cranky

I am an LVN in a chronic unit. Our tech makes more money than I do. However he is also our biomed tech, totaly manages the water system and orders supplies. We have an RN manager as well. We all string machines, put on and take off pts. Monitor and troubleshoot. Then there is all the paperwork that is never ending. We answer phones and mop up. On PD clinic day the tech and myself handle the hemo pts. When first shift start comming off treatment, second shift is wanting to start before we can get the machines clean and strung. And get mad if we are not ready when they are too early for their appointed time. It can make a person go MAD!

Just curious about the average unit size. I work in a small 8 chair unit on an Indian Reservation, with 15 Hemo and 12 PD patients. We run 2 shifts of regular pts and a third shift with seasonal transient pts. What is the size of your unit?

Many years (23) ago when I worked in Ohio, there were 2 levels of LPN. LPN II was certified to pass meds. LPN I was not. There was of course a difference in pay. I havent heard of it since I moved to Texas. Here LVNs all pass meds. Hope this helps. I think LPN/LVN II is out dated

I work in an acute rehab in Texas, and HICFA has hit us hard. we can hold 40 pts but our average cencus now is 12. We are looking at leasing one hall to a hospice and making some beds SNF beds.It looks like that is the only way to survive. Its kind of scary. I really feel bad for the pts that truely need rehab, but dont qualify.

I agree, that would make a great show. I get tired of the medical programs that portray nurses and doctors as sex hungry animals. I have worked in hospitals for years and heve never found anyone int the linen closet making out.

My first job as an LPN paid $5.00 an hour. I currently make a good deal more than that but I am not getting paid for my years of experience.

New Mexico and Texas are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. I beleive that means you can work in Texas holding a New Mexico license. Check with the Texas Board of Nursing. Otherwise you can hold a nursing license in both states.

I am an LVN in El Paso. I do know that hospitals pay better than nusing homes. There are 4 private hospitals, 1 county hospital, 1 military hospital, and 4 rehab hospitals as well as several nursing agencies. There is more here than nursing homes. You can apply on line to Las Palmas Medical Center or Del Sol Medical Center. Those are HCAfacilities. Then there are Sierra Medical Center and Providence Memorial Hospital. Those are Tenet facilities. I am sure they have a web site for applications as well. I hope this helps. If you have experience most places will give limited compensation for that. The major hospitals also have some tuition reembersment programs. Welcome to El Paso in advance.

I am an LVN in an acute inpatient rehab. Like everyone else has said, I do just about everything. I cannot do initial assesments, initiate blood or be in charge. I have been told by some charge nurses they would rather work with me than some RNs. But I also have 24 years of expeience.

At my inpatient rehab all the nurses work 12 hour shifts. We are greatly invoved in all aspects of pt care. We attend team conference with the docs, therapists pharmacy etc.. The nursing staff consists of RNs LVNs and CNAs. We all pretty much work as a team.