abbyann

I moved back here from CA in November and got a job on my first day - ok, it was a crummy place to work but it allowed me to get my foot in the door. I think you do have more of a chance here if you are a new grad. Some of the LTC facilities are fairly good places to work. Also, there's an alcohol/drug rehab facility that routinely hires new grads. And there's always corrections. I now work as a travel nurse, having only 7 months of experience. It is a little tough on me, not the driving so much as not having guaranteed hours. But the pay is terrific. Employers want to know that you're serious about coming here, so if you are the best thing to do (IMO) is endorse your license over, which doesn't take long. Financially, it wasn't possible for me to come here just to interview. I had to come here to stay. I wish you the best. Vermont is my home, so it wasn't a hard choice to come back. I'm so glad I did.

The job in the doctor's office didn't work out - miserable pay and I really didn't fit in with the other nurses. So I quit. I don't want to go back to my old LTC job. I did one assignment with TLC over the weekend, and it went very, very well. But I haven't heard anything from them and I'm getting antsy. I could go to a local nursing home per diem - it's owned by the same company as my first job. Not a great place to work, though. I've also applied for a job in corrections. Should I wait for TLC to give me another assignment, or take the local per diem job? I don't want to make any kind of committment to them if TLC is going to come up with another assignment. Help!

I don't think I'm in for any "surprise" because unlike the rest of the people who complain about the job, I have taken the time to make sure this is where I want to be. This will ensure that I don't have to complain about it to a bunch of strangers, who can't help me any way. And the job of your dreams will fall into your lap the day after you receive your license, paying a terrific salary, all your fellow nurses will be in awe of your expertise. You won't run into one ***** or crappy boss, and you'll never make a mistake or a med error. If you dislike us complainers, feel free to go elsewhere. I would suggest "pollyannanurses.com" The rest of us whiners would do well to ignore this poster from now on.

You ARE getting a lot of good, valuable experience that you can take with you when you move on to another field. That being said, it is AWFUL to get up in the morning and go off to a job you hate. I don't believe that our clinical assignments give us much preparation in going into the "real world," but I don't see how that can be changed. Most of the staff at our clinical sites were very hostile to us, and it simply isn't possible for a nursing student to go off and do a full med run. I really hope you'll be able to stick it out for your first year. I know, I bailed out of my first job after 3 months, but that was LTC and I don't know of any new nurses who have had good or positive experiences in that arena. Is the working environment tolerable, at least? Is it more the fact that you don't especially like tele, and you don't have the time to give your patients the time and attention you would like? Unfortunately, healthcare is all about cost control. Unless you go into private duty, there will always be a time constraint on what you are doing.

I don't understand why that is, but it seems like that will always be the case in nursing. Some environments breed worse behavior (like LTC). In my case, I had one nurse who wanted me out because she was per diem (her choice, she wanted a higher hourly rate) and I was full-time. She really scoped out my weaknesses and exploited them, so I blame myself in a lot of ways that I was not stronger from the beginning. No matter what I did, though, she would have found some angle to use to get rid of me. There's really nothing you can do if they're just nasty and rude. That's the nature of nursing, unfortunately. They were probably all treated badly as new nurses and that is they way they responded. As a per diem, you don't really have a chance to build good working relationships with any of the nicer nurses in your workplace. Are you working per diem because you can't find a permanent position, or is it by choice? Are there opportunities for permanent positions in your area?

It took 3 months, but CA is slooooow. The classes that graduated just before mine were waiting 8 and 9 months, so we were lucky. I got a big white envelope in the mail with my ATT, then I had to wait until my school could register me. I took it 3 days after I was registered, got my results back in 1 month.

Don't stress yourself out right now trying to relearn your textbook. LTC is stressful enough - give yourself some down time before you start work. You would be smart to review diabetes and heart attack symptoms. But most importantly learn to manage your time. Don't leave your med cart unlocked or forget to sign out your narcotics. Learn which CNA's are reliable and which ones you have to watch. Look out for safety hazards (my pet peeve is residents sitting in front of the fire doors). And ask for help if you're not sure how to do something.

I'm an LPN (will be an RN someday). I only went through the review class my school gave, and to be honest it was just something to keep us busy and focused until we were ready to test. I got A's in all 4 terms and knew the material very well. I took NCLEX once, was finished and out in 45 minutes. And passed :)

Is one shift going to put your license in jeopardy?

Sounds like my experience. I only lasted 3 months in LTC. Got a job in a doctor's office, starting next week. Keep looking for other opportunities. If you can get through 3 or 4 months you may find another employer who will give you a chance. And try to cultivate good relationships with your fellow nurses. I had 3 strong references from my LTC job, which was the deciding factor in getting my new job. When you're out of work, try to do things to take care of yourself. Little things that make you feel human. Go for a walk, spend time with the people you love. Treat yourself to an ice cream cone. Anything that makes you feel relaxed and refreshed.

