libran1984

Yeah, I agree with some of the above... If someone says your positive for "Ativan" and that is the official accusation, they're lying. If management uses that as an excuse to fire u, then perhaps upper management purposefully set u up. There's no way to differentiate between Ativan and Xanax on a urine drug screen

My understanding of an RN residency program was that it was meant for all new hires directly out of school to improve retention rates and better familiarize the nurse with protocols and technical skills. I am confused as to what previous posters speak of when they talk about "applying to a residency".

My hospital is turning a huge profit and we're seeing record numbers of ED pts, new admits, and more ppl are being signed up for PCP's than ever before. What I don't understand is why several of the surrounding hospital networks are are cutting costs by firing and removing raises, bonuses, and shift differentials while the CEO's, according to our local business journal have all given themselves and the boards record raises. Someone told me it was because of those layoffs and budget cuts they were able to reap said raises, all the while still reporting higher profit margins. Greed and fear are very powerful things and it's them we should be fearing, not the ACA.

I was an LPN then RN and I'd like to obtain an RRT license and EMT-P cert.

A thesis statement is merely a declaration of what you wish to discuss such as: "We will closely examine the pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and blah blah factors related to congenital hypothyroidism"

Can u do all ur charting in the pt's room?

I did my LPN-ASN at a community college and it cost me less than $4,000 I now make just over $5,000 per month as an RN. That program was only a year long, but that was bc I had bee. Out of school greater than 2 years while those that had gone back sooner didn't have to take a refresher class and got it done in 6 months. My RN to BSN is looking to be around $12,000 When I was looking at LPN to BSN it was going to be between $20,000 and $45,000 and about 3 years of schooling. I'd have also had to retake the majority of my LPN classes which really put me off.

Keep on trucking along

I've worked as an LPN in the ED alongside several medics. I went back for my RN with many of them. The medics found the transition to be somewhat easier than my LPN peers that worked in LTC, but found the non critical care med surg courses as the real struggle in school. After we graduated, they agreed the pay hike was well worth the effort but seemed to take longer adjusting to managing multiple pts at a time than the LPNs. The medics were much more adept in their skills than the non acute care LPNs, however, as u can imagine. The books are to be used at ur own discretion. I opted for older, cheaper, editions but spent a bit more time hunting for the correct page numbers. You'll do just fine! If u have previous hospital medic experience you'll find the transition that much easier.

I feel RNs make quite a fair chunk of change. I def need to stop eating out tho.

This was a great post!! Kudos!!!! Although, I think we make very good money as RNs! For the first time in my adult life (30 years old), I can afford to take a vacation somewhere. I can actually afford plane tickets somewhere! I can actually go out and buy stuff I want to buy!!!!!! Not to mention, my credit card debt is quickly shrinking away. I'm doing all this without pulling any overtime. Also, I completely 100% agree with you that if the LPN/RN is trained to do it, then do it if you can. Never delegate something you are qualified and have the time to do yourself.

lol... i always tell them how great it is to make such insane money and only have to do it for 3 days a week! As an RN now, in 72 hours I make (without overtime) what I used to make in 96 hours as an LPN receiving overtime and critical need pay. Lol. I always focus on how important I feel when I do the right thing and achieve a respectful nod from the physician or a family member feels confident in my ability to express a deep concern or fear to me. The patients, while very tiring at times, can give us the best high that lasts for days and even weeks! Also, did I mention how much money we make!? zomg... my last paycheck after taxes and insurance and just 69 hours was $1,550!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAA!!! My buddy has a masters in social work and doesnt even come close to that!!

A Designated Educational Unit certainly sounds like a great idea. During my PN and ASN programs, many students talked of a similar method. Particularly, the LPN-ASN students, having already been through nursing school once, especially pushed for the DEU ideas! We felt the "traditional students" (ie: students who had no previous nursing or medical licensure/endorsement) were missing out on what real nursing was about. When my friends first started their careers, many went through a period of shock. They had difficulty adjusting to the school model of one patient at a time to suddenly caring for 5-30 patients at once (depending on the facility they were hired at). I was lucky since I still got to focus mostly on one person at a time in a clinic setting and later transitioned to the ER. I love precepting nursing students and always welcome the opportunity take one under my wing to educate on things like, "this is why we dilute this med, why we use this size of angiocath, and what I expect the doctor to order", but so many of the local 4 year schools have adamant rules against ASN RNs precepting BSN students despite my willingness, experience, and foundational knowledge of emergency care. Just more incentive to get that BSN sooner.

i felt the pre-reqs were more difficult than actual nursing school. I will also say that microbiology and advanced A&P were two of the most beneficial classes I've ever taken. They actually improved my nursing practice - particularly microbiology.

