newbiehere

Thank you for the reality check I can't stand it when they tell me "oh you'll get the hang of it" No I won't, at least that is what it seems like, I appreciate your honesty, that is why when I need answers or just to vent or just to look at what others are going through I come to this forum, you guys are great.

Update: I am miserable. I feel the workload is unsafe twenty patients to one nurse, but I don't do all I am either the treatement nurse or the medication nurse, depending on where they feel like putting me. The staff is hostile, not supportive, can't ask any questions without being made to feel like an idiot. Or else I get the "oh you should have been here when it was one nurse to 40 patients, or don't you have the treatments memorized, or I just leave the treatment on the stand for the cna to put on. Or I can do these patients in two hours" No way can give tube meds to twenty patients with clogged tubes cause the night nurse did not flush, in two hours. Or do treatments, suction the patient change everyone's ic, etc that goes with being a treatment nurse in a two hour time frame. I have been there four weeks or so and I am running around all day, everything is an emergency, leave this to do that, etc, I take no breaks I work 7-3 but in reality I am there till 4 sometimes by the time I write report, give report, p/u orders, etc. I am overwhelmed and exhaused, when I get home I barely make it till 8:00 pm before I am out like a light and guess what more of the same to look forward to the next day. The state was there last week and everyone was on their best, I really do not know how they passed. You cannot put in the medex med not given because medication was not there. It is suggested you sign it even though it is lying and I told them so. I quit last week and told the director everything I was feeling, but she said to come back the next day so I did, and now I feel like I may quit again, because people's attitudes have changed I guess someone must have told I complained and now some of the nurses are not talking to me. I just do not have the time to spend to properly care for these patients and I feel like if I stay I may be putting my license at risk. Very confused and dejected.

Thanks to all who have contributed their feedback. In response to caliotter 3 yes, I am signing RN after my name on everything, she has introduced me as an RN to staff etc. Ms. Chybil hit it on the nose and I am going to try to hang in there for a year like Suesqatch suggested. I know what they say about LTC a lot of places don't even consider that as experience. I don't know what they think we do there. I have been told from the other nurses that I should ask for RN pay after about three months or so, or if not leave, so we'll see. Again thank you all.

By the way I was at orientation today and all went well, I will speak to her tomorrow, I was the only RN hired, everyone recognized me as such, so I do not think she put down in my contract LPN she has to have put down RN, but I will make sure tomorrow. Again thank you for all of your feedback

In response to Zuzi she told me she was hiring me as an RN but paying me LPN pay, I am not working as an LPN, I can't. I am not taking the job from anyone else. I am not pushing her to give me more money, I know what I took an RN position paid as an LPN that much is clear, what I was trying to get some feedback on was should I do it or not. I am not messing with anybody's job, I am only trying to gain some experience wherever I can, in this economy, they do not want to touch a new grad with a ten foot pole. If I could find an RN job paying RN salary don't yo think I would, I am making about half of what I should be, but what can I do? As I said $21.00 an hour is better than $0.00 an hour. At least I can gain some experience.

No, no, I do not know what she is listing me as, I will definitely clarify that tomorrow asap, before I do anything else. Thank you again for all of your excellent feedback, you have been a great help. Once I report for work tomorrow I will speak to the manager and clarify that. As amiro31 stated in this economy I am fortunate to have at least that. But I do agree some things have to be clarified asap, which I will do tomorrow. Will keep everyone posted. Again thank you very much

Thank you again for all your feedback, in response to ttreeds, the manager agreed to hire me as an RN but LPN pay, I was assuming she would put me down as RN on paper, but as some of you have pointed out, maybe she will not to avoid trouble or maybe something fishy is going on and I really have to make sure of that before anything. You are all right, I have to protect my license, but I really am confused, it is the only steady thing I have been offered anywhere. I feel I will be shortchanging myself and other nurses who will come after me by accepting these conditions but I have nothing else. Also, there is no shift differential, no benefits nothing like that was discussed. Just sitting here writing about I am slowly realizing, what am I an ...hole. But I thought to myself when I took the job that "hey you never know, what good may come out of this for me" Just because it isn't ideal doesn't mean that maybe, just maybe it will be fine, I will gain much needed experience and move on when something more appropriate comes along.

Thank you for all the feedback, really appreciate it. One question, in order for her to pay me that wage she has to list me as an LPN on her records, I don't understand.

Hello, I am a new grad, (June 2009), on Long Island, have applied everywhere with no luck, no call back nothing!! Have been working flu clinics on and off as needed. Applied for a job at a LTC facility in Queens, during the interview she told me she would be hiring me as an RN but would be paying me LPN salary. She would not continue with the interview unless I agreed. I agreed because something is better than nothing, but now I am thinking maybe I should not have. $21.00 an hour is better and $0.00 an hour, and I am getting experience too. Initially she told me 7-3 but when I called to confirm, she said you have to be flexible the schedule is already made up for the month of December, etc. First you train and then we will see. I just don't have a good feeling about this. Also, I have to pay for parking, because there is no parking around $10.00 a day. Just need some feedback. Thank you