harleytx

I can't make up my mind. One week I'm looking into programs, the next week I'm looking for a different job. Tomorrow I have a second interview for Home Health.

Try to find real clinical experiences for students to preform with you. Our clinical instructor went to every charge nurse on every unit at our clinical hospital and ask them to over head page her if they had any skills related tasks that needed to be done, she then would come get us (six) and one student would preform the skill while the other 5 observed, with the instructor guiding the skill. It was the best experience we could have had. Not only did we learn from doing, we also learned fron observing. (We participated only in those skills we had been checked off on, the skill we had not been checked off on the instructor would preform so we could learn from her.) Of course it was done with patient approval, all agreed except one. She was wonderful. We were fortunate to have her.

Try to find real clinical experiences for students to preform with you. Our clinical instructor went to every charge nurse on every unit at our clinical hospital and ask them to over head page her if they had any skills related tasks that needed to be done, she then would come get us (six) and one student would preform the skill while the other 5 observed, with the instructor guiding the skill. It was the best experience we could have had. Not only did we learn from doing, we also learned fron observing. (We participated only in those skills we had been checked off on, the skill we had not been checked off on the instructor would preform so we could learn from her.) Of course it was done with patient approval, all agreed except one. She was wonderful. We were fortunate to have her.

Sorry about the personal name use VickyRN, wasn't thinking. Will PM next time. Thanks for the reminder.

I completed my pre-reqs at COM, I loved it! Their NCLEX pass rates were down for a few years but yes they are now up to 100%. If their pass rate had been up when I was planning to go, I too would have chosen them. Any bio classes take *****, he is wonderful!!! Good Luck.

Similar situation, I was fed up with trying to get her meds down. I think she just wanted the extra attention and I too was told "that's just how she is". After two weeks, I had enough. She didn't want them I explained to her that your doctor has ordered these medications for you, if you do not want to take them I can not and will not even try to make you, I explained the importance of her medications and then threw all of them into her trash, tied up her trash bag and took it out of the room with me, documented that patient refused and that I preformed patient teaching of how important her medications were, called her doctor and responsible party, filled out an incident report. At 5p med pass she took them without ANY problem, I never had another problem again with her. Although every one else did.

You preform oral care without being "reminded"? You keep your residents warm, dry, clean, comfortable, safe, etc. without being "reminded"? We all need you! Keep up the good work! Your work ethic sounds outstanding, please don't let others take that away from you. Good Luck.

I had the same plan LVN to RN. Community College looked good but another year of pre reqs. Excelsior looked better, I recieved their package, but like you I became uneasy with the program not having a "clinical" portion, the possibility of something changing after I was half way through (just my luck). I have been worring about this for months now and with Jan registration coming up, I have decided NOT to decide ... yet. I agree with the other post.. Do what will cause the least disruption, keeping in mind what may or may not be accepted in the future. Good Luck.

Fiona59: That's it! I know that it sounds crazy that I have not been able to figure out what about LTC that bothers me, but That's it! As I read your reply I knew that it wasn't me! I do want to be a nurse, but I need to see improvement, I want to be a part of a patient's improvement, I want to help people "get better" and then move on to the next. I'm not kidding that by Friday I am getting sick to my stomach at the idea of having to go back there, even for only 2 - 16's. And don't misunderstand this is a very nice facility. I would estimate that 95% of our residents should be at home with either family or some type of part time aide. Forgive me for saying this but: You could almost compare it to going to the local SPCA where you see all the unwanted pets that families have thrown away with the exception that those of us who provide care to these residents really care and they do not see or appreciate that. They are hateful, mean and sometimes verbally abusive. And then there are the "family" member (RP) that shows up every so often for 30 min. wanting to know why their "loved one" did not get their ice cream a week ago. My heart breaks for these lonely elderly people, and I understand that they have lost control over every aspect of their lives therefore they complain about the knife or ice cream they did not get, but come on, give us a break! Do they even realize that they eventually "run off" some of THEIR nurses that really do care? Or maybe their family sent them here because they treated them the same way and can't stand them either? Anyway sorry for the rant but THAT'S IT! Thanks for reminding me, and I still can't believe that I have not been able to figure out what was REALLY bothering me about my situation. Thanks again!:) I will be getting out ASAP!

