lovedijah

Med Surg is Med Surg. You'll learn a bit more. Things will be more in depth (One would think). But Med Surg is Med Surg. You already have a foundation! Take it one day at a time like you did LPN school, and you'll get through it. Good luck.

Im in Georgia now and make 16/hr as a new grad. This tends to be average unless you have tons of experience or work in prisons or home health. Oddly enough, my family may move back to NJ after being gone for three years. I was offered 18/hr at a facility in South Jersey. If that's my reality there- Im nervous. Money seems to go further in Georgia. Even in Atlanta, you have your share of really nice 120,000 houses. Unheard of in NJ. You make less in GA, but you're not facing a 250,000 mortgage for a decent house with good schools. Id be making 2 dollars more an hour with increased housing costs, insurance costs, etc. Its tough. Good luck with everything!

Sorry it's taking so long. We have a lot of Florida nurses come over at my job. I've heard of a 2-3 month wait. What state is your license from?

Would you rather be bored or busy for the same amount of pay? I left a very busy LTC facility to go to a very very slow facility. I make the same amount of money. The most I have is two patients vs fifty five. I am bored out of my mind and after a year (I don't want to job hop), I think I'll return to LTC or at least a busier nursing job. It's a "nice" problem to have, but I'm not good at being bored. Does anyone have a "slower" nursing job they enjoy? Do I sound crazy, or can anyone relate to what I'm saying?

I ended up calling everyday until my issue was resolved. Eventually you'll get lucky and someone will help. I ended up being put in contact with someone and all I had to do was email her all my documents and within 5 days my license was magically posted. I went through the process in September and was told they were "backed up and expect delays". Georgia is veryyyyyy slow with things. I would call everyday.

I tend to get the "Oh, you're just an LPN" from non medical people. I'm always like, "What do you do for a living?". Then I'll ask them if they plan on getting another degree. Shuts them right up. I also get it from doctors and I'll say something smart like, "Why didn't you become a brain surgeon, I hear the pay is a lot better. Oh, but yeah.. I imagine it must be a hard program for some people". Shuts them right up. I choose not to be an RN. I'm quick to tell people my career plans if they ask.

I make 15 an hour in GA. Got my license in September. I work in a facility with MR clients. Really interesting to see what others make and where.

I got hired PRN in LTC. Originally the DON told me I'd be orienting for two weeks because it is "soooo much work" and "I don't like to be called in, so you need to know whats going on and how to handle things". I go in and find out my orientation may only be one day. She'd have to speak with the owners to see if they would allow more time, otherwise I'd have to "jump on the floor head first". Now it doesnt take a genius to figure out LTC is a lot of work. Even with two weeks of training, a person would still have questions. But two weeks is fair, I suppose. But one day of orientation is barely enough time to learn where the supply room or fire exits are. You get what you pay for. If you don't want to invest more than one day training your staff, then wont your facility reflect that? Am I missing something? I know it's expensive to train people and people are desperate for jobs (you gotta do what you gotta do), but I almost thought she was joking with me. Heck, I managed restaurants and we didn't even put servers on the floor with only one day of training. Is one day of orientation "normal"? I hope not.

I was doing post partum rotations. I love babies. So to some extent I was in lalala land when the mother handed me the baby to hold. So I'm holding the baby content as can be and the mother says, "Has the DNA test come back". Again, I'm in a lalaland. DNA test? Maybe this is something I didn't read about yet. Maybe this is code for something else. So I tell her, "I'll have to check on it". The man with her then growls and seems upset. The mother then goes on a rant about how he's the father and he just needs to get over because she's not a (garden tool) and didn't sleep with anyone else. I had my AHA moment of what DNA test they were talking about. SO AWKWARD. To this day I wonder if he was the father.

