elikat02

I've been offered a position in a small office doing some minor accounting and office work. M-F 9-5, no worries about being short staffed or being bullied. A difference in pay but at this point, it's totally worth it.

I've been a CNA for many years and a nurse for 6. Between the continued abuse from my nurse manager, the turmoil from the pandemic, short staffing, lack of equipment and no support from my employer, I can honestly say I've had enough. I've been on interviews for different jobs that interest me (that I'm qualified for) recently and will have no remorse when it's time to give my notice. I'm done.

I can totally relate to this. I work M - F 9-5 and another nurse always has Friday's off. I asked if I could shorten my work week and was told it wasn't possible. Well, her friend got hired as the "Nurse Manager" and she doesn't work Mondays because of other obligations. So both of these people get nice 3 day weekends and myself and another co-worker work the whole week. Not only does the nurse manager not know how to perform the same duties as we do, she refuses to work with the md on surgical day, refuses to cover shifts or work Saturday surgical clinic because she has "other obligations". The other site nurse managers cover shifts, do phlebotomy and surgical procedures. Basically there is nothing that can be done because she's someone's bff. Sorry to hear you're going through that but sadly it happens and I truly know what you're going through.

Low and slow, bevel up - I hold the syringe between my thumb and forefinger to insert. Recommended angle is 5-15 degrees. After I insert I check for the tip of the needle and push the plunger and watch for a wheel. We practiced this in nursing school quite a bit and don't laugh but I used to practice at home on cheap hot dogs! :) Another thing I had to master was before inserting, pull the skin taught to get a good stick. It comes with time and you'll get the hang of it. Good luck! :)

That is great pay and benefits for NC. If you are near the southeast NC, the pay ranges from 13.00/hr - 17.00 (18-20 shift dif). Also, the benefits are not cheap. The office I worked at charged 400 a month for single health coverage and 850 for family with a 3,000 deductible. If your BMI was 30 or over, you had to pay a $150 penalty a month making my family health insurance $1000.00 a month. I was making $16.00 an hour and basically working for my health benefits. I've recently moved back to NY (oh I so wish NY was a compact state - it would make my life so much easier!) and the hiring rates and benefits are a little better up here. The reason why they won't give you a hiring rate in their job posting is because after you interview, the HR department looks at your time and experience and comes up with a hiring rate. It's pretty much standard nowadays. Good luck with your search. :)

I had the same issues when I was in nursing school. We had a basket of "quick snacks" (ie cheese / peanut butter crackers, candy, microwave popcorn etc) in the classroom and a lot of the students grabbed fast food in between (and lots of sugary soda and sweet tea as well). My health did suffer because of unhealthy eating, long hours and a lot of coffee intake. I was having stress / anxiety and my bp was rising. I started replacing a lot of my cups of coffee with bottled water. I look back at how much coffee I had consumed before I started drinking water and I think dehydration was one of my problems. I could not believe how something so small helped me tremendously. Then, I started buying bags of little apples and the little tangerine (Halos) that I could bring along as a quick snack. When the group of us would grab something quick for lunch, I'd look for a small salad or a veggie pack to have with my sandwich. When we'd do our early clinicals and met for our breakfast break, I'd bring along a packet of oatmeal instead having my usual biscuit and gravy combo at the cafeteria. I know it can be challenging trying to shop healthy in between classwork and home, so even if it's a few healthy things it's better than nothing. I know exactly what you're going through and know it's not easy - but little things sometimes help a lot. Good luck and congratulations for being near the finish line! :)

Congratulations on your new position! As a recent grad myself, I know how hard it is to find work. I graduated and got my license in NC and it was very tough to find a job in the area that I lived in. The closest place to me was over 50 miles away and it was still competitive. I've recently moved back to NY because of my husband's job and the first day here I got two calls for interviews. I did the paperwork to transfer my license to NY a few weeks ago and am still waiting on that - but being close to the holidays I kind of expected a lag. Anyways, I guess my point is that as a new grad, sometimes we have to travel a bit, but in the end, it's worth it. Good luck on your first job! :)

$13.50 an hour in a doctors office in NC right out of nursing school May 2016. I recently moved back to NY and am looking for employment. Some of the places I've interviewed at are paying 17 - 18 an hour to start in an office. In LTC, they are around 18-20 an hour.

