azcna

LPN new grad in LTC in 2012 was 22/hr. RN with ASN new grad in a hospital in 2014 is 29/hr plus 6/hr night shift. Both in AZ/Phoenix

During my LPN program I had class for 8 hours a day four days a week, and my school was 45 minutes away. I also worked two 12 hour shifts per week , leaving one "day off" a week. In the beginning of the program I would basically come home and study the rest of the afternoon until bedtime. Eventually I learned that this was overkill, and I didn't need to study nearly that much to learn the material. By the time I was in my RN program I was working between part time-full time as an LPN (more money, yay!), and studying maybe 3 hours a week. Once you learn how to think like a nurse, the rest comes naturally! I was scared at first when I read these forums before nursing school, because everyone said you had to study 20 hours a week, couldn't work full time, blah blah. It just isn't true. Some of my classmates studied like crazy and still failed, but I made it through just fine. Don't let anyone discourage you :)

I worked weekend doubles for a while as an LPN while going to RN school full time. I also had a PRN job (12's) on the side. It was hard, but the only way that I could afford to get through school with no debt. I agree with the other posters, once you get more used to the job you learn how to handle the emotional stresses, and how to work as efficiently as possible.

Just the fact that you have that attitude almost guarantees that you'll be a good aide! Personally, I want my aides to notify me of changes, like the other nurses mentioned. Beyond that and safety, just act like a responsible adult. For example, don't complain about your co-workers all day, don't be on your cellphone all day, don't roll your eyes at me when I ask you to do something (especially if you are sitting on your phone and I'm running around), and do have a good attitude!

What area of the country are you in? Do you know anybody that works for a nursing home? Did you apply to the place you did your clinicals at?

Try to go easy on us nurses :) I never understood why nurses were so crabby until I became one! The nurses generally want vitals by a certain time so that they can give meds (b/p meds, dig. etc). If meds are not given on time this messes the whole day up, means they don't get to eat or go to the bathroom that day, AND means they'll have to stay late 95% of the time. Nurses also have about a billion things going on at once. For example (all of this will be going on at the same time): diabetic patient needs his insulin before trays are delivered, Dr. waiting on hold about new orders, family member waiting on hold to complain about "mother" not getting her meds on time last night, residents b/p is 180/95, another resident complaining of pain, another resident about to fall out of her chair (40 mins of paperwork & phonecalls), aide complaining that another aide isn't doing her job, vitals on ten residents still not done. Nurses really aren't just angry monsters who like to yell at their aides, we are generally just as, or more, stressed out then you are. And believe me, nurses are NOT seen as being "above" everything. We get called on our days off to ask us about what happened on previous shifts, and get scolded for not following some impossible standard. I will say this, I stand up for my good aides (we can tell if you are a hard worker and trying your best). If I see a housekeeper or anyone giving my aide a hard time, I will step in. Good aides are truly worth their weight in gold, they are very VERY hard to come by. One last thing, I know CNAs work very hard for their certification, I did for mine. However, my certification took 6 weeks and approx. $900 to obtain, while my RN took about 3.5 years and $11,000 to obtain. Don't judge until you've walked a mile in their shoes :)

All facilities are going to have to make changes, especially if there is legislation that forces business to purchase something, or forces them to do something without being paid (such as mandatory emergency tx regardless of pay). Some of this can be written off as charity, but that only goes so far. Hospitals want to stay in business, so if their costs increase and/or their revenue decreases, different cuts will need to be made. A hospital I was recently at said that in their last quarter they lost 50M corporation wide due to non-paying patients. Unfortunately this might mean that patio to staff ratios will increase, and time spent per patient will absolutely be cut.

Why would big businesses want an "excuse to cut back", TheCommuter?

Isn't that the hospital where multiple infants died of suspicious digoxin overdoses?

It's different in LTC because the primary nurse generally "knows" the residents pretty well health wise. You know who your brittle diabetics are, or the ones who always run high/always run low. You know who's B/P should be checked before meds (everybody gets checked before given dig though). Most of the residents have been on their beta-blocker or ace inhibitor for years. You can almost guess what their B/P and pulse will be, because they are relatively stable.

What is your Associates Degree in? And why are you getting that if you want to go into nursing? I may have missed something. I'm not an RN yet, but I'm an LPN in a bridge program and I can tell you that jobs are hard to come by, so having CNA experience at a hospital you want to work at is a huge advantage right now. Managers hire who they like, so if you can impress some people you'll have an easier time getting a job! And you wouldn't have to work full-time necessarily, though having extra money saved away could never hurt!

I would also recommend, as many others already have, getting A's in your remaining pre-reqs. Re-taking A&P isn't a bad idea either, because you really have to know that stuff! It will come in handy all throughout school and your nursing career if you can understand as much about A&P as possible. I would not however, take the advice of the poster who recommended quitting your job and taking out loans. Working as much as is reasonable will pay off in the long run. Who wants a bunch of loans to pay off when they're done with school?

I have to disagree with the above posters. Nursing schools look at your science classes, and other classes like algebra that they require as pre-reqs. The schools I applied to couldn't care less that I failed technical writing, took psych and algebra twice due to failing, and failed macroeconomics. All they care about is that when you apply you have good grades in the pre-reqs. When I first attended college it wasn't really by choice, so I didn't care and did poorly in the classes I took because I was disinterested. I pretty much didn't have anything above a C before taking A&P. I got an A in that class because I loved it and it was interesting. The moral of the story is not to be discouraged, just do well on those pre-reqs!

Hello!I am a nursing student (and currently working LPN) who is desperately looking for an NP to help me out! My insurance from my new job hasn't kicked in yet, and I need a form signed for my RN program stating that I am fit to practice nursing. A little ridiculous seeing as I am a nurse already, but that's the school beauracracy...If anyone is willing to help me out I would really appreciate it!Thank you!

It's also a myth that new grads have student loan debt