Just looking for advice. I'm an LPN. Graduated in August, passed boards and started working in September. I was lucky to get a job offer before school was over. My job waited almost 2 months for me to start so I'm really thankful. I work in a non medical facility. More or less, I work in a group home for MR clients. For the most part, my job is taking vital signs occasionally, normal saline, TAO, band aids, calling for orders and very basic stuff. I'm not downing this type of work. Working with MR clients is challenging, fulfilling work.. and you can definitely transfer these skills to another job. But to some extent I wish I was using my "skills". Granted, skills can be relearned. Would you leave the job I described to go work at an urgent care clinic? I don't think the grass is greener on the other side. I just think perhaps there is more to learn that could look "better" on my resume. I'd being doing injections, drug testing, blood draws, triaging and so on. All things I think could prepare me to work in a doctors office or another clinic. My reality as an LPN is probably clinics, prisons, LTC and doctors offices. So why not go to a job where I can master these things early in my career? The clinic is closed on Sunday and I'd be off by 730 each night. (This is an improvement from rotating between 2nd and 3rd shift in the same week) I think this is an awesome opportunity, but I hesitate because I'm a new nurse and I'd hate to leave after 3 months. I just think it looks bad. Any advice? Is working in a non medical facility a worse case scenario for a new grad? When I talk to other nurses some of them say it is. Nurses at my facility suggest all the new nurses work PRN somewhere to "use their skills".

I work in a non medical facility for people with mental disabilities. You definately deal with patients, but not in a traditional way. Most can do their own ADL's. There is MRSA, hepatitis and all types of interesting dangers. But no trachs, ng tubes or things commonly found in med surg. We pass meds, do vitals and blood sugars, carry out very basic treatments and bandage people up when they have behaviors and get injured. If somebody is having a seizure we assess them. You might check for impaction. So yes, there is poop. Sometimes. I imagine you could get a job as a new grad in a position with limited patient care depending where you live. Yet, I dont think this type of nursing falls in line with your career goals. I'll also say, choose wisely. Skills are use em' or lose em'. Im a recent grad and if you told me to go put in an ng tube... Id have to take another nurse in for back up. Havent done one in months. Maybe a year. So if your long term goal is to work in a specialty that requires "skills".. somehow, someway... suck it up and stay up on your skills. Or not. Our hospital is so short staffed they hire new grads in icu, nicu, or, er and whatever else you desire. But in general, a year or two bedside nursing could only benefit most people. I do regret not going bedside straight out of school. When I have to go into skilled nursing.. its going to be a big transition. It truly is.

I'll be honest, I'm not sure being an LPN is "worth it" in certain areas. And heck, I'm an LPN. Some of my classmates graduated only to find jobs making $10 an hour. I made more money than that waitressing and working retail. Being an LPN is a fine stepping stone, but if your program is 10,000 and more than a year long.. you may as well invest your time, energy and dollar bills on something that will land you more opps- like an ADN. I spent a year in LPN school and it was less than 4,000. Worth it to me. Nothing wrong with being an LPN however. But is it the best investment? Not for everyone.

I randomly checked today and it was posted! I'm licensed!

Yay!! Im holding on to hope it'll post soon so I can start working.

Nothing yet.

I was looking for "not so typical jobs" as well. There are some insurance companies that hire LPN's to do life insurance physicals. I had one done and it's drawing blood and vital signs and he may have used a stethoscope for 5 seconds. But it was nothing in depth. But if you're trying to get away from vital signs, maybe it won't work. I saw a job listing for working in a center for people with eating disabilities. There was a student in my program who got hired at a center like that and she loved it. Have you thought about home health? I do think home health can be slower paced or not as stressful depending on your patients. At least you could get out a hospital setting, drive around during the day and have some control over your hours.. but yeah, you'd have to deal with the family sometimes. Depending on how much experience you have, I've seen listings for LPN's to teach CNA and MA classes. But you'd eventually be in LTC doing clinicals with your students. I had a chance to interview for a case manager job. I'd basically drive around and do assessments on patients. But I did notice most of these jobs went to RN's. Maybe you can work for a drug company. I always see listings on indeed for companies hiring nurses. I guess you'd have to like sales though.

