LPN4hire

I've been working as a lpn doing home care for the past two years. one thing I noticed in the past couple of months, more RNs are applying for home care positions in my state. Lately, all I here is that lpns are being phased out for good, Now at my job Im reduced to doing just the basics, I still give meds but I know something is not right, quite a few lpns left after being treated badly and not getting holiday pay and hours cut back. I did not get holiday pay and I'm looking with no luck so far. I'm worried. I'm afraid to post here fearing my employer may read it.

hmmm im making 21.00 in north jersey for an agency with no benifits I must be nuts!

I'm interested in getting certified in trach care for pediatrics and also ventilation in nj im searching like crazy to get certified in these areas but cannot find anything in nj. Im a new nurse working for a year and one half in home care at an agency. All places want "One year clinical experience" how can I get this experience if hospitals in nj no longer hire lpns. Its been a catch 22 for me, trying to get better at what I do but the good agencies want certifications and years of experience.

need some advice again. Its been almost 3 months and no job offers. I've applied everywhere going in person filling out employment forms and nothing, except for a job I am doing 2 days a week doing home care through an agency. Im not happy with this job, no benifits. Everything I see in newspapers require one years experience. Plus several places in my area have shut down due to loss of state funding. Im in NJ. Im on all the job websites update my resume on the sites and nothing. I really wonder if there is a nursing shortage. I never thought it would be this tough. I know there is an LPN newspaper but can't find it on the web. anyone know of good sources? also looking in getting IV certified and wound care certified but have not found any places in NJ.

hi all thanks for all the responses and its been a big help. looking back at the brief time I had at the facility I could see where I made mistakes, most of it was spending too much time getting patients to take their meds and keeping them from getting out of their wheel chairs. most times the cna's helped with getting some patients under control and back to their rooms but they could not handle everyone. I did have a system going and I was picking up speed . I usually had a group of 5 patients by my med cart and I would give them their meds first. did not help much since they would not leave and they all would try to grab stuff from the cart and I had a tough time getting them under control and away from the med cart. That was my biggest obstacle, the most time consuming one. my other mistake was not being assertive when I was bounced around from floor to floor with preceptors that just did not have the time I should of went directly to the don. I could go on and on but the truth is Im new to the field there is so much I don't know, and I have to build up my confidence and I really like to know how I can get in touch with a nurse mentor and talk. I know this for sure, I will ask a lot of questions at my next future interview, and suggestions made here has helped me a great deal in preparing myself.

I hear that 23 patients are a light load. But what kind of patients make for a light load? out of the 23 patients only 5 took meds by mouth and were cooperative. The rest were on thickened liquids, the meds had to be crushed, and given by spoon, everynight at least 2 patients spat out the meds or refused altogether. I had at times 5 patients with g-tubes, 6 patients with insulin injections, Others were trying to escape and setting off the alarm. 7 needed wound treatments, 5 had to have their vitals monitored. plus I had to drop everything to take phone orders, doctor orders, incident reports, setting up lab, x-rays, consults. I did my best with time management and multi-tasking but everyday there were so many interuptions I could not keep up. Now Im unemployed, I checked with all agencies and they just say they want a years experience. assisted living facilities also want a years experience. monster and careerbuilder got no responses I feel so down don't know who to talk to.

Hi all, I need some advice, I am a new grad and passed my boards (sept 07) I had trouble finding a LPN position, everybody wanted a years experience. I finally got a LPN job in a nursing home but was asked to resign with good references, I was two weeks short of my 3 month review. I agreed to resign. the problem they say is that I was too slow in passing meds, and I just could not keep up with multi-tasking and all the paperwork. I got real confused over the way I was trained. Management wanted it done by the book and on the floor it was all about cutting corners. I felt unsafe to cut corners I felt like if I did this I would loose my license. My work load was heavy with 23 patients. Most had dementia and most had to have their meds crushed and several were somewhat violent and others refused meds, or trying to get out of wheelchairs or trying to leave the facility. I was switched to three different areas and everyone did things differently. With that being said and awfully depressed that I failed at this job, how do I explain my resignation at an interview? Im applying for jobs and getting no responses mostly because I dont have a years experience. Since Im new to all this how do you handle your work load and do you cut corners. where else can I find employment with little experience? I thought there was a shortage of nurses?

I live in Central north New Jersey, lots of nursing homes here around me and thought Id have a chance, but so far nothing. I want to work in LTC. financially I can't afford to go for an RN plus there are waiting lists. the lpn program wiped out my savings. hate to sound so down. Im told that my clinicals in school counts as a years worth of clinical experience but employers so far said NO. Truth is there is no shortage. I think I made a terrible mistake.

I just got licensed as an lpn and finding it difficult to find a Job. I've been to three ltc facilities and they all tell me they want one years experience. I posted my resume on a couple of job sites and all I get are requests to do flu shots or the military. Currently im working as a recreation aide and applied where I work and Im getting the run around, and now I'm not sure now that I want to work there. I just feel Im not wanted there. I don't see many ads in the paper for lpns and I'm real worried now. I'm older and in my 40s and wonder if there is age discrimination, plus being male. I'm starting to feel depressed cause all I hear about is the nursing shortage but no one is hiring. need some advice

Hi everybody, thanks for the replies, I found out I PASSED!!:rotfl: Boy was I worried

the test went to 157 not 85 that is why im worried.

Took the test today and found the questions very difficult, nothing like the saunders review book or what I learned in school or the review I attended. The test stopped at question157 -- such an odd number. three students in my class passed last week and all said the test ended at 85 and said they felt the same way I did. I had passed all my exit exams but this nclex left me stumped and feel awful right now. The questions were all hard and at one point I just started guessing at every question from 85 on and stopped at question 157. I really think and know I failed:uhoh3:. Now I have to wait out the weekend till tuesday night for the result. Can anyone let me know what their experience was like.