crs1965

When people ask what I do, I say I am a nurse. "Oh, you're a RN?" No. I am a real nurse. I am a LPN! I do assessments every day.I add to the care plans. I once had a supervisor tell me once that LPNs are over-achievers because LPNs have 3 initials while RNs only have 2. LPNs are nurses. We may not go to school for 2-4 years but I have worked with some nurses and wondered how they made it through school. I have been a LPN for 20+ years and proud of it. We should all work together, side by side, and forget about the initials behind our names. If you treat me with respect, I will return the same. If not and you look down your nose at me, well, good luck with that patient you need help with.

Thanks so much Havin' A Party! I'm really excited about this turning point in my career. I can't wait to start and learn everything I can and more.

I GOT THE JOB! Now, does anyone have any suggestions on how I get my Administrators License? This would be beneficially not only to the facility but me as well. I will start out as a "Manager in Training", then once I learn the ropes, I will be bumped up to Asst. Admin. Thanks.

ALF is short for Assisted Living Facility.

I'm not sure where this should be posted but here it is. I went to an interview this morning for what I thought was for an ADON. When I got there, the Administrator said it was for an Assistant Administrator for the ALF unit. I was totally unprepared. So here's my questions. Has anyone ever interviewed for this position? What kind of questions should I have asked? Is there a website I can look at Fed/State Regs for facilities so I can learn them? Is there a program for this type of position? This is an opportunity I don't want to lose so any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated.

"Death of the LPN" The local hospital in my area phased out LPNs years ago, and now have given new ADN grads until 2020 to get BSN. A trauma center only hires RNs and PACS. I have been looking for new job but am left with LTC, HH, or prison/jail. Office jobs are far and few between. I have been considering a career change but want to remain in medical/nursing field somehow. Not many opportunities and there are fewer every day.

[COLOR=#003366]itsmerae, don't be so hard on yourself! Everybody has bad days in nursing. I've been a LPN for 23 yrs now, and I have moments where I feel the same way. I too did PDN for a vent/trach client, and it's hard. They had been dealing with it for 11 yrs and had a routine. Trust me, I did/said some pretty stupid stuff! I had a doctor tell me once that it takes about 4 yrs to make a really good nurse. Maybe it's not so much nursing, but maybe the environment. Hang in there and don't give up!

Unfortunately, BSN or MSN is the trend in the midwest where I live. After being a LPN for decades, I decided to go for my ADN recently, only to learn that they too are being overlooked. Hospitals won't accept applications from ADNs. I would think a MSN could be better utilized other than at bedside. I've worked with some great BSNs and ADNs. One of my former employers was an ADN and she was the administrator. I don't understand the reasoning behind these changes. What do they hope to achieve by doing this? It's not the initials behind the name, or even how many years you went to school, that make you a good nurse. It's what you have inside, that makes you a good nurse! It can't be taught in a classroom or during clinicals. You won't find it in any textbook. The scared and sick patient, or even the dying patient, could care less about your degree, as long as you are there and go that extra step to comfort and reassure them, or to hold their hand as they take their last breathe. A nurse is a nurse, regardless of degree. If BSN/MSN are at the bedside, who will teach and mentor the future? These facilities need to go back and rethink this new policy.

I live in a rural area. There is a small hospital 20 mi away, a trauma center 40mi away, and the big city is 100mi from my home. I have been an LPN for 20+ years, and slowly being phased out. I am able to work for HH, nursing homes, agency,prison/jail, or if I'm lucky an office, but those are hard to come by. I decided to go for my ADN only to learn that none of the hospitals accept it. They are looking for BSNs ONLY. I too am tired and the thought of going to school for 4 yrs, well... To all the new grads I wish you well in your careers. To the older nurses, I applaude you for your years of service and dedication. It is a sad situation for all nurses...

Hello [COLOR=#003366]ecclecticlylovelylvn and congrats! I live in the nw corner of MO. I work with a couple new grad LPNs in a LTC facility. They have applied to physician offices and the hospital, but were not hired. I did a little exploring myself, and found that the closer to the bigger cities, the more you can earn. Agency jobs can pay pretty good. LTC, home health, prison/jail, agency jobs for LPNs are all over. Just depends on what you want to do and where. Hope this helped. Good luck in your new career.

Unfortunately, I feel like the LPN is slowly being phased out. In my area, hospitals are RNs and PCAs. That leaves nursing homes, prisons/jails, and agency jobs for LPNs. There is no room for advancement at these facilities for us, which is very frustrating. Several years ago, I was functioning as ADON. I was told that I could do the job, but that was it. I couldn't claim the title or receive the pay. To make matters worse, guess who trained the new DON when she arrived. LPNs, with years of experience and capable of doing the job, are not given the same opportunities as even new RN grads are receiving. I have been a LPN for 20+ years and finding it harder and harder to find a job. I've been looking into different certs, like MDS or case management, just so I could have a fighting chance. Going back to school isn't really an option right now. If I can get some certs here and there, it will help. I hope. And amari, if it makes you feel any better, I had a supervisor, who was an RN, tell me that LPNs are over-achievers because we had 3 initials behind our names, and she only had 2. Chin up my fellow LPN. Perhaps some day LPNs WILL KICK ASS!

Thanks guys for the comments. It's frustrating because I never know for sure when I'm going home. And to think that all you have to do is have a tantrum and 'poof' you get your way. It's not fair to the residents or the staff that this kind of behavior goes unnoticed!

I work 12 hrs in a LTC. Due to low census and lack of staff, the 2-10 nurse has to relieve me at the end of my shift, at 6p, leaving her with 2 halls. The other day when she came in, she found out this would be happenong again. No it's nothing new. She had taken over my hall the night before, and we have been dong this for months. However, she refused to clock in until either another nurse would come in or someone stayed over. Either way, I had no relief. Administration was called and all they said was to call someone in. Several were called and all said no. Finally, a few minutes after 2p, I said I would stay. She clocked in. I worked 14 1/2 hrs that day because of a tantrum! I'm sure this will happen again. I was wondering if this is even legal on her part? I wouldn't have left at the end of my shift because it's abandonment. But when she refuses to clock in should be considered the same? What's your thoughts?

Thanks so much TheCommuter. I was wondering if there was another web site other than AANAC that offered MDS?

Not sure which thread this should be on so I'll start here. Could someone please tell mme which cert would be more beneficial for LPN with 20+ years...MDS Coordinator or Managed Care Nurse? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.