oldlvn

As soon as you can join a professional nursing organization. subscribe to nursing magazines. My interview was with THREE people. A roundtable of sorts. The questions are tough. I was pointedly asked what I did to keep current in my profession. I answered that although I wasn't a member yet due to financial pressures of being unemployed while looking for an LVN job I planned to subscribe to a popular nursing mag (which I named two by name) and join the ANA but for now I read online sites and follow a number of social media venues for nurses. Got smiles all around. But what I am convinced got me my job was when asked "what would former employers say about your work ethic? Are you late or call out often? My answer sealed the deal. I said that at my most recent job I had NEVER called in or been late. Not once. That was the truth. The previous position I had been late ONCE due to a flat tire and still was only 15 min late since I was able to get a ride to work and had called in once.....because I was running a 102 fever and brought a dr note upon my return. My answer of "if I am too sick to work I am sick enough to go to the dr." was greeted with nods and smiles. Apparently call -outs is a big issue.

Post its are my best friend. That and my "NOTEBOOK". I got a small spiral. Every unit I was on I asked to see their phone lists, protocal flowcharts...anything they use to direct care. I ran over to a dept that had a copy machine and shrunk them to 65%. Return originals and then cut out and tape those in my notebook. I also made checklists. Notes on each dept as far as charting, documenting etc... I refer to it constantly. It fits in my pocket and is now pretty full. It isn't organized perfectly but I will redo it later when I figure out what I need and don't. For now it's my lifeline. Oh and I make mistakes too. We enter the billing charges where I work...getting that part was difficult. Some things we charge some we don't. Some dr's charge for. It's a learning process no one can fault you for not knowing or remembering EVERYTHING with only 1 day training. I had 4wks and I still forget things. As long as patient care is your priority you will be fine.

Honestly LPN jobs are hard to find. Even then the salary seems to be DROPPING. I make $1 less than a pheblot. I know who has 8yrs exp. Sure you will start lower but you will increase as you gain experience. I wouldn't do LVN. Save up and do 2yr RN if your young. I am not young. I am just starting my nursing career at early 40's. There isn't enough time for me to do much with it if I don't get on the ball an get my RN soon.

We have Lead Rn's where I work. Occasionally -like once a week or so we hear a code that we have a patient down. There is a team that goes to that location and the RN leads in the assessment and makes decisions based on our protocal and the patients condition. Rarely is it serious. Usually a drop in blood sugar. Occasionally an seizure. We are not equipped for a trauma or serious injury...we call out for transfer to the ED for that type of situation. We also do not take on walk in injury that should be rerouted to the ED. That team is made up of Lvn's, Rn's and mostly....unlicensed personel. WELL TRAINED, MANY years of experience...unlicensed personel. I don't have issue with that at all. But if it were ME....I wouldn't put myself in that situation. That is a HUGE liability. I never go when that code is called...short of obtaining a wheelchair or o2 supplies if directed because I am in the area. I am a NEW lvn with very little experience. I cannot assess. I have no business involved in that situation. That is CLEARLY outside the scope of "predictable outcome". For those that can and do participate I wonder if they realize they are working outside their scope of practice. I think I will just mind my business and keep my mouth shut.

We were told in LVN school that Texas requires us to attend CNA classes even though we are acutally educated beyond that scope. So? I would contact the BON and ask. and yes...finding a job as a new grad LVN is tough.

I graduated in Aug and took my boards in Sept. Passed with around 125 questions if I remember correctly...everyone I asked had around the same # of questions so I don't know if it was just 'that round' of testing or what. You need to just bite the bullet and do it. Don't quit your job though because LVN jobs are hard to find and it may take awhile. Borrow the money. Ask your church to help...do whatever you need to. Once you are out of school awhile it's hard to sit down and "think" like a nurse for those boards. I had to take a Hesi mini test for my current job to assess my educational needs. I took it over a yr after I took my original exit Hesi (which I scored really high on) and my boards (which I passed on the first try)...and did miserably. Luckily for me my job still took me. They said the time between working/school often schews the results of those tests...we simply begin to think like normal people again and forget the critical thinking skills we learned. It takes awhile for them to come back to us. Waiting too long can cost you a job too. First question I was asked is why have you not worked as an LVN in the past year. My answer...finding a job was difficult. I only had 3 calls to interview after sending out and applying to 200 jobs.

