Midwest4me

I Believe that you should always be properly oriented to a new position. You should be properly provided with the equipment that you will need. It is also the agency's responsibility to provide all of the information that you need to properly care for that client. In my opinion that means information regarding the care plan, diagnoses, medications, treatments, etc. Otherwise you are walking in blind. .

I became a nurse in 1985. Yes, same core nursing tasks: patient advocacy, questioning MD orders when needed. Seemed we had more autonomy back then. As an LPN I answered to the RN of course but my delegation of tasks to CNA was more accepted where as these days my directions are ignored often; they "make sure with the RN." That's frustrating and demeaning. Wore a nursing cap the first year or so then it became obsolete. As an LPN in nursing homes many years ago, there were fewer RNs so we were definitely in charge. I passed medications, performed treatments, delegated tasks to CNAs, did rounds with doctors. Many changes these past 31 years. Tired of nursing. Tired of the toxic, bullying environment. Anticipating retirement next year.

In Oregon with a state department, making $4800/month, 58,000/year. Not bad for a nurse with 30 years' experience. My first year (in 1985) as an LPN I made $13,920.

I live in Oregon, make $4800/month so around $30/hour, state agency. Been a nurse over 30 years. I believe new nurses start around $3100/month.

I live in Oregon, make $4800/month so around $30/hour.

Totally understandable. You are venting and here we SHOULD be able to vent! This is my first post in over 5 years(just got away from reading posts...nursing now over 30 years and sick of it) BUT I felt compelled to give my input on the necessity of at least graduating and taking your boards!! Don't throw all that sweat and toil away before taking the Board exam PLEASE. At least when you pass, you'll be a nurse. THEN decide your path. I wish you the best of luck and more blessings than heartaches in this field or whatever field you choose.

Our psych hospital has about 650 pts. Each ward has about 25 pts. Staffing: 1-2 RNs, 1 LPN, 3-5 techs. This is NOT enough staff as we provide activities(like on-grounds walks, yard, gym, fitness, some off-grounds passes)--especially when a patient becomes physically abusive.

We don't wear scrubs at our psych hospital; we wear casual clothes like jeans and t-shirts. My keys are attached to a lanyard; the lanyard is attached to a carabiner and the carabiner is hooked to a belt loop of my jeans.

I agree. I wish I'd just finished my Masters degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology back in 1985 instead of returning to nursing. Too late now: no $, no desire, too old, and too close to retirement.

I believe that nurses should remember that spiritual needs are very important aspects of the patient's total healthcare. If a nurse is NOT of the same belief system as his/her patient, then get the designated "leader" of that belief system in for consult in order to meet that pt's spiritual need. I am a Christian and will most definitely pray with Christian patients if asked.

Congrats! Now for the advice: Be prepared for constant interruptions during med passes, when on the phone with MDs, doing treatments. Often you are understaffed and need to help the CNAs or take on a patient or two yourself as well as do your nursing work. Often you are the only nurse in charge of 20-40 patients. Do NOT expect to leave work on time. Be prepared to get your heart broken by the kind things (AND nasty things) patients say to you. Make list after list of things to do and prioritize! Depend on your CNAs but don't be bullied by them. I wish you the best of luck!

You've indeed shown tons of perseverance! Continue to keep your chin up and positive thoughts going. Since this economy is so poor, keep the CNA job(s) until you land an LPN job. Keep in mind, too, that most nurses don't land a day job right away so be prepared for night shift(but usually there is a shift differential for swing and night shifts which adds to the pay!) Continue on with RN schooling if possible. I've been an LPN for 27 years and wish I'd just continued with the RN programs I'd been accepted into instead of stopping at the LPN level. LPNs are limited in many ways and seem to be getting phased out.

Thanks, Elladora, for sharing that. I think I need to memorize that! Our ward has been "high" lately....seems the patients' degrading, verbal abuse is on the rise(which I have ALWAYS taken personally--and even more so as I age.... I am more sensitive these past few months anyway due to financial issues, and husband's health issues) too. I stay at the job because of the benefits and because I'm nearly the sole provider since my husband is ill and on disability. I hope to retire in 5 years; I sure feel like I'm semi-retired now since I do my 40-hr work week in 3 days, but am getting really worn down by the verbal and potential physical abuse every day!

Go to GoodWill and invest in some jeans, t-shirts(inexpensive clothes). Then when you have to take a patient down and seclude him, or deal with those violent patients who throw feces on you, you won't be ruining good clothes.

Our patients in the psych hospital have many medical issues too. However, primarily, we deal with strange behaviors, verbal/physical abuse from these patients. Sometimes they're hallucinating; most often they are not. It's a VERY CHALLENGING field and VERY EMOTIONALLY STRESSFUL. On my ward, there is not much physical abuse but there is an abundance of verbal abuse which can truly wear one down. Yes, it can also be physically stressful..as in when we staff have to restrain/seclude a patient while that patient is spitting at us, cursing, striking out. I have about 5 years left to work before retirement; I only hope I can make it through without pulling out my hair.

