Name (just initials)?: CP
Your age? 38
Years of experience? 5
How was your experience with your studies? Stressful, I worked full time went to school nights and had 3 kids and a husband. It was overwhelming.
How long it took to find a job after graduation? 3 months
How was your starting salary? $26/hr
Where you work at (Hospital, Home-care)? Homecare - Part time (also in a high school health room - part time & prn LTC)
For how long have you worked at this place? 2 years
What led you to become a LPN/LVN? I needed a career change I wasn't happy with what I was doing at the time and I'd always enjoyed the thought of nursing.
On a normal day, how your workday begins? In home care here in Connecticut LPNs cannot be the primary nurse only a RN. I recieve my assignments to visit patients from the Rns/supervisor
What are your duties during a normal day? I work alone. an average of 6 patients in an 8 hour period I have patients who need wound care which could be a skin tears, stage I to IV, amputations and eviserations or wound vacs (yes these patients are home not in a hospital). I prepour and order meds, status checks/change. PRN visits for staus changes. There is lots of teaching and education to patients. Short term and long term illnesses. Lots of calls to PCPs for updates and status changes. chart, chart chart...
Do you apply intravenous and / or med? Homecare nurses in the state of Connecticut cannot do IV meds a seperate nursing company must come in to teach a patient or give med.
At the end of the workday, what you do? make sure supervisor is aware of any f/u or potential after hours issues. If unable to connect with an MD/PCP during the shift send faxes for important updates,
Did you do “Double shifts”? (If the answer is YES) >>>>> NO
What you do when you have to double shift?
How patients and patient’s family treat you? Majority of the time the patients and family members are appreciative to be able to have visits at home. It keeps then out of the hospital or LTC and provides their PCPs/MDs with regular updates. patients can avoid ED visits with one of our PRN visits and are usually grateful. However some patients and their families feel I am intruding on their lives and schedule. This represents a small number of patients.
How your fellows LPNs / LVNs treat you? No problems
How your fellow RNs treat you? I get along great with my RNs they have been wonderful teachers.
What is your personal opinion about your Professions? Most days I love my
job(s) I feel valued and I feel like I make a difference in my patients and their families lives.
What would you say to a person who study or think to study to become a LPN ?
Do you have any regrets about your profession? I went to school to become an LPN because there was no waiting list I was able to start classes right away, and there was an evening program. I'm very happy being an LPN but I want to advance and that means becoming an RN. I would say to a new LPN student ... Try to shadow a LPN and RN to make sure you know what you want. Both programs are hard work, make sure this is what you want.
