mmtorrez89

I graduated in May with my lpn, passed NCLEX and got a job as a pediatric homehealth LPN. I got no training, didn't follow any nurses/shadow, took a 40? med math test and got a binder about various health conditions, working vents, suction and charting. After two days heres where i stand...I am the nurse, hear me roar! Two days later, many firsts, lots of new information, skills and just the beginning of my o crap moments. I first day ever as a home health pediatric LPN, my nursing director meets me at the house, introduces me to the kid and parents. Hands me a binder with plan of care, and random instructions and information...then leaves. After she leaves, the parent asks if I mind if she goes out for breakfast....sure? O btw he will need his meds within the next hours, they are in the drawer and fridge. Bye! Here I am a new grad nurse, 2 semesters of college, 22 individual days of shadowing a nurse in the hospital, all alone with a child who has an artificial airway, feeds from a hole in his stomach and too little to communicate anything to me. I got this right? Wait how do I give meds through a gtube, I watched a video on this in class about 9 months ago, and did it ONCE in the hospital setting. Do I mix them all up, can I do that? Will they interact with anything? Am I going to kill the kid?? Ok I looked up a few things, I got this. Meds are ready,just gotta connect the tubing to the gtube. I can't get it to stay, im goingto pull the tube out. I really can't get the tube to connect, the kid is thrashing around,wants to get down, has his blankie in the way of my vision ahhh I need help. Google somemore...alright I got it. Finished the messy task, spilled the water, but hey he got his meds right? I am so proud and excited. I just gave my first medication administration by my self, no teacher over me, no nurse watching me, I just did it!! The first of firsts. After playing and messing with the kid, its time for trach tie changing. Well I've been around trachs in the hospital and have helped changed countless trachs and trach ties. I've suctioned ONCE before in my entire life, I got this. Well wait, Im used to in the hospital there are two people always incase we need to bag the kiddo or anything happens to the airway. Your telling me I have to do this ALONE, BY MYSELF, for the second time ever, an hour away from any hospital, and good20 minutes away from civilization. I have to mess with this kids airway ALONE? Time goes by, Im very slow, the kid is fantastically patient for me, I only pinch him once, super nervous, but gosh dang it I GOT IT. Another first..my first trach care alone. First day goes great otherwise. Second day has more firsts than the first day. Second day family asks me for "advice" The last five years as a tech I've been asked a lot of questions, I answer them the best of my ability but I ALWAYS finish with ( in the acute care I can say this) " but be sure to talk to your nurse or doctor about it". I almost say those words today to my patients family, then I remember I AM THE NURSE. Now its no longer advice, but its PATIENT EDUCATION and its my OBLIGATION as a NURSE. Alright, get through medication administration again , piece of cake this time. Well I notice my kid has a bit of secretions, working a little hard to breathe. Hey I can problem solve, this is easy...lets just hook him up to the pulse ox, double check hes fine. WRONG...his stats are dangerously low. WTH, *** do I do. Quick call respiratory, grab the nurse and stand by to help as needed ( that's what I've done the last five years of my life) NOPE..megan you are the nurse, you are the respiratory therapist in this position . I have to act, and I have to act fast.Ok I make sure my ambu bag and vent is near by and okay..but I don't want to use them as ive never EVER initiated vent use. Problem solve and QUICK...oxygen and breathing treatment...( my phone is next to me incase I give up and call 911 and introduce myself as a new grad nurse) After breathing treatment stats go up..but not much, quick suction....alright stats go right back down . More oxygen and some puffs. Alright stats are up...I saved him, he didn't die....I got this. Yet the entire time this is going on the kid is looking at me "screaming" for help, choking on secretions, I want to call the mom and 911, I need backup I have no idea what im doing. Deff doubting myself. " O **** this is me, I have to do something NOW" went through my mind a few times during that episode. After all was situated I even thought.." I don't want to be a nurse, its just too stressful, peoples LIVES directly are in my hands" After it was all done I really just wanted to cry, it was a scary first, a stressful first, but with the fabulous education I received I was able to handle the situation. Here I think..I am the nurse hear me roar. The other first I had was with feeding rates. Again more doubt. I am grateful for nurse friends I can call for advice in times of struggle. Order was for one amount at one rate. Patients having feeding intolerance and mom request I change the rate. BUT WAIT..am I allowed? Will I LOSE my nursing license..Am I GOING AGAISNT DOCTORS ORDERS. Nope! I am THE NURSE, I can assess the situation and my kid will be getting the ORDERED AMOUNT. At a SLOWER rate..in the PATIENTS BEST INTERST. I WILL DOCUMENT reason for CHANGE, and be JUST FINE. Again, I AM THE NURSE , and my judgment is needed to ensure the patient will be okay. Five years of being a tech in the hospitals has given me incredible learning experience, I've seen it all, helped with it all, and heard it all. But I have always worked under the nurse and doctor, they have always been a resource for me. They have always covered my butt. Now this new range of responsibilities, obligations and requirements is overwhelming. In the home health setting I am everything I have. I know I am skilled and competent, I need to stop doubting myself, I need to trust my instinct. I am a skilled damn good nurse, and I know I will have many more first, and many more o **** moments, but I will get through them successfully and learn ongoing. I got this ( fake it till you make it right?? ) My one goal will be not to kill anyone...all new grads have that common goal right?