I've been a nurse for over 27 years; most of that time was in LTC, some in a medical office, last 8 years in mental health. If I were you, I'd stay put in the medical office. Medical office basically has banking hours, weekends off, holidays off, no night shifts, etc. EVERY job has its pros and cons but the office job was my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, I left it for more money in LTC; wish I'd never done that. LTC was the hardest specialty in which I worked! No breaks, rushed when had to use the bathroom, no lunch and ALWAYS left late because of time constraints. For ME, LTC was the least rewarding because I just did NOT have the time I wanted to have to spend with the patients on a 1:1 basis, I was constantly running doing nursing tasks as well as assisting CNAs.BUT you have to do what is best for you; just know this: it's not always easy to return once you leave! Good luck with your decision.

Well, speaking from a Christian point of view, IF you apply and IF you get the job, my guess is that God is truly LEADING you TO that job! He has reasons for all He does. May you hear His voice in the choices you make!!!! :)

Street clothes are common at our psych hospital in most areas. Some RNs still wear scrubs in the geiatric wards. Most RNs, LPNs in the forensic areas wear street clothes(jeans, t-shirts, etc), Clothing from Good Will stores is best since it won't matter so much when the clothes are ripped or shredded or damaged in other ways. Also jeans and t-shirts are best for when taking a patient down to the floor or to the seclusion rooms.

Not all LPNs work in LTC or medical offices. Many work in psych hospitals, hemodialysis clinics, home health. We may be a dying breed so to speak but we're NOT dead yet! Also, some of us LPNs have advanced degrees(BS, MS) whereas many RNs have only a 2-yr degree.

I am sorry you're going through this. Alas, in our mental health hospital, the administration runs things much the same way. I imagine many psych facilities(as well as others) operate this way. The supervising nurses get away with verbal abuse towards other RNs, LPNs, therapy techs. Some time ago during night-shift-to-dayshift report, Night Shift Nurse A made a comment about a patient(in the shift report area). Other nurses, techs on the day shift apparently didn't like the comment so reported it. The night shift supervising nurse(Nurse XX) told the night shift nurses who were supervising Night Shift Nurse A: "you'd better nip this in the bud, and talk with Nurse A, or I will crawl so far up your ass you won't know what bit you!" Of course NO ONE would EVER report Nurse XX for her abusive language because she's in management...(and if someone DID report her, it would get back to her and she would retaliate in some way.)but this goes to show you how our "managers" manage through fear and threats. It's unprofessional, rude, uncalled for. I hope you're able to find another job. It does sound like a toxic work environment. So many of us are stuck in such areas due to the economy or to our close proximity to retirement that we'd rather stay, and go home to vent, kick the dog, yell at our spouses, take anti-depressants, antianxiety meds than go through the trouble of trying to find another job. Life is hard enough; we should NOT have to put up with abusive "managers" but in this economy, there isn't much choice.

Don't remind them to call you. If they want to plan a scxond interview they will call YOU.

Our "therapy" at our mental hospital consists of many, demeaning things. In the geriatric program "treatment hall", I've witnessed the patients making a "quilt"; this is accomplished by selecting various colored duct tape and putting on a large (36" x 36") piece of construction paper. It's supposed to be a time for socialization/teamwork, but several of them felt belittled by it. When I've pointed this out to supervisors, I'm told that most of the patients are NOT feeling belittled or offended by the task so the task continues. Other activities for these seniors consist of watching movies. The younger(20s-40s) patients also get to watch movies, play games, use watercolors to paint various pictures on construction paper. If the general public only knew how those tax dollars are being put to use!

I sympathize with you, SuperStarLPN. I worked in it for 5.5 years until I had to get out of it. Very challenging but rewarding work BUT the noncompliance(and there IS a lot of it) gets tiresome...yet I would probably be the same way periodically if I were in those patients' shoes. The problem with being an LPN is there aren't many options out there. As an LPN for 27 years, I've done lots of LTC, MD office, HD, PD, and psych nursing. My favorite was in the MD office environment but had to quit due to low pay. I wish you the best of luck with future endeavors. It's always nice to TRY an area for a year or so.

There isn't any recourse at our facility. It's understood that we hire on with the understanding of the "potential"(which is actual, not potential) violence(which includes assault, rape, etc); because these criminally ill patients are mentally ill; they've committed horrid crimes and are not responsible for their actions...so how can we possibly place police charges against them? And when most of the patients have 30+ years to serve, what difference does it make? It's frustrating to say the least. Some staff have lost their jobs trying to stop patients from injuring other staff, despite the fact that these staff have been cleared of wrong doing by the police. It doesn't speak highly of those in administration lending us the support we need, does it? You must expect injuries..it's so sad...but with this economy, at least it's a job.

While LTC is definitely much more stressful(and more distasteful) than clinic nursing, you use your nursing skills much more as well as more time management skills in LTC. It might behoove you to get a little experience in LTC since you are brand new, but I definitely urge you to look for the clinic jobs too. You will like them better...trust me, I worked LTC for many years and LOVED the change to clinic nursing. I would've stayed with clinic nursing if it had paid more. Just my opinion...from many years of experience.