I made $17 in LTC, will make $14.13 in my new job (doctor's office). the pay cut is worth keeping my sanity.

I was my class valedictorian, straight A's, perfect attendance, great references, etc. Could not get a job interview in CA. I moved back to Vermont and got a job the first day. It's a dreadful place - I got a job in a doctor's office after just 3 months of experience and start next week. There are not many jobs here for nurses, very few for new graduates. Even fewer jobs in quality places. Sometimes it is just luck. My new place hired me because the job is low-paying and they weren't getting any resumes.

American Career College in Anaheim!

I am a new LPN, a good one and a quick learner. But I will leave the profession if my new job is as horrible as my current one. I'm talking about nurses trying to sabotage me because they want my hours, administrators who $%^* on me if my CNA's do a lousy job, then ^&*% on me if I try to write them up. I've had enough.

11-7 is hard. Usually you would be the only nurse for 50 or 60 residents. A lot can happen at night, residents awake, wandering around and ultra confused. You are responsible for early am blood draws, chart checks, at least one med pass. The worst falls in our facility were all on the 11-7 shift. I have only worked in LTC for 3 months. I quit for an office job paying $4 less per hour. It was a horrendous experience.

I am taking the Wound Care Educators certification class online. Seems too easy, but I am studying the textbook very hard as well. How hard is the exam?

I'm due to take the ACLS class next Monday and Tuesday. I bought the book today and feel like I'm completely out of my depth. Any advice? Should I go ahead and take it, or cancel and apply the money to a different class?

Hi! Sorry, I don't know anything about FAHC but your post caught my eye. I'll be moving back to Vermont after almost 16 years in California. I just finished my LVN and will be starting on my RN on August 23rd. Can I ask what made you decide to go back? I miss almost everything about Vermont. I wish I had never left. Hope everything works out for you. I hope to be back there within the next two years. :)

For average pay, go to the Vermont Department of Employment. Vermont can be a hard place to live, if you like the sun and the big city. St. Albans is kind of desolate and isolated. I would move to Burlington, or to Southern Vermont. There are two Kindred facilities in Burlington. I used to work at one, and it was a TERRIFIC place to work. It's called Birchwood Terrace Healthcare.

Congratulations!! I will be moving back there next spring. Can't wait. I desperately want to go home. Schooling: Like anwhere, a lot does depend on where you live. My children are in East Montpelier, and their school is AMAZING! My son's class has only 18 kids, my daughter's has 14 (here in CA, my son's kindergarten class had 30 kids!). Healthcare: One of the major reasons I'm moving back there. It is possible to buy very, very good group health insurance through the state, if you don't have insurance. My daughter is diabetic, and my mom pays NOTHING extra for her care. The people: Again, it depends on where you are. In the poorer parts, like the Northeast Kingdom, people are likely to be less welcoming of newcomers. But in Burlington (my favorite city!) the people are very, very friendly. Also, there are a lot of nursing jobs in Burlington. Especially for a nurse with your experience. I don't know specifically, since I haven't worked as a nurse there. Housing is pretty reasonable. Burlington is more expensive, but IMO definitely worth paying a little more to live there. Sorry I can't give you more info on the specialties available. But it's a wonderful, wonderful place to live and a terrific place to raise children. My children don't want to come back to California. Good luck! Julie

I lived in Burlington for 5 years before moving to California. It's a beautiful city. Very health conscious, very safe. There are lots of interesting restaurants. Tons of stuff to do. I'm moving back there when I finish with school. Can't wait!

I grew up in Vermont, moved away 15 years ago and am planning to move back when I finish school. Maybe not as exciting and fast paced as some places (i live in Orange county, CA), but in my opinion it's a great place to live and raise a family. Still very small towney in a lot of ways. My children are living there with my mom right now,and they LOVE it. I feel like it's a more wholesome, healthy atmosphere than CA. If you like the outdoor life, there is a lot to do. Even if you have to brave some cold weather. Hiking, skiing, biking, even sledding (I miss that!). The one thing i will miss about here is the varitey of ethnic food. But I hate everything else - the cost of living, freeways, air pollution..... Burlington is an awesome city, but a little expensive. We're probably going to move to White River Jct. I'd like to get a job with the VA, or at Dartmouth Hitchcock. Sorry to go on....I desperately want to go home

I have a good handle on endocrine, but the diagnostics are a little overwhelming. I can't seem to find the interventions for all the tests we need to know about (t3, t4, radionuclide...). Any websites where i can find them?

I'm about to start my 3rd term, halfway through the program. I have evening clinicals this time, which is kind of a bummer. But it's close to home. Can't decide if i love or hate my school. The important thing is, I'm doing really well and learning a lot. Will be glad to graduate so i can move home.