CMarieRN87

Update** I have worked at this facility since October of last year. I do like it, but there are things that could have been worded differently during the interview. Our facility is split between sides, or halls, (East and West) and then each side is split (front hall and back hall). Usually on my side, East, there are 4-5 CNAs on each side (2-3 on front hall and 2 on back hall). East Front hall can house 27 residents and East back hall can house up to 22. During meal time, all except 2 CNAs help feed residents who require assistance. The 2 CNAs left on the hall are the meal aides. They hold down the fort while everyone is eating by answering call lights and taking care of the residents on both front and back hall on their side. So for 2-3 hours during a shift there is really only 2 CNAs on the floor. I do like my job and have learned a lot in this short time working their. There aren't enough CNAs and sometimes our residents suffer because of it. I don't know how those nurses who have 36-40 residents under them at one time get their 2 hour med pass complete on time. I struggle to finish mine on time and the max I have is 27. I stop to help my CNAs and try my best not to rush in and out of room as to not make my residents feel as though they are "just another pill' to me. A nurse that trained me told me once that this job will help when I go to work at a hospital. Those nurses don't have as many patients under them. I hope he was right. I do like my job, despite it's stressors.

Thank you very much for your comment Joanna73. What sort of certifications do you have? That is why I was looking into this field, I do enjoy training and teaching new nurses and helping others when they need it.

Several of the LPNs that I know just took this exam and said that there is a lot of math and then just basic nursing questions.. I found a NACE study guide and also will be reviewing my book from the Math for Nurses class. Hopefully these tools will be sufficient and hopefully this helps the next person looking for information about the NACE exam.

I have been a LPN for 4 years. I worked in family practice for 3 years and have been in LTC for 1 year. I applied for UACCM's LPN to RN program here in Arkansas. I got an email inviting me to register to take the entrance exam. UACCM's entrance exam is the NACE exam. I am wondering what tools I should use to study for this? I take my exam on July 16th and I want to make sure I do really good to better my chances of getting into this program. Any tips and advice to prepare for this are much needed! Thank you!

I am currently a LPN at a LTC facility in my area. I became a nurse 3 years ago, and I love it. Nursing is amazing, and I am so glad I chose this field. I am taking my prerequisite classes to get into the RN program next spring and from there I plan to get my BSN.. My goal is to work as a RN while bridging to the BSN. I want to work in different areas to gain skill before eventually becoming a Nurse Educator. I had planned to teach new nurses at a school facility. But after doing more research, I realized that you can become a Nurse Educator in a hospital. What would be the benefit of working in a facility vs a hospital? Do I have to get my MSN to become a Nurse Educator or is my BSN sufficient? Those who are already nurse educators, what paths did you take? Did you work doing patient care for a while before switching to educator? Would you recommend this career choice to other nurses? I know that I have a lot of questions, and I apologize in advance for them. I am just very interested in this field of nursing and would like to hear what others have to say about it. Thanks in advance!

She did state specifically that max patient to nurse ratio is 1:25 when fully staffed, and that they are not at fully capacity at the moment so it would be around 20.. I even commented on the amount of CNAs that they had working at once and she said they like to have 11-12 on to ensure that there was no under staffing and that the nurse could focus on her patients. I am going in this Friday for paperwork and a few other things and they said that I would be paid for the time I was there. I expect a few small surprises, but I am hoping for nothing serious and to make this a smooth transition. I really hope that I end up loving this until I am able to work in the hospital as a RN

I havne't looked into it, only because I haven't heard of any listings. I occupational health but I am not sure where to look for these positions. There aren't many listings in our papers or online here.

Thanks! She did state specifically that max patient to nurse ratio is 1:25 when fully staffed, and that they are not at fully capacity at the moment so it would be around 20.. I even commented on the amount of CNAs that they had working at once and she said they like to have 11-12 on to ensure that there was no under staffing and that the nurse could focus on her patients. I am going in this Friday for paperwork and a few other things and they said that I would be paid for the time I was there. I asked a few other nurses in the area around here and they said $18/hr was pretty much the starting rate (small town in AR).. I have noticed that the pay in my area is way lower than other areas. I am very excited and nervous about this transition. This facility has skilled, non-skilled, and rehab patients. It will definitely be while I am in school. I want to work in the hospital once I have my RN

ugh! I am so nervous! This is going to be a huge change.

45?!?! Wowza!

Thanks!! I will head over and check that out! :)

So I have been working in family practice since I became an LPN 3 years ago. I love it, but I hate the pay. Since my husband recently became unemployed, we have been struggling, and I started looking for a 2nd job.. I was offered a job at a local LTC facility yesterday for much better pay than I am making now ($3.50/hr more).. I didn't know what to ask for when they asked what kind of pay I was looking for so I said $18/hr (that's what I hear is average for LPNs in my community in LTC) and they offered me the job for that much. Hopefully that's good. Anyway, she said that when they are fully staffed you will have 25 patients, and that there is usually 11-12 CNAs working my shift (3-11) with me. I have never worked LTC before so I am kind of nervous. Is that patient to nurse ratio too high or average? I am so afraid that I will hate LTC, mainly because it is a big change. But I surely hate struggling with bills more. Who knows.. I may end up loving it. I am going to be on the waiting list to switch to days or night shift when it comes available because with this shift I wont see my little ones much during the week. Any tips for a first timer in LTC?? How can I make this transition easier? I am working towards my RN now, so hopefully this change will give me more experience that will help when I become a RN..

