lmolvr

HI, I am an LPN that was just hired to work in the PACU at a local hospital here in the Twin Cities. I haven't started yet, but I will be transporting patients, keeping the area stocked, and helping the RN in any way that they may need. At the interview my manager showed me like a three page list of duties I could perform. I'm a little nervous, it will be fast-paced but a tremendous learning experience (I'm in school for my RN). I have been an LPN for three years...mostly in a transitional care unit in a nursing home. If your manager is encouraging you to take the position, I'd consider it. They have obviously seen something in you that makes them think you would be good at it. The biggest question is if this is something you want. If you do...I say go for it. You can always transfer out if you get there and decide you don't like it. Good luck in whatever you choose!

Hi all, I am hoping/planning on moving to Tampa this summer. I have talked to hospitals..and am disappointed with pay form LPN's (which I am). The lowest I heard was $11.62 (hospital)...and the highest $16.50 + shift differential (for a long term care facility). I make more than that here in Minnesota...but the 16.50 may be doable for me. Of course...I'd like to make there what I make here...and was curious about agency nursing. Does anyone currently work for an agency that they would recommend...or does anyone know of any good ones? Any help you can offer would be appeciated!! Thanks, Lisa

Hi all, I currently live in MN, and have been wanting to move to Tampa for years. With wait lists for RN school just as long in Minneapolis as Tampa....I'm thinking of moving to Tampa...and fulfilling my RN down there. I am currently an LPN (graduated 6 months ago) and I work on a sub-acute unit and Alzheimers unit in a LTC facility here in Minneapolis. I know hospitals are a little difficult to get into for an LPN, but can anyone tell me what LTC options may be available in Tampa? I know pay for nurses is terribly low in Florida...I make $18.20/hr up here at my facility (work 3-11). Is there any chance that I can make that kind of money anywhere (LTC/agency/hospital) in Tampa? Lastly, I would have just one class to take to fulfill pre-reqs at the two schools (SPC, HCC) I am considering (and I may just take those classes up here). Does anyone know if I could apply to school as soon as I get down there (say...fall 2006), and by the time I may be accepted (it can take up to a year, right?) would I qualify for instate tuition.....or because I applied and hadn't been a FL resident for a year when I applied would they charge me out of state? Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. I know I am coming to Tampa in the next few years. I'm just tired of the cold winters...and wondering if I should just come sooner...and continue my RN education down there. Lisa

I am an LPN working in a LTC facility in the Twin Cities. I started at $18.20 as a new grad (about six months ago). Base pay during the day is $15.45....there's a $2.75 shift differential for working 3-11. The RN's start at approx. $20-$21 I believe....during the day. Not to sure about hospitals...but I think they pay about the same ($14-$15 range). However, I hear it's getting increasingly difficult to have an LPN job in a hospital.

Hello, I too live in the twin cities area ( bloomington) and hate the cold weather, I moved here last april 0f 2003. I was in an RN program fall of 2003 and had to withdraw. I am a nursing assistant looking for jobs in the last 3-months , I applied every where that I can think of. I want to go back to fl, I lived there for 11 years, the school are way cheaper than here. I check the LPN school here, some of them like DCTC require a lot of General ed. Do you mind if I ask which school that you're attending. Good luck with school. You will like Fl but the only problem is the jobs don't pay much.:) Nursing homes start CNA $8-9, here in MN I was working in a nursing home getting 11.44. I am thinking if I go back now I may not be able to pay rent and go to school with $9. I used to live in the west palm beach area I'm at Hennepin Technical College right now for my LPN....it's a good school...the instructors are great! If I stay in MN to obtain my RN, I will be going to North Hennepin Technical College...I hear it's a good school as well.

