ibmanda2000

I am currently asking the same question. I have 4 years pedi HH experience and am proficient in ventilators making $60k/yr as an LVN in San Antonio, Tx. I am set to graduate as an ADN this coming summer and hope to move back to my home town San Diego, Ca. What kind of salary can I expect to get with the prior experience I have, but in making the transition from HH to hospital and LVN to RN? I am not sure that I could afford to do it I am also curious about the job market there, you tend to hear so many different things. I am assuming I will just have to wait until I graduate and start applying anywhere and everywhere! Does anyone know about transferring my license from Tx to Ca? From Ca to Tx it was merely about paying $250.. I am hoping it will be just as easy going back to Cali. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank You and Happy Holidays everyone!

I work pedi home health through an agency. Working as an LVN through a home health agency, we can got give the patient ANYTHING without an MD order... this even includes chapstick! I have a child that gets homeopathic Tx also and her formula is a special blend that we mix according to mom. SHe is also NPO, however we cam give her Vitamin B drops sublingual. We have orders for everything. Even giving manual CPT and/or the pulmo vest needs a Dr's order. I personally would NOT work for anyone privately.... especially without first getting my own insurance. Good Luck!

Hi There! I went in to Home Health straight out of school and to this day, 3 years later, I have not worked anywhere but HH. However..... the company never should have hired me right out of school. Do you have any prior medical experience? I had worked in the field for 7 years previously and had worked home health as a CNA. Are you doing shift work or visits? Geriatrics or Peds? You need to be demanding training er each patient you take on and do NOT be afraid to ask questions!!! I called my agencies DON so many times asking for her help that we are now best friends! ASK QUESTIONS! It is the only way to learn. You should not, however, stay in a position where you do not feel comfortable, confident or safe with your patient. In the end, YOU are the one responsible and YOU are truly the only one that can protect your license. Feel free to message me with any questions you may have! Good Luck!

Also look into being a Hospice volunteer. The training is about 36 hours, but you will make yourself much more marketable having Hospice experience and training. I really enjoyed my one Hospice patient I had as a volunteer! We had fun, I learned quite a bit and made a huge difference in the transition of life to death for this patient and her family.

I am from San Diego and graduated as an LVN in April 2009. I recieved a job through a home health agency right away making $20/hr HOWEVER I later learned what a horrible, noncompliant agency this was... they never should have hired a new nurse for home health and turns out they were not even licensed to have LVNs working there! I had quite a bit of pediatric experience prior and ended up moving to Texas working pedi home health making great money. Many of my friends in SD obtained a job with Scripps and some with Kaiser as new grads working in the clinics. I think that will be your best bet. They typically look for new grads and LVNs. Good luck!

WoW!!n Are you TRULY looking and applying? Do you have any work experience at all? HAve your fellow graduates found work? Have you gotten any call backs at least?

Exactly! YAY! You need to sign up for Heathcare Essentials ASAP! Its really pretty easy and interesting. You will also have t0o take the TEAS test and your score on it will determine if yo get in! It is just a high school equivalency examine so dont worry too much. You can buy study guides for it also! Keep me posted!

just be careful jumping in to something!!! thats what I did with Kaplan and later I realized what a HUGE mistake that was. PLEASE take the time to call Grossmont Health Occ. I gave you the number. Ask about thier CNA program, LVN program and grants that they offer. You really do not want to waste your time doing the Clinical Med Assisitant or waste your money at Kaplan. Good Luck!!

Okay.... a Medical Assistant is different than a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant). An MA is basically a step between CNA and LVN. I do not reccommend going that route. MAs are much more limited in where they work and in order to go through an LVN program, you'd still need to be a CNA..

ETI? that sounds pretty expensive... I would call all larger nursing homes in your area... also check with Grossmont Health Occ in Santee- 619-596-3690

i see... check online with nursing homes around your area... many times they offer cheap or free CNA programs. Are you sure nursing is what you want to do?

Yes.. most, if not all, LVN programs require you to be a CNA first because you need to be able to do clinicals in the hospital. Are you a CNA now? Where are you currently working?

Ooh ooh ooh! I have one! I'll admit.. I have not read all these posts.. But I wanna add a "stupid nurse" story! (although "stupid" is a harsh word) Anyone know what Pediasure 60ml/hr x8hrs per GT means?? Pretty self explanatory order to me... but apparently not to everyone! After little baby girl began showing weight loss for 2 weeks it was discovered that the night nurse had somehow thought the order meant 60mls IN 8 hrs! She set the pump rate to 2.4mls/hr for 8 hrs!!!!! WHAT!?!?!!? Some people should return to nursing school..

You can work FULLTIME as a CNA in LVN school. Magic words: HOME HEALTH! You can work nights and usually do your homework/study alllllll nighgt long! Also.. Home Health has great opportunities for LVNs and most likely ALWAYS will. I have only been an LVN for 1.5 years, I am a pediatric hoome health nurse and I make more than some new grad RNs do. You'll be fine. However... Aim high! Why not go for your RN???

OKay... let me explain. If I remember correctly, Kaplan is the old Maric? I took the "PCAT" program there in 2005. That was the biggest mistake of my life as of now. All I got was a "glorified CNA" and 6 years later I am STILL paying off the $12,000 (which is now well over $15,000 due to interest.) I did go on to become an LVN. I went through the Grossmont Health Occupations prgram and actually recieved the entire program for free. I DO believe becoming an LVN is worth time, money and sacrifice in general. But DO NOT sell yourself short to a school that truly only cares about money. Their school advisors are salesmen. Simple as that. They only care about the sell and have absolutely no interest in your career or schooling. My advisor never again contacted me or returned calls after I signed the first paper. Being an LVN has changed my life for the better. I make great money, have awesome hours and am on my way to become an RN. Look for other programs. Places like Kaplan should be put out of business for taking advantage of people. Look into Grossmont Health Occ and that community college in South Bay. Please do not sign with Kaplan. Feel free to contact me with any further questions! Good Luck! -Amanda