I am in Arkansas also. I work in a Primary Care Clinic and started off at $12. I am now at $14 (put in my notice to go to higher paying job so they gave me more $) I have heard that LPNs start at $17-$18 in LTC.. I will be switching jobs very soon. I am in school to get my RN now.

Hello All! I have been a LPN for 3 years now. I have worked nothing but family practice. I am enrolled and working towards my RN. Due to recent situations I am looking to change jobs soon. My husband and I discussed me getting a night position somewhere. Pay should definitely be better than what I make now ($14/hr). I can sleep while the kids are in school and do homework and study before they come home. I would love to be in the hospital and get some more experience but as we all know hospitals aren't hiring LPNs as much. There is a hospital in the next town that does though so I am going to try there. If not I don't think there are any other options besides LTC here. I have never worked LTC and not sure how much I will like it. Those who have experience with LTC do you like it? What do you do besides pass meds? Are there any LPNs doing work besides LTC or Clinics and if so where? I would love to know what other options we have as LPNs. Thanks

Thank you! I didn't even think about that. Working on changing that information now. And yes I try to do alot of the things you listed. I park where I can see my car from the back door. I have mace, I have always carried a knife, I check the parking lot before I leave. I watch to make sure he has gone before I leave, if he is there. I will protect my social media account and block personal information. Honestly, I am working on my contingency plan. I am teaching my babies "stranger danger" and that no one should ever ever touch them in their private parts. I am making sure they know how to dial 911 from a cell and a landline. I will make them memorize our new address.. My husband was in the military and used to do alot of private security. He has told me the same thing you have. Make sure not to become predictable. Take different routes. Be mindful of cars on the road around you. My babies teacher is a friend and knows the situation. The doors at the daycare stay locked and she has security cameras. My husband wants to get security cameras. We will be getting a dog and training him once we get our house. The list goes on.. thank you so much for your suggestions!

We didn't move back for my family. My husband thought being closer to my mom, who moced back several years ago, would be beneficial. The house we are buying is in anothet town and on the edge of the county. I plan to look for employment in the next town. Morrilton is in a different county and not far from our house we are buying. The hospital there still hires LPNs and they have tuition reimbursement and good benefits. So I will be applying there. I wish I could move further but we cannot afford it right now.

Where in AR are you? I am in Pope County.. I make $14/hr now but I started off making $12.50.. I plan to get a new job soon.

My first job as an LPN out of school was in at family clinic in Panama City, FL and I was making $10/hr. I do know that other people were making more. I have since moved to AR, where I am from originally, and started off at $12.50/hr at family practice. I now make $14/hr at the same job, but I did have to put my notice in and almost quit before being given a raise. The pay depends on your area and the specialty that you are working in. I know that the LTC facilites around here are starting LPNs off at $17-18/hr. I am currently looking for other employment.

Yes he is registered. That's what I thought (may be in violation of terms of his release). But after calling around today, I learned that the terms of his release may have expired. Meaning that when they release him the judge can order for him to stay away from me, but it is only valid for so long. And as long as he is just coming to my place of employment then there is nothing I can do. I can't get a restraining order until he is harassing me, which apparently what he is doing doesn't count as harassment.

Update on this** Today I called our local PD, as they were the arresting office when he was originally convicted of this. The lady who answered wasn't much help, she didn't even let me finish my question, and referred me to the Prosecuting Attorney's office. I called them and explained the situation. According to the man on the phone, since the abuser was originally arrested and convicted of this when I was 7 (20 years ago) that he may have passed the statue of limitations on his release. He said it all depends on what the terms of his release were and if the judge ordered him to stay away from his victim and how long the judge made this order to last. Apparently it doesn't last forever. He says that he is going to have to look the abuser's case up and that may take him a little while since it was so long ago. And as far as making him find another clinic, I can't. "Unless he is physically harassing me there is nothing I can do." I can't even get a restraining order since all he is doing is coming to my work place, which is open to the public.. I am waiting for him to call me back about what the abuser's release papers say, but from what I understand, there is nothing I can do. Alot of our local PD officers are our patients, and are very nice. I am going to ask on of them the next time they come in. I don't get how there can be a time limit on how long an abuser has to stay away from his victim. Dumbest thing I have ever heard!

Yes he is a sex offender and I was his victim. There is only one building, my employer is only making sure he isn't scheduled with my Dr so that I don't have to treat him. He is still in the same builing, just right down the hall. They could fire him as a patient but his Dr decided not to do that.

Yes I know I am not causing this. But I don't want to provoke further behavior from him.