I really do think they are behind. We graduated the first week of August and some people still don't have their ATT from my class. And nobody who passed boards has their license yet. I called yesterday and got lucky. We must have talked to the same lady. She was the only one who actually listened. I put on my sweetest voice so maybe that helped. They told me to email the lady who handles the license stuff. She actually responded and told me I was missing my notarized affidavit. I had no idea we even needed to do that. I thought it was just the consent form and drivers license. I emailed that back today. I looked at the application process online and they did process my verifiable documents today, so the only thing I'm waiting on is for them to process the affidavit. Keep me updated on what happens with you. I will be stalk calling right along with you! I seriously must check the BON every hour to see if I'm licensed. I also check the application process to see if my stuff is still pending. It's like clockwork. I stop checking at 5 because I'm like "Well, they are closed now".

Has anyone recently went through the process of getting licensed or can anyone offer input? I passed my boards and still have yet to get my license. The only thing "pending" on my application is my proof of citizenship which I sent weeks ago. They won't confirm or deny if they got it. They suggest I not send it again. I'm guessing it would just add to the load of paperwork they already have. How long did it take to get your license after passing boards? Did you send your paperwork twice? By fax, mail or email?

Are you sending your resume? If you've applied to 50 jobs without a callback, have someone take a look at your resume. It could be worded odd or hard to understand. Are you talking up your clinical experience? Obviously, don't make it seem like you were running the floor while at clinicals- but talk about what you did and where you experience was. Did you do any health fairs as part of clinicals? If you have nothing but time on your hands, can you volunteer at the Red Cross or something? If you are applying to clinics and family practices, can you go there and hand your resume in? That way people can see you, see how professional you are and hopefully ask more questions.

I'm curious where you live. It's interesting how things are different place to place. Where I live, nursing homes will take new grads the day their license posts. Sorry I can't offer anymore advice. Hang in there and I hope things get better!

I would never get a license plate that broadcasted my profession. Then again, I would never get a "Half my heart is in Afghan" or "Proud Air Force Wife" bumper sticker and my husband and his service are near and dear to my heart. Putting things on my car, just isn't my thing. (I would get a breast cancer license plate though. Those are awesome). But to each his own. Whatever rows your boat I guess. As far as the LPN who got the RN license plate. More power to her! Especially if they don't have an LPN license plate. Shame on them. LPNs want to represent too (I guess). But who cares? She paid the money. Kudos to her. It's just funny to me. Until she walks into the hospital and tries to do something outside her scope, who cares. If she wants to fake it til' she makes it in the parking lot (or whatever she's doing) who cares? "OMG that LPN has an RN license plate!!! It's so wrong.." I'm not meaning to be "rude". I just think its hilarious people would feel like "OMG, she didn't earn that title". If I want to put "Black Belt in Karate" on my license plate knowing I only have a yellow belt from Ebay, who cares?

I'm a naturally quiet person. Yet still, when classmates would have their own private conversations I was quick to say in a roundabout way "I WISH I COULD HEAR THE TEACHER" in a joking way, and it worked. Really though, I'm shocked your teachers don't say anything. Our teachers may have let it slide once or twice, but they were quick to call people out for being disruptive.

If money and time is no issue, then get your BSN. If you are wanting to work as a nurse ASAP, I'd be a little curious as to what your board of nursing would say. I wonder if they would let you take the Nclex after doing a refresher course. With that, you can work as a nurse sooner. If you still decide to get your RN, at least you could work as a nurse while in school. Passing your Nclex PN just seems to be the quicker, cheaper route if they give you the OK.

I was offered a job in July. I graduated in August. Really though, I was in the right place.. at the right time. I filled out many other applications and heard nothing back.

I really feel like you will never be "ready". 21 days from now. 50 days from now. I took the Nclex PN yesterday and even If I had 50 more days to study, I wouldn't have studied anything that appeared on the test. It was completly random. You have to do what feels right to you. I scheduled my test 12 days after I got my ATT. I studied for about a week. Again, I just don't think delaying the test is beneficial. It just makes you more nervous and puts more pressure on you to review stuff thats probably not on the test. Take the test. I think you have a good chance at passing.