caringtouch

Thank you. I've been taking care of just one patient one on one in his home for the last 3 years. A young quad with a traumatic brain injury. Think it's time to brush up on my meds, etc.

Thanks. I was told to be prepared to get manipulated. Seems they like to do that to the new nurse.

I will be starting a new job this week at an inpatient substance abuse center for teens aged 13 to 18. My background is in pediatric home health. Can anyone give me advice on what to expect? I will be working weekend days and two evenings a week.

Hi everyone. After 4 yrs working in Hospice I will now be starting a position in an ALF. I am not worried about caring for the geriatric population as most of my hospice pts were geriatrics & I was a CNA in SN for a long time prior to getting my LPN. I am nervous about the supervising aspect of the job. I will be the only nurse in the building with resident med techs and aides. While with hospice I worked mainly in the pt's home just me & the pt. I have prior supervisory experience in retail but for some reason I am nervous now (think it may be because my license is on the line.) Any suggestions for how I can be a great supervisor and make sure the work gets done without coming across as the newbie coming in and trying to take over? I was told that there has been a problem in the past with work not getting done,etc. Also, any suggestions on getting organized, time management or anything else in general that you feel would help me? Thanks, ~nervous~

Thanks everyone.

Thanks. I am very motivated, disciplined, organized, etc. So that part doesn't bother me in the least. And like I said I don't want to do the classroom route if I can afford it (I went home with a headache almost every day due to all the drama and BS while in LPN school). I was only concerned about getting all the way through & then having to wait 13 months I felt that was more than excessive. I am glad to hear that wasn't the case for you. Thanks again.

I have a question for those who did the LPN to RN through Excelsior recently. I was planning on taking the courses however now I am wondering if I should. An LPN who works for the same company I do just told me NOT to take the brige program through them. She informed me that she went with them, finished all the course work & was waiting to take the clinicals at the end. She said she had been waiting for more than 13 months to get a date . She finally "gave up" & signed up for the bridge program with a local college & NONE of her classes she took with Excelsior would transfer. I would really much prefer to do a distance learning course like Excelsior as I am a bit older & very tired of all the classroom drama & dynamics. My question is for those of you who did graduate recently (past year or two) did you have to wait that long for the clinical portion? What was your experience like with Excelsior, & would you recommend them? Thanks in advance for your replies.

A wash! I sat down, she picked up my resume, glanced at it, and said "Oh, I am only hiring experienced nurses right now." Then a moment of uncomfortable silence and she smiles at me and stands up to show me to the door!!!!

I'm a recent LPN grad. Not RN, but thought I would respond as well (if that's okay). 1. I'm working for Hospice (got the job offer today) 2. I'm from Florida 3. I sent an email to the clinical recruiter and told her that I have always wanted to work for Hospice and that when I entered nursing school it was with the goal of working for them one day. I got an email back asking me to fill out their online application. I didn't hear anything for a few days and thought "oh well, they must not have been interested." A few days later I got a call for an interview. That interview lasted over an hour and a half and I met with several people that day. This morning I got the job offer. I am very happy that I will be working for a company that I have always wanted to work with doing what I feel I am called to do. Best of luck to you!

I had the same thing happen to me, except that I actually had the interview. I couldn't believe the DON hadn't even looked over my resume or application. I got in her office and 2 minutes later I was walking back out. After I sat down she says "oh, I'm only hiring experienced nurses right now."

Yes, both in the book & on the CD. However, the actual exam in NOTHING like the books (other than perhaps they way questions are set up). You know your stuff, the best thing to do is try & relax.

rayk1021, I just wanted to let you know that I got a job today :yeah:for Hospice here in Lake County. It is exactly what I wanted to do even before I started nursing school. I was told that LPN's are desparately needed. They have even began a new preceptorship training program just for new grads. I start mine next Monday. As for the "phasing out LPN's" I can tell you that I have been hearing that saying for over 25 years now. So far it hasn't entirely come to pass. I say go for it. It will just be another stepping stone for you on your way to becoming an RN. Best of luck to you.

