CA_LVN

No I never did find anything. Makes no sense to me. With such a nursing shortage...why not help out those who want to improve their skills or get back into the field? I guess LVN don't count! Oh well.... Good luck to you.

iwanna: The link you gave does not work. I think it might be this one: http://www.lpnrefreshercourse.com/ I tried also to respond to your PM, but could not find a reply button Thanks for your input!! Let me know when you start the course & what you think of it!

When our state reduced payments for all medi-cal services by 10%, an agency I know of did the same for pay rates. (reduced pay by 10% to all nurses working cases funded by medi-cal). I 'understand' this in theory, but sure did not make it any easier for nurses to accept. 10% of your hourly rate can make a big difference, especially if you live paycheck to paycheck. Of course, nurses had the option of accepting the decrease (in writing) or finding work elsewhere. It's a bad situation all around.

I do believe it was $12,000. This was LVN school, CA, 1990, 1 year - 40 hr/week course at a private college setting (vocational school only versus community college) I took out loans, and paid on them for MANY, MANY years!! No doubt I paid much more in interest when all said & done. I believe the interest rate was 8%. Looking back, I wish I had put paying off loans at the front & center when I first graduated! If only we would have lived more simply & paid them off sooner. Oh well..hindsight is 20/20

THANK YOU so much Daytonite for your response. It was thoughtful & so supportive! The links you offered were great!! I have already watched a few videos Even something so simple as donning sterile gloves is good to have a refresher on. Yes, I could have done it had I needed to ..but SEEING it done just helps to bring back the 'little' details one might have forgotten! I really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to write back to offer me support or resources. Keep it coming....I read every post!

I wanted to quote & respond to "iwanna' but for the life of me, I can't figure out how!! Sorry. So, I will do it a different way :-) RE: "I am afraid to be independent because of my lack of skills." I hear ya! The only way I can do this is because it is all I know! As I said, I am very cautious about the cases I take, and have been very blessed that most my cases have been very long term ones (like each has lasted 2+ years) So, I get to know the patient & their situation well. And again, these are simple, stable cases. But that "what if" scenario bugs me. And "feeling" like I should know more than what I do, and that I don't have the skills to go elsewhere if needed/wanted is becoming a problem. Re: "I am limited to find a job not physically demanding. I was thinking home health/agency/private duty" With what I know of Home Health/Private Duty, you could at least be more 'selective' of which cases you would accept. And all the cases I have been on are one on one type of situations. And I have never had to be on my feet for 8 hours straight etc. RE: "I am looking into taking refresher course online." Me too. I can't find anything either. Lots of RN refresher courses..but what about the LVN's (LPN's)!?! RE: "Originally, I was thinking about going to nursing home to get my skills refreshed. But, I am way too green. I graduated back in 1996. And, have just worked in Behavioral Health." Yep. Similar to me. Graduated long ago, but have only been in one area (and in my case a non demanding area) since then. I can see how this could happen to many nurses in other areas too though. If you go into a MD office or any other specific place place to worked, you could easily loose the skills you don't use there. I am IV certified, but have never started an IV outside of training. I have not done a blood draw or given an injection in 10-15 years or so. Same thing for inserting a catheter etc. UGH! AH..but I can handle trachs & g-tubes!! :wink2: I do know from my research on this, that MANY nurses find themselves in this situation. I am also surprised at how many nurses actually let their licenses go inactive or lapse totally, then need/want to get back into nursing later. There are many posts on this here, and on other nursing forums. Most seem to be RN's though. Probably because there more RN's than LVN/LPN's. I will never, ever let my license expire or be inactive. I know it cots to keep it going, but it would be so much worse or more expensive to totally start over!! Re: "Please keep me updated about your situation." You too. I am interested in the online course you are considering, if you care to share.

Would like to add to my post: Could anyone suggest magazines or periodicals that might be good resources for me also? If only to feel 'more in touch' with nursing. Thanks...again

I have been curious about this for a long time: Did you have to take a written test before you were hired? If yes, what type of questions were on it? (Like: dosage calculations, various disease knowledge questions, etc. or ??) Also, if you did have to take a test, was it specific to the job you were applying for or more general nursing knowledge stuff? Thanks :redbeathe

I need (want) to increase my nursing skills. I have been a nurse (LVN/LPN) since 1990. I work in a home health setting that minimally utilizes my skills. Add to that I never did any hospital work before starting home health. This is really a recipe for 'disaster' when it comes to keeping ones skills (in my opinion!). I can't find a refresher course in my area (So. CA). So per suggestions in another thread I started, I am thinking of 'hitting the books'. But where do I start? I would like suggestions of nursing books that you like the best. Do you know of any books that take you 'back to the basics'? I have not had to do a nursing related math calculation since 1990..so that would also be something I need to 're-learn'..dosage calculations! I don't like to read, I am a very visual learner..so books with CD's or lots of pictures are good I am also interested in CEU's, online courses & such...anything that will help me regain skills & confidence. THANKS!!!!