LTC Skilled Nursing Unit. Nice facility, I have 36 "residents", 2 CNA's, 1 CMA, 2 trachs, 4 in isolation, 6 g-tubes, 2 many wound Tx. to count, BUT I did not like it. It is not the facility or my co-workers, I thought it was my 2-10 shift, so I changed to doing 2 - 16 hour shifts Sat & Sun. That wasn't it either. Then I realized it was the "residents". Any way, maybe it is just me. I have an interview with a Home Health Agency this week, maybe I can do that. OR maybe I've had a really bad weekend. Too many Incident Reports this w/e! GOOD LUCK!

At 42 I needed a change. I was tired of working as a Chemical Plant Manager, wanted to get out of the "toxic" world of chemicals. I had NO experience with any med. field. And honestly can't imagine what ever possessed me to even apply to the LVN program. So it is possible to do. The only time I felt overwhelmed was one month before my date to take the NCLEX. Other than that, I enjoyed being in the nursing program better than I do working a nurse! LOL! GOOD LUCK!!

Thanks, posting the link makes it easier for me! It will be nice to have a magazine for LVN/LPN's, it is about time. I've been searching for over a year now for one. Will order and thanks again!

I haven't seen any magazine just for LVN / LPN. I am in Texas, is it only for MA? If not please post the address, I would love to subscribe. thanks

You could be right about this. I will try to find it on their web site. I have seen only two ads that said "new grads welcome" but I think those 2 ads are asking for new RN's. Thanks for your reply!

hoolahan: Thanks for the info! I would not have thought of a ride a long, what a wonderful idea! Will be applying next week, getting dental work out of the way, but will let you know.

New LVN here, Currently at LTC facility in their skilled nursing unit ( 6 months). I am thinking about HH. A co-worker, LVN 18 years, is doing HH part time. She tells me that I should try it. I was waiting to obtain more experience before "going it alone". My co-worker tells me that I do not need more experience, that all she does is take vitals, fsbs, teaching, wound care. According to your posts, there are more skills required for this field. I would love to start one day per week, and will probably go ahead and apply just to try it. Is there different types of agencies where some require more skills than others? I am working sat & sun 16 hrs per day, and would keep this for the experience. Is what she is telling me the "NORM" for HH?? I do not think she is not telling me the truth, but I find it hard to believe that someone will pay you $30.00 pr visit / 8 to 10 visits per day just to take vitals, wound care, fsbs, admin insulin and the paperwork. Please respond........ THANKS>

I'm in south east Texas. Attended a community college to obtain my cert. to apply for the NCLEX-PN. Cost around 4,200/ the program I attended took one full year. Pe-reqs required: English I & II, one History, one Government, Psych. I, 2 free electives, Biology, A & P I, Nutrition, Nursing Law & Ethics, Dsg & Calculations ( must make a 100 on all four exams), & Pharm. We do have LVN to RN transition programs that require more pre-reqs. and a GPA of 3.0. Good Luck!

TriageRN 34: Thanks for the reply. "Calling the family" I forgot that one! I really do heve several "favorites" that are nice. I guess you can tell that I had a BAD "yesterday"! But on the calling the family issue: at this point I do what I can to provide safe care, prioritize my "emergencies", document document document, never speak harshly or rude, etc. SO call your family, write me up, Give me an excuse to go somewhere else. lol... not really.............the pay is great!

New 40 yr. old nurse here (lvn). 5 months into skilled nursing home unit and am glad to know it is not just me. I hate it, worked 2-10 m-f to start. Then switched to sat & sun @ 16 hrs. per day just "to get it over with". 36 "residents" with 6 being "patients" and 30 of the most ungrateful people that I have ever met. At first I felt sorry for these people thinking They should not be in here, they should be at home with their families...how sad... Until a week into my new job did I realize that most of them are here because their families cannot stand them and rightly so. I'm so tired of hearing about the food / menus, activities, where is my ice, where is my aide, I need my phen. inj. for "acid reflux" ( she forgot the symptom she is suppost to have... ). All this while my double AKA - trach - g tube "pt." with stage IV decube needs meds, suctioning, dressing change, and fecal impaction removal AND Mr. So -n So fell (Unwitnessed) Neuro checks, AND FSBS of 425 AND FSBS of 62!!!!! So MY QUESTION TO YOU EXPERIENCED NURSES IS: What else can I do with my newly obtained LVN license????? It is not the work or the stress or my co-workers, It Is The People that I take care of. I am thinking about Home Health after a few more months experience maybe I could stand them if I only had to see them for 30 min to 1 hour per week. Serious replys please... the new Walmart is looking very tempting, I hear they are hiring. Sorry this is a long rant but I really do not know what else to do.