Amber628

I Know in most states you will not be able to work as a CNA if you have an LPN license

I know depending on the hospital they have "pumping rooms" im pretty sure memorial sloan kettering and other big name hospitals ecourage/support it

I do understand where you are comming from, I once oriented on a case (that I didnt take) because the mom had hired help for EVERYTHING, a nurse for her son a nanny for her daughter, an assistant type woman who did cooking/cleaning/shopping and this woman was on the phone THE WHOLE 8 HOURS i was there... Never wrnt back to that house... Otherwise favt is that most caregivers are burnt out... They may sleep during the day but maybe the child kept them up all night or they stayed up worried. When my mother was caring for my grandma the only time she got aides (2hrs 3x wk) was when my grandma came from a hospital stay. You have no idea what it will do to a person until u do it 24hrs 7days a week. The only time my mother got a real break was when my brother or I stayed with my grandma so my mom could go out with friends or sleep at her boyfriends for a night, otherwise she was exhausted mentally emotionally and physically... She never slept more than 3 hrs in fear of my grandma wandering or hurting herself...she lost weight and her appetite and looked like hell... She couldnt go anywhere unless she brought my grandma who was like an 80 year old 150lb toddler. I wish my mom would have had more help, and even if she slept the whole time the nurse or aide was there... It was what she needed... IMO i am a home health LPN and i know that my patients caregivers need breaks... Its not my right to judge weather they sleep or watch tv or go shopping... I am there for 8,10,12,14 or 16 hours not 24

i could not agree with this more! I started off as a new grad LPN in a nursing home because although I have always wanted to do peds i was discouraged by everyone thats LPNs esp. New grads do not work in peds! I was a nurse for about 8 months when I got hired for a pediatric homecare agency! I now work with vent/trach peds and have so much exp. & knowledge. I hated the nursing home, 30 patients, co workers who were lazy, didnt care or hated new grads, no support from management. Although I make 3$ less an hour and I dont want to be in homecare forever I am getting valuable experience with pediatrics for when I graduate my LPN to RN bridge and hopefully I will get a position with Peds in acute care!

Why did you become a nurse if you dont "love people" ? Do you love to help or care for people? I am asking this because many of times i find that prior classmates, coworkers ect who are nurses because its "good money" or a stable job usually have **** poor attitudes or are crappy nurses. IMO, i would like to hear your response

I work for preffered. They have classes before they let you go on a case and they also orient u atleast 3 full days before they let you on your own, because i have vent/trach exp i passed the exam with 1 wrong so i did not have to take the classes. The DON there is very good, she cares about her nurses and is extremely helpful. They dont try to push a case on you if you dont like it or feel u cant handle it. I oriented on one particular case for a day and hated it and the office said thats fine I didnt have to go back, where as in other agencies they tried to get me to stay with a case. Preferred starts new grad LPNs at 21 an hour. But they dont offer weekend diffs. I also work for star peds and they start you at 20 but have night and weekend diffs. Star offers benefits, preferred does not. I was able to negotiate a higher rate of pay for both agencies because of my experience, dont be afraid to ask! Both ***** at Star and ***** at preferred are great and they care about their nurses!

Jersey College in Ramsey has a full time 15 mo LPN to RN and you dont need to retake a&p if you had it in your LPN program. Holy Name in Teaneck also offers it but you will need your pre reqs. mulhenberg, and trinitas are also other options besides the county colleges