Hi all, Many of you know that I am graduating from LPN school this May, and wanting to move to Tampa afterwards. I had finally made up my mind to move down there this summer. (I currently live in Minnesota and do not like it...hate the cold weather and there aren't enough "big" cities for me). After I get my LPN, I will continue to get my two year RN. Now, I am trying to figure out the best plan for me. If I stay in MN, and if I can get in to RN school w/o a wait (I have to take four pre-reqs then I can apply for the RN program..timing works out so that I could start RN classes the summer after I finish my pre-reqs...which is about a semester wait...as long as transition students aren't on a wait list...of which there is no guarantee), I can have my RN license in the spring of 2007...then I could high tail it to Florida. I've already taken some pre-reqs at the school I plan on getting my RN from....there's just no guarantee that I will be accepted....last year around 700 people applied and the school can only take 135 people...transition students included. If I move to FL this summer....I'd wait a year to get in-state tuition..then start my pre-reqs (at that time I'd likely still have four pre-req's) then I could start the RN classes....again depending on if transition students have a wait for classes as well...I may get my RN degree in spring of 2008 at the earliest. However...the RN portion of the MN program is 8 credits a semester....you have two days of clinicals....at this point I don't know what times you go..morning/night, two days of classes, one day being 10:00 to 12:00, and the other day being 12:00 to 2:00....kinda makes it hard to have a job....I'd have to work Fri, Sat, Sun...which is no prob...but I can't possibly work every weekend and go to school Mon-Thurs......I'd be burnt out very quickly. In FL, I'm looking at St. Petersburg College...there semesters of RN classes seem to be lighter credit wise..which would open up time for me to work...and still have time for myself. The pros/cons of staying in MN? Cons: I hate the cold, long winters, I've been here long enough and I'm beyond ready to move, Pros:my family is here, I could get through school faster. The pros/cons of moving to FL? Cons: it would take longer to get through school, i don't know a soul (not a huge problem for me though)Pros: it's warmer than MN...ok..hot as he**, but that doesn't bother me, oodles of things to do. I also have a marriage that is not good....my plan is to get through LPN school and then hopefully leave. I'm afraid if I don't take the opportunity to move to Fl this summer, I may not have the money to in the future. I'm trying to save as much money as I can, but if I stay in MN, a lot of the money I'm saving now will pay for classes (my prereq's are spaced out just enough to probably not get me a lot of financial aid..and my job will pay for classes, but only if I work 20 hours a week...which I can't because of my school schedule ) and cover my living expenses when I can't work a lot of hours because of my school schedule. I do plan on calling St. Petersburg College and talking to someone to get more specifics on there program so I can be more informed. what I would appreciate from people here are their perspectives. I'm so stressed out I desperately want to move to Florida NOW, but I'm not sure if the circumstances will be any different down there, then up here. In all of this the biggest factor is being able to work enough as an LPN to support myself, while I have an RN school load that is not too heavy. Any thoughts, suggestions,tips, encouragement, prayers, glasses of beer :rotfl: would be so greatly appreciated. This is an important decision for me, and I am trying to get all the facts together so i can make the best decision I can. Anyone with knowledge of SPC and their two year RN program would be of great help too. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this....I appreciate it!!! Lmo

Thank goodness!!! The VA sounds like a good opportunity....I'm glad their orientation is longer than what one person told me.

Thank goodness!!! The VA sounds like a good opportunity....I'm glad their orientation is longer than what one person told me.

I stayed in Bradenton last spring when I visited Florida to check out the Tampa area. I liked the area, but wished it were just a little closer to Tampa....it's not that far away.....but still..... I liked Sarasota.....especially by the marina where they have sculptures along the grass. I remember the big picture frame, and I stood in the middle and had my hubby take a picture....it's neat looking. Do you know much about Manatee Community College and it's LPN to RN program? Lmo

Thanks Pat, I had spoke with someone who worked in HR there a few days ago (albeit, they were not the Nurse Recruiter). They told me there training for a new grad LPN was three weeks long (on the floor was only one week). This unnerved me....I guess I'll have to call back and talk to the Nurse Recruiter. Lmo

Curious to know what you think the best hospitals in Florida are to work for? Things to take into consideration are pay :chuckle , working conditions (are shifts pretty much filled, or do you always run short, patient ratio, support if you want to continue your education...., opportunities for learning (things that would come into the hospital that you have rarely seen), etc. I have a special interest in the hospitals in the Tampa area, but all hospitals would be appreciated. Please list why you picked the hospital you did too. Thanks, Lmo

Hi, I was curious to know if anyone has works for, or know someone that works for the VA Hospital in Tampa. If so, can someone let me know what they think of the facility.....decent patient ratios, good financial assistance for furthering your education, location of the hospital....that kind of stuff Thanks, Lmo

Now that I can handle!!!! Here, snow starts in November/December and you don't seen grass again until around April!!! :angryfire

Thanks Bonnie, That really does help!! I'm glad to hear about the Wild Horse.....that's one must see on my list!!! Blecchh!!! It snows? Granted it's not as bad as MN, but I was hoping for warmer winter weather.. Glad to hear Chattanooga is so close...that was another place I was looking at. All in all I'm still undecided...even with the hurricanes hitting FL....it may be a better pick for me......we'll see after my trip to TN :chuckle Lmo

When I was 21, I tried to join the Air Force, but was turned down, due to a genetic disorder I had. The disorder (Neurofibromatosis) doesn't cause any problems for me, but they still said no. I still would like to be in the Air Force, but I am now 30. Am I past my prime? It seems that the Air Force Nurses are BSN holders. Would I need to get my BSN before going to the Air Force? Lmo