities needed to be a good nurse.

Being a nurse isn't about grades. It's about being who we are. NO book can teach you how to cry with a patient, NO class can teach you how to tell a family that their parents have died or are dying. NO professor can teach you how to find dignity in giving someone a bed bath. A nurse is NOT about the pills, the IV's and the charting. It's about being able to LOVE people when they are at their WEAKEST moments and being able to forgive them for ALL their wrongs and make a difference in their lives today. No one can make you a nurse... YOU JUST ARE I got this quote from facebook, and I just had to post it here. I've been working in a nursing home and it's so true.

I work 3-11 at LTC passing meds for 44 patients, hired as a new grad with 5 days orientation. After 3 weeks I'm doing well, but I was talking with my supervisor last night and we were discussing the pay at an office we both worked at when I was a medical assistant. He said the LPN pay stunk at $19/hr 2 yrs ago... That's what they're paying me now! I also get $2 for after 3pm and $1 for weekends, but am I getting ripped off? I had a really hard time finding a job as a new grad, but I just want to know if my pay is fair. BTW, I work in MA.