LPN to ASN was just jumping through a few hoops. It was a joke. It also cost me less than $4,000 to do my LPN to ASN bridge. I am going back to do my BSN which I expect to be just a bunch more hoops. I chose to do an LPN-ASN rather than an LPN-BSN because I refused to repeat so much of my LPN coursework in the BSN programs - and I wanted my RN faster. Despite the push for BSNs, a new grad ASN/ADN RN who has LPN experience is still more desirable in most areas than a BSN without previous nursing experience.

I wish I could do that.

1. Talk to your school if they have remediation / NCLEX prep courses 2. Kaplan has a thorough course you need to pay for, but they guarentee passing. 3. Do as many practice questions as you can get your hands on. That's what you need to do. As long as you have the drive, you can do this.

My LPN+ASN was less than $12,000 and I left school debt free. My RN to BSN is going to be approximately $8,000 - $12,000 dollars; which is how much I make as an RN in just 2-3 months. However, this path is significantly much more time consuming. I firmly believe 4 year education costs are significantly over inflated and believe the debt incurred by them is not justified. But sometimes time will play a very important factor in one's life and career

yah..... I have just my 2 IDs front and back with my access card sandwiched between them. Even my big, heavy, red, RN tag I simply hung up in the same glass case as my Diploma. Screw all those badges and cards. I'll keep them in my backpack if I need it.

zomg; stay in the doctor's office!!!!!!!!!!!

the planner was really the biggest thing for me... that and hard liquor... seriously.

Acute Care hospital LPN pay without previous acute care experience in Indiana is $14.35 but with shift differentials it averages about to $16.50 .... in those few places that still hire them.

I was always deterred from any and all LPN to BSN programs when I looked into them because of a variety of reasons. 1. I refused to retake all of my med-surg, pharm, and other PN classes over again; the BSN programs in my area only gave me credit about the first semester of my PN certificate, leaving 2 full semesters completely out in the rain. 2. I didn't want to spend 2-3 years completing a degree and waste anymore time making that fat paycheck that 1 year in a bridge program could provide me... and seriously... my paychecks are HUGE now. 72 hours / pay period as an RN is = 96 hours / pay period as an LPN receiving overtime and extra incentive pay (ie: $10/hr extra on top of base pay and overtime rate for 14 of those 96 hours). Like seriously... wow.... 3. I only needed to spend $4,000 - $6,000 for my LPN-ASN bridge program as opposed to $20,000-$45,000 for my LPN-BSN However, it might just be worth you're while to go straight for a BSN; it is definitely less overall time spent in school... I've been in school for 8 years just slowly working for that ASN and now I'll probably spend another 8 years working towards that BSN. However, it is a strong promotion for life long learning and I do enjoy that!

The biggest differences in my bridge program was a critical care class and a mental health class. Everything else was a repeat from my PN program. For myself, the bridge was pretty easy due to my years in critical care and prison nursing. My friends who worked LTC as LPNs struggled with the critical care concepts while my paramedic friends struggled with the medsurg concepts during this transition. If you've not had acute care exposure, I think it would be fair to expect this next go around to be almost as hard as the first time. Yet, do keep in mind, YOU are a nurse. YOU already possess that title and have an edge over any "traditional" student without experience - even if you have not ever had a nursing job, the fact that you went through nursing school once and took NCLEX, you have an advantage! I didn't feel nearly as stressed for my RN NCLEX because I knew what to expect from my PN one! You're going to do great!!!!!!

When I open my mouth to speak with a patient, I make sure my bottom has found a chair. The perception regarding the time I spend with them increases and they feel more welcomed. Then I end my encounter with, "Can i do anything else for you? I have the time."