BluePotion

Hi all, I know the majority of nursing informaticists are RNs. Any LPNs out there in informatics? If so, what path did you take to get into informatics? Background: I’m an LPN (9 years experience, mostly ambulatory) who currently works as an Epic Specialist, so I’m in the healthcare IT world already. I’m considering pursuing an RN, but I don’t know that it’s feasible if I’d have to quit my job to practice bedside for 2 - 3 years to get RN nursing experience just to get back into the healthcare IT realm. Any guidance appreciated.

Hey y'all! Just wanted to let everyone know that I gave and completed my two weeks notice, had a couple of interviews during that time, and accepted an offer to work in a doctor's office. I start next week. I'm excited, and by the time I start, I'll have had a two week break--I feel reinvigorated! Thanks for the support and well wishes. :)

Thank y'all. I put in my two week notice yesterday. I'm excited because I feel better already. And I'm scared but strangely excited for a new adventure! I'll keep y'all posted! Thanks again.

Hi all, I am an LPN. I have been at my first nursing job for a little over 8 months. I am very unhappy, and I feel my mental health is in jeopardy. The thought of working one more shift induces a near-panic attack! (Literally--I'm having attacks on my off days now.) Career-wise, could I leave this job after giving a two-week notice and get a non-nursing job to quickly cover the bills while I search for a new nursing job? I know that probably sounds silly, but I'm at my wit's end. I've never been as depressed as I am right now.

And thanks to everyone else also for your replies. It helps having all of your perspectives. I'm working on a new plan that might give me more satisfaction in my nursing career. I'll keep y'all posted. :)

Orca, thanks for the reply. I was very upset when I made my post. I've, sadly, been thinking how best to respond to your advice. Overall, I do genuinely appreciate your advice. I've done some reflection and my manager isn't the problem. I feel horrible for having placed any blame on her when the offending parties are some of my coworkers and some members of security. I also did myself and all of you a great disservice by not taking more time to post a cogent, less dramatic entry. I had to vent. I needed to vent. At any rate, the only parts of your reply that I take issue with are below:

Okay. I need some advice. I work at a men's prison in the cell block. I've been trying desperately, but I can no longer lie to myself or anyone else: I want to leave this job. I'm really disappointed in myself now because I am not a quitter. It's been four months, and I was ready to fly the coop at two months! Every time I have to go to work at this prison, I want to get in my truck with my partner and my cat and run away wherever we can. I can't decide what makes me hate this job. Or if I hate this job or something about it. I know work is work--I don't mind working! But I don't have problems with the offenders. I have problems with some of the staff, security and non-security. One security team is awesome. They always help me, escort me down the tiers for pill calls, and make sure safety is key. The other team is a bit more lax. They leave me on the tiers alone because "I'm a guy," and I "can handle myself" because I'm "not a female." And I'm scared to report these officers because they could get the offenders to do something to my loved ones or me. I won't even talk about how some of the staff treat me based on the fact I'm a gay man. Tons of overt discrimination. My manager is overdramatic (which is mostly fine) but also a bully, preaching teamwork then watching nurses drown in work while walking around with papers in her hands most of the day. The administration is told they are not to do hands-on work apparently, they are only to manage and supervise. That bothers me. This is the first time in my life I've had health insurance and have not had to struggle financially. I'm scared to leave this job because I haven't made a year, and it's my first job. I took this job because I couldn't find anything that wasn't LTC without experience. My partner tells me that if I leave this job, he'll support my decision and money isn't everything. I want to stay a year, but would six months look horrible on a resume? The stress and anxiety that this job is causing me has bled into my personal life. I'm scared that my passion for nursing will die if I don't get out ASAP. I'm also scared that people won't count my experience since I've heard people say corrections experience carries a stigma. I go to work and pass pills and fill out oodles of redundant paperwork. Can I leave at six months? Should I just apply for jobs and hope someone likes me enough to say, "Work for me!" and stop holding myself hostage in a place where I'm obviously miserable? Help me someone, please! I know that was a lot of whining. I apologize in advance. Whining aggravates me, but I have bottled this up for too long without venting to anyone but my partner. Please give me some guidance, nurses. I pass pills all day, fill out paperwork that no one ever seems to read, and I don't get to do most of the things I learned in nursing school. I don't feel challenged. (Sorry, I guess my milleneal is showing.)