I live in Maricopa too. PMme mayaquice. You can do it..congrats on starting the walk...

i did not wait at all, i got in for the semester i applied for in fall 2013.

Two semesters at 11 credits per semester. 82$ a credit totaled 1804. Then I avoided the book "bundle for $500 the school was selling and bought my books online used for $125. The best part is in my new LPN job I will get every dime back within two paychecks :) I paid out of pocket and well worth it.

Just practice NCLEX questions, write out the ones you got wrong, write out the rationale. Theres a 30 page study guide that is floating around this site idk the link anymore, but i printed a few copies of that and kept them in my car, purse, desk at work and would just ready them over and over. Know your values, NCLEX won't ask you what is the normal potassium level..instead it will say a patient presents with a potassium of 7.7 what ECG patterns will you expect to see. Since you know K that level is high you will know the side affects of elevated K+. Know your patient education..what we should be educating the patients on, side affects of drugs, my nclex didn't have much on pharm besides patient education..like its normal to have orange sweat with tb meds..stuff like that. patient education, lab values, select all that apply and of course basic medication math/conversions. Be confident...study nclex books and rock it :)

If you want it bad enough, its doable. I worked two fulltime jobs and was enrolled in a fast track LPN program, while being a single mom of a little boy. It was difficult, but deff a small sacrafice for a life long of success. I studied at night, or when my son was at school, my own thing was I wouldn't sacrafice time with my son to do school work. I used alot of youtube to study with, and did NCLEX NCLEX NCLEX questions. Otherwise do your vocab, read your book and actually try! Nursing school is hard, but I truely believe if you want it hard enough you will be successful. You will run into set backs, but you will have to prioritize school to be successful. The night before finals my son was admitted into the hospital. I studied all night in his room, told the staff I had to leave ( they understood completely as nurses themselves) and came back a few hours later. Where theres a will..theres a way. Be confident you got this! I am starting my lpn job next week :)

I know alot of people are weary about becoming an LPN these days. They are getting phased out, not getting paid well, or whatever else crap you can come up with. I too didn't want to an LPN program, I thought It wasn't worth it. Boy was I wrong. I applied and got accepted into Gateway Community College LPN fast track program in Phoenix Arizona. It was a nine month program , with amazing clinical experience in great facilities . They taught us very well and got us very prepared for HESI, and NCLEX. I passed everything with flying colors.I am now eligable to transfer into third block of the RN program and finish fourth block there after. In the time I would of spent waiting on an RN program waiting list at this same college, I can have my RN. I took my NCLEX, and am now a state licensed LPN. I paid out of pocket for my education, book and and all. I am a single mother working two jobs. I got hired as a pediatric home health LPN making in the 90th percent of the national average LPN salary. Pretty darn good! In my first two paychecks I will get back every penny I put into my education.That seems worth it doesnt it? I have worked in the ER and hospitals for a long time, so i have experience, but nonetheless the LPN program has allowed to be secure a well paying job as a LPN, while working towards my RN. I will be an experienced nurse when i get my first RN job. I will know what I am doing, and how I am going to do it.I will be confident, skilled and desired.An LPN is a respected member of the healthcare team and we should remember that when we dress our confidence for the day . I am a success story, I am a single young mother who attained her LPN in 9 months, passed the NCLEX on the first try, secured a job I wanted ( got many calls for jobs I didn't want) within two months, and will have a very well paying job while I am finishing my RN in 9 more months. Tell me that isn't worth it...I deff recommend becoming an LPN prior to RN. I am a CNA, with phlebotomy and EKG certification, now I am a new grad LPN and soon will be an RN. Just the first of my life long career path. I want the old me to read this post..the old me who almost went to a 90k private college to avoid a 2 yr waiting list for the RN program. This route is just as fast, financially smart and well worth it. I wrote a blog about my LPN experience if anyone wants the link I can email it or its on my "about me" on here.

New grad lpn home health pediatrics in Phoenix Az...$22.50 an hour.

I just posted a similar question, so I will be following your responses. Good lucK! I too am just going to start a new lpn job..gulp :)

I am a new grad and will be starting a new job soon as a pediatric home health lpn with a rate of 22.50 an hour. I too am working towards my RN and did a bridge program so I got my LPN in 9 months and can go into third block and finish to fourth right after. I've made the right choice, will have experience as a nurse before even getting my RN. I will not be a new grad nurse in the RN title. I've been an emergency room tech for a while now, taking it in steps.

If you all go to my page here on all nurses , my "website" is linked to my blog about my entire lpn program at gateway. I have recommendations for books and such. Just buy any nclex study books to go over questions and start there. Nclex questions is where its at.

Gateway .

I studied Pharm alot, and only had two questions regarding it on my NCLEX.

Yes like you said your education is a complete waste if you don't keep trying. You have got to give it your all, take a live review course, work , do something to be able to pass. You've made it this far, you can't stop now. Stay postive, print off a study plan do something to help yourself pass. I used the saunders material to pass on my first try. But I also use youtube/simply nursing/and many other practice questions.I also write my questions out that i get wrong for practice, and i write the rationales.

I graduated this year in May. I have a blog I've used to track my entire LPN journey if anyone wants the link Ill send it to you. PM me on here. I reccomend it, and its worth the fight. I will hopefully be going into my RN in the fall.