I'm in TX too but I was told that I could not work as a CNA unless I took the CNA class first. Even though I am an LVN. Make sure you check before applying. It would suck to be called for an interview and find out you aren't qualified. (that makes me laugh though..you are definitely qualified). Just keep applying. I got lucky. I finally found one..... I have no advice just hang in there.

Wow. I think they were really wrong to hold that against you. But.... You know the saying...when God closes a door he opens a window. Girl, I think he just did that for you!!

I got just over 4 wks of orientation. The downside was that I rotated so I got bits and pieces of every dept but not really a strong sense of how any ONE of them works...has taken me a couple weeks, I think I am holding my own. I won't do a skill alone if it's one I haven't done before. This doesn't make me any friends but I am acting prudently....as a good nurse should. I don't really care if the other nurses don't like having to supervise or demo something. That's what you are SUPPOSED to do. Where I am....let's just say that nurses do eat their young and leave it at that. Slowly I am getting more confidence in my ability and finding my voice. It takes time. I am thankful for that orient time. I am forever grateful for the nurses who help me and who remember what it was like when they were new grads.

Oh I totally agree. I just think it's wrong for a 4 yr BSN CHARGE nurse to only be making $1.50 more than I did as a private duty/no bennies new grad LVN. Once that job finished I went on to find a full time, full bennies with lots of perks job. That one short gig helped my family financially but cost us dearly when I did our taxes last weekend! I would never want to stay contract long term...not when you do the math. Not worth it.... I am all about the benefits and insurance options...oh and 401K matches. I will take less per hour if my benefits are good...since my kids rely on ME rather than my husbands benefits for their insurance due to our out of pocket being less with my job than his. (My copays are less and I have better overall options too).

While I agree with the overall message of "mind your own business".... I have to suggest you also need to mind YOUR patients...not hers. It's hard to watch a co-worker not do what is right when it comes to patient care but unless it DIRECTLY puts a patient in danger I wouldn't say anything but don't cover for her inadequacy either. I agree that supervisors are very aware of what goes on but often chooses the path of least resistance by doing nothing....or PAIRING a compassionate nurse with a not so compassionate nurse...kinda to even them out I guess. I see this often. A strong skilled nurse with a less skilled. A leader with a follower. A flighty one with a strong evidence based practice one.... you rarely see two strong nurses partnered...at least in what I've notice thus far.

I am an LVN. It took me over 7 months to find a job. I had to provide Hesi scores and my transcript to my current employer. Thankfully i have a high gpa and scored over 1100 on my hesi or I doubt I would be employed now. Jobs for new grads are hard to find. If I had known I this before I entered the LVN program I would have gone the 2yr RN route. No hospitals hire lvn's here. Your only option is clinic work, nursing home or Dr. offices. Most won't hire a new grad.

For those saying they would like it for walking to and from work through dark parking lots but don't plan on having it at work...um exactly where do you plan to put it inbetween? I mean...are you going to just lock it in your locker? As for those who keep it in their cars. About half of our vehicles have been broken into at my job. I work in a not so good neighborhood but not terrible. I feel secure walking to and from the building. Security is usually outside watching over us but honestly they aren't armed at all. I don't know what they would do to protect us.

Houston TX. Office/clinic Setting LVN NO previous experience $38,000 yr ($18.xx hr)+ lots of perks (free vaccines, flu shots, cpr) and AWESOME benefits (affordable health, vision, dental, life, 401K $1 for $1 up to 5%.) + room for advancement and lots of education and certification opportunities. I'm happy with that. The benefits are really great.

Houston, TX LVN Private duty/non agency/ self employed $25 hour I negotiate directly with the family on a fee for service basis. And yes I know, I got a sweet gig! I fell into this job...It is contract so I pay my own taxes and it offers no health insurance or vacation and if something were to go wrong it would be my license but I work directly under the families Dr's and office RN staff...as far as liability and am about to purchase malpractice insurance as well... but being that I can pick and choose my own cases (and there are more than you would think out there who need one on one nursing and can afford to pay out of pocket for it)...so I take those that I feel I am qualified to handle based on my scope of practice and what I am comfortable with. I would probably not take on a pt that needs constant high skilled nursing ...I would take on the chronically ill pt w/ a predictible outcome -hence complying w/ my BON. I work for a private family right now...I am thinking that I will continue to network and stay w/ the home health venue as I like not having 20+ pts to one nurse in LTC and I'm not running my ass off for $19 hour. I recently talked to a 4 yr degree RN. She makes $1.50 an hour more than I do. and works for a MAJOR hospital in the med center. Now THAT is just way wrong...!