Okay. I need some advice. I've been trying desperately, but I can no longer lie to myself or anyone else: I want to leave this job. I'm really disappointed in myself now because I am not a quitter. It's been four months, and I was ready to fly the coop at two months! Every time I have to go to work at this prison, I want to get in my truck with my partner and my cat and run away wherever we can. I can't decide what makes me hate this job. Or if I hate this job or something about it. I know work is work--I don't mind working! But I don't have problems with the offenders. I have problems with some of the staff, security and non-security. One security team is awesome. They always help me, escort me down the tiers for pill calls, and make sure safety is key. The other team is a bit more lax. They leave me on the tiers alone because "I'm a guy," and I "can handle myself" because I'm "not a female." And I'm scared to report these officers because they could get the offenders to do something to my loved ones or me. My manager is overdramatic (which is mostly fine) but also a bully, preaching teamwork then watching nurses drown in work while walking around with papers in her hands most of the day. The administration is told they are not to do hands-on work apparently, they are only to manage and supervise. That bothers me. This is the first time in my life I've had health insurance and have not had to struggle financially. I'm scared to leave this job because I haven't made a year, and it's my first job. I took this job because I couldn't find anything that wasn't LTC without experience. My partner tells me that if I leave this job, he'll support my decision and money isn't everything. I want to stay a year, but would six months look horrible on a resume? The stress and anxiety that this job is causing me has bled into my personal life. I'm scared that my passion for nursing will die if I don't get out ASAP. I'm also scared that people won't count my experience since I've heard people say corrections experience carries a stigma. I go to work and pass pills and fill out oodles of redundant paperwork. Can I leave at six months? Should I just apply for jobs and hope someone likes me enough to say, "Work for me!" and stop holding myself hostage in a place where I'm obviously miserable? Help me someone, please! I know that was a lot of whining. I apologize in advance. Whining aggravates me, but I have bottled this up for too long without venting to anyone but my partner. Please give me some guidance, nurses. I pass pills all day, fill out paperwork that no one ever seems to read, and I don't get to do most of the things I learned in nursing school. I don't feel challenged. (Sorry, I guess my milleneal is showing.)

A belated thanks to y'all for the advice. I really appreciate your tips. Things are going okay thus far. I'm still adjusting to being a nurse at all much less a correctional nurse haha.

I got the job! I start on Monday, 4/15! Very excited! Any tips for a brand new LPN starting in corrections are appreciated.

Thanks, NurseShanniePants! I think the interview went well. The facility seems well managed and clean, and I could definitely see myself beginning my career there.

Hi y'all! I'm a new LPN (graduated in August, licensed in November) in Louisiana. And I'm on the oh-so-wonderfully-fun first job hunt. I have an interview tomorrow morning for a position at a nearby women's prison. I'm excited because I think it'd be a great start to my nursing career. I have an interest in psych nursing. (I had my sights set on starting in med surg at a local hospital, but the director chose a candidate with more experience.) Wish me luck!

Thanks, Esme. I appreciate the hugs just as much as your words of wisdom I've read around the site.

For anyone who was interested, I just received a call from the unit director. I did not get the job. They chose a candidate with more experience. There is supposed to be a night position opening in the next month or so, and she welcomed me to apply for that one. I asked for feedback on my interview, shadow shift, etc. She said there was nothing I could've done differently. She said I did a great job in the interview and got positive feedback on my shadow shift. The determining factor was experience because at this point in their caseload and staffing it would be better for the unit to orient an experienced nurse instead of a brand new nurse. I understand. But I'm still crushed.

Hi, AngelRN27! I'm in Louisiana, and I've heard that Florida LPNs are usually exclusively in LTC or HH. The hospitals in my area hire a few LPNs, but the opportunities are hard to come by if you're a new grad with no experience. But I'm sure that's the case for many new LPNs nowadays. Fingers still crossed!