Thank you pagandeva2000 & starcandy. I am thinking also that finding CEU's (more than what I do to keep license active) & maybe seminars & webcasts etc. might be a good starting point too. I am a very visual learner, and not fond of reading at all!...So not sure how books & such will do...but worth a shot. I think I will make a seperate post inquiring specifically about suggested books, CEUs & such for my situation. Please keep the feedback coming :-) I really appreciate it!!!!!!

Thank You gentlegiver for your input. Funny you mention 11-7, that is my usual shift! :-) (I like the night time quiet) But I am not against going back to more 'normal' hours. I am sure my 'body' would appreciate it! Even though it says I just registered on this site, I have actually been a member in lurk mode for many years. I have noticed through reading posts that 'losing skills' or 'leaving the workforce' is brought up somewhat often. I have seen quite a few posts about taking refresher courses and such. So, I know what your saying about it being easy to lose skills is no doubt true. I have actually felt some comfort in knowing that I am not 'the only one' :-) Two pieces of advice I remember vividly from when I was in nursing school: The instructor told us "DO NOT go directly into home health or MD office...get at LEAST 1 years med-surg under your belt first" and "NEVER give up your license willingly." At least I did one of those! (I will NEVER let my license expire, even if I leave the field someday) I am an LVN, always have been always will be :wink2: Thanks Again, Looking forward to more responses...

Ok, it turns out this is a bit long...but I really could use some feedback....so if you can spare a few minutes, please read: I became an LVN in 1990. I took an accerlated course (one year) versus a 2 year college course..where maybe I would have at least 'absorbed' more! As soon as I graduated, literally, I made a career 'boo boo' (in my opinion) by following the big money (at the time) and going straight into home heath/private duty nursing. I was already working for this home health care company & when I became an LVN, I started doing visits & such for them. Doing 2 visits a day (morning & night, 5 days a week, plus working a steady 40 hours for them I really was making a good income..until the company was sold) Of course the boo boo was that I never got any real hospital experience, and truly feel like I never really honed what I learned & never really got it 'drilled' into my head. And this is now becoming a problem...to me at least. I have stayed in home health care ever since I became an LVN (well, I left for a few years and worked in a totally unrelated field). I only do private duty nursing (not visits) and honestly, the cases I have been on are fairly simple, stable cases. I enjoy what I do, and don't plan on leaving..but, at the same time I feel trapped. I fear that at sometime, I will have to leave for lack of work etc. The wages they pay are not great either. I am concerned that I would not pass a skills test a new employer would give when you apply. (do employers give skills tests still?) I know what I 'need' to know to care for the patients I see (I am very picky & cautious about what cases I accept, and turn down anything I think might be difficult or out of my league). But I feel that I am in no way able to go work for a hospital. (not that hospitals even hire LVN's anymore! At least not where I live) I considered LTC, but really am not sure if I could do that even. Maybe if they offered me a LOT of retraining & support. Anyway, I have stayed with ONE agency for 10 years. My hourly wage has increased a total of $3 since the day I was hired. I have no benefits of any kind, no vacation pay, no sick days, no shift differential etc. And from what I read here, it looks like I could be making at least $3-$5 more per hour than I am (currently earn $18/hr) I live in a large metropolitan area of So. CA. In a way, I feel like I am almost wasting my education as an LVN. I worked hard to get this license, and I enjoy being a nurse. But being 'stuck' at one agency that does not even pay well..and may or may not have enough work to keep me working 40 hours...stinks! I so dislike the fear that, even though I am an LVN, I could be without a job, without income. An LVN flipping burgers at McDonalds is what comes to mind! (hey, at least I would be nearby to do the heimlich if needed!! :chuckle ) How do I get back the skills I may have lost over the years? There are no refresher courses for LVN's in my area. I have done all that resercah already...have been looking for YEARS..even contacted the BVNPT for help. I have considered an online course, but really want to relearn the clinical parts also, and don't believe I can find a hospital in my area that allows that. (The online courses make you find a hopital where you can do clinical portions) Should I even be concerned about the skills I may have lost over the years? Do you really use all that you learned in nursing school in your day to day job? Should I consider LTC/SNF or an MD office? Where else do LVN's work? Any ideas or suggestions would be really appreciated!