Hoping, I got the job!:yeah:I will keep you informed and let you know how my preceptorship goes. Like you, I had a sister who died from cancer, however, she spent the last year of her life in a hospital crying every day to go home and be with her 2 little boys. (We had never heard of Hospice at the time). It is something I will never forget. To be able to do for others what we were not able to do for my sister is what I truly want to do. I am thankful to have this opportunity. Best of luck to you.

I agree, don't give up! I got a job offer this morning (for the one job I wanted most of all) after weeks of filling out applications, sending out resumes, etc. I finally sent a letter to the organization that I REALLY, really wanted to work at even though I was told you had to have 1-3 yrs exp. I decided the only thing they could do was tell me no. The next day I got an email asking me where exactly I lived. I was then told to fill out the online application because they had two openings available. I didn't hear anything and figured they must not have been interested. A few days later I got the call to come in for the interview and today I got the job offer. It was so worth the wait. I am now going to be working for a company that I always wanted to work for, doing what I feel I was called to do. Keep trying, don't give up, & soon you will have the job you're looking for too.

I got the job....received the offer this morning. I am so excited, this is where my heart is. I knew before going in to nursing school that this is what I wanted to do. :1luvu:

Thank you.

hoping, My dream is to be a Hospice nurse as well. I knew this before even entering nursing school. I had an interview with them yesterday (fingers crossed) and their preceptorship program seems like it is excellent from what I was told about it. I was told it would last 6 weeks and that there would be tests to take along the way to make sure I was understanding everything, and most importantly (for me) that I would feel comfortable being able to work on my own by the time I finished. Hope this helps some. Good luck to you.

Hello everyone, I had an interview today with Hospice. This is where my heart is & I would really like to get this job. I thought the interview went really well. I first interviewed with someone from recruiting (or possibly HR) then I met with two nurses I was told would be my supervisors if I got the job. While talking to them they said they wanted me to meet with the man who does the training. My interview lasted over an hour & a half. My question is, approx. how long does it usually take to get an offer of a job? I have been told they will contact me one way or the other. Needless to say every time the phone rings I am jumping. Also, is it normal for an interview with them to last that long & for them to bring in other people ( I am hoping that is a good sign). Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone, I am hoping I can get some advice. Tomorrow I am interviewing with Hospice. It is the one job out of many that I have applied for in the last few weeks that I really want! I have been reading about interviewing skills because it has been awhile since I have had one. I noticed that more often than not employers now use the behavioral interview process. I am a little worried about this as I am unsure how best to prepare for it. I have been self-employed for the last several years as a massage therapist. I noticed a lot of the sample questions were about how you got along with your supervisors, how you handled this type of situation, etc. I am not sure how to answer those types of questions as I don't feel they applied to my situation very well. Also, I am dreading the "tell us about yourself" question. I have read that this is where you really need to "shine" and let the employer know why you are the best fit for the job. It is not a time to list a bunch of qualities like I am adaptable, organized etc. Nor a time to tell them all about your hobbies & home life. My question is as a new grad how do I express to them that I would be a good fit other than saying I have always wanted to work for Hospice? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I realize this is an older post, however, I was wondering if you could tell me what the market in S. FL was for LPN's. I currently live in Central FL and things are not very good here. Looking for work has become a full time job for me (unfortunately it is one that doesn't pay). Thanks for any information you may have.

I am close to you (in Lake County). I just graduated in July & am having a difficult time finding a job. Not sure that it is necessarily a "phasing out of LPN's" so much as the economy in general. I can say I have put applications in & sent out resumes in Pinellas, Pasco, Lake, Osceola, and Orange counties all with no luck. It is becoming very frustrating to say the least.

Congratulations!!!!!:redbeathe

Thank you.

Thanks again, I will check it out. I was also told that Pasco County Jails are hiring LPN's right now so I am going to see if I can find that out as well before I make a trip over there to apply.

Thanks FLg8r, We were actually wanting to move over that way because my step-children live in St. Pete...but was told there was no work there. My husband is in construction & that is a real bad market to be in right now as well.