Rk222

Wow~ I'm so impressed about the words of wisdom. Thank you very much everyone. If they decide to hire me, i am gonna take that job. =)

I have been working in a nursing home for 7 months. I have 24 pts. and get paid $23/hour (I guess not bad as a new grad..)/ no benefit (I didn't buy the insurance b/c it's too expensive.) I really love my patients & co-workers. There are still lots of things to learn but the work is kinda not too challenging. ( I feel like I'm just settling) Today I had an interview at an acute hospital for an lvn position. I always wanted to work in the acute setting to bet more broad experience but most of the hospitals are getting rid of lvn's and as a new grad it's not easy to get a chance to get in. But this hospital do not require any experience and my friend who works there referred me to the director of nursing. This hospital pays only $15.68/hr. =( but good thing is health benefit (EPO??) is free for my self and family. lvn's get 6-7 pts and gives primary care (?);including changing diapers and giving bath.. $15.68/hr sounds ridiculous but opportunity to work in the hospital for new grad doesn't come often.. I am planning to apply RN program next year after getting some clinical experience. Any ideas or advice will be appreciated!!

I am a new grad working in a nursing home for 6 months. I just got written up with a disciplinary action couple days ago for the over time. I try not to go overtime and most of the times I clock out on time and finish my work without getting paid because my director is very sensitive about it. But, this is what happened one day.. The staff was short (someone called in sick and they didn't replace anyone) I had to do med pass to a new residents that I never gave meds before. And 30 mins before end of my shift, I got an admission. So, it took me longer than other days to finish up with my works. (more chartings, new orders and etc.) I worked 2 hours over time. (but, actually, I stayed one more hour to finish my work after clock out.) I thought it was reasonable to go overtime but DON wrote me up with disciplinary action. I am kinda mad and confused.. What does disciplinary action means? Am I going to have hard time finding my next job because of this? what's next step? If I get another write up, am I going to be fired?

thanks everybody for the replies. I feel much better now b/c some of you said i did the right thing.. and.. Flo., you are right.. my co-worker said it was for the break through pain.. (which i didn't understand what it meant at that time..) I guess I will get better as I get more experience.. Thanks again for the good advice.

hi, i am a new grad LVN, just got my first job at the LTC. I'm confused about how to give prn pain medication. Today, my pt. was requesting Vicodin for pain. Order was Vicodin q4h prn/ ultram q6h prn. Last dose for vicodin given at 9pm. pt. was asking for vicodin at 12pm ( which is 1 hour early.) So,, I told him that it's not due yet and I can give ultram if he wants. He took ultram at 12 and at 1240 he was asking for vicodin. I thought it's too early to give another pain med since I just gave him one. So I asked him if he can wait about 30 minute until the ultram kicks in. I also asked my supervisor about this and she said not to give vicodin yet. Later, he didn't call me again for the pain pill but, in the morning I found out that he was mad at me b/c i didn't give him the vicodin. I asked if he wants it now but he refused b/c he was mad. Later, morning nurse came and told me that I was supposed to give him the vicodin. I'm so confused.. Can someone tell me what I was supposed to do??

definitely #2.. right?? I think I made a good decision.. thanks ALL for the advice.. =)

hi, I'm a new grad LVN. After applying 80-100 places in last 6 months, finally I got job offer from two LTC's. But I'm not sure which job I should keep. 1. On-call type (Occational) and no minimum hours without any benefit. wage is $23/hr. Only 5 minutes away from my house. Friendly staffs.. They will change me to full time when there is open position but I just heard from a charge nurse that they recently hired 2-3 LVN's already. It seems like, they are hiring me b/c they want to have someone who can speak Korean since they have Korean Unit. There are appx. 179 beds and has sub acute unit. (But i don't float to sub acute.) It seems like they have high census. They gave me schedule for next month and I work average 2-4 8hr shifts a week. I already had orientation and getting my training.. 2. Full time with medical insurance including dental and vision. wage is $20/hr. Distance wise,.. it's 28 miles ONE WAY (40 minutes when there is no traffic.) =( They have less than 45 beds and sometimes low in census. They don't have treatment nurse which means I am responsible to do both wound care and giving medication. I kind of want to take the first one because it's closer to my house but kinda scared if I don't get enough hours of work? and.. Not become full time for a long time?? If you were me, which one will you take?? Thank you very much!!! =)