I absolutely feel your pain. I graduated in May and passed my NCLEX on June 6 of this year. I didn't put in applications until I passed the NCLEX and I've been looking ever since. All I wanted to do was work in an office or clinic and I was assured that I would have no problem getting a job. Well, it's been six months and it's frustrating. Some of the girls that had connections in the offices were hired immediately. I'm not from around here (the rural south) and some of the jobs I've been offered are PRN nights that are 50 plus miles away from me. I tried doing that through a temp agency that put in an LTC facility 13 hour nights (on top of the drive) and not being able to sleep during the day really screwed me up. On top of being paid a whopping 13 dollars an hour (for nights) - some of the aides made more than me. A lot of offices are hiring medical office assistants and there isn't much else around here. A lot of people say, "why don't you just stick it out and go back to school for your RN?" Well, I really liked LPN school and felt very comfortable with the prospect of being an office nurse. I don't have the time or the money to continue on. The only advice I can give you is that even if you get offered a per diem or PRN position and you like it, go for it. There may be a chance for a full time position in the future. Good luck.

I'm a newly licensed LPN and I'm 53 years old. There are no bridge programs here so I'd have to go back to school for 2 years and then do my BSN after that. I know people that have done this at my age or even older - but honestly - I just don't have it in me. LPN school was stressful enough and I honestly can't see going through all that (not to mention the cost and paying back students loans) just for a few years - if that - of work. If I had gone into nursing right out of high school I would have definitely gone for RN (or higher). I'm also having a hard time finding an LPN office job. I always wanted to work in an office but where I am, CMA's rule the roost. So I'm not sure if it's my advanced age or the flood of CMA's, but an LPN job (whether it be office or SNF) is proving rather difficult to find. So, to the original poster, if you have the time, money and stamina, I would encourage you to go for it.

Around my area, LPN's seem to be a dying breed. We are no longer allowed to work in the hospitals and the doctors offices are shying away from LPNs now as they are hiring more CMA's and MOA's. It's a pity that they took LPN's out of the hospitals - all you see here is RN's and CNA's. The two reasons why I chose to be an LPN is because of the direct patient care and also, by the time I would have gotten my RN and BSN, I would have been in my late 50's. I just wanted to work in a clinic or office (as promised by the college I went to) but that turned out to be a bust. I loved nursing school and looked forward to a nursing career, but it has been an uphill struggle finding work. A piece of advice I would give younger students who are considering becoming an LPN, go for it for the experience, but continue on up the ladder as far as you can go - you won't regret it.

I'm a recent LPN grad and we wore caps and whites to our clinicals. We also wore them to our pinning ceremony. We usually got stared at in the hospital but some of the older patients had smiles on their faces and some said, "Now there's a nurse!" The new class coming in last year was the first class that did not have to wear caps. I'm kind of glad that they don't have to wear them now because of the germ factor, but I was always proud to wear it.

Wow - really? Our LPN program runs circles around the RN program. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm graduating in May and I would encourage anyone to do LPN to RN. Just my two cents.

I take care of a gentleman who has the same issue. When I make his bed, I use two disposable chucks on his sheet, then when it's time for bed, I put him in a Depends brief along with another brief (yes, two briefs per the family request) along with a bladder pad. In the am I change and clean him, and put one Depends on him along with a bladder control pad. When I clean him up, the family has an ointment like aquaphor as a wetness barrier and it works really well - his skin integrity is amazing for a heavy wetter.

In NC if you are going to a community college, they require you to do your CNA first. If you're going to a 4 year University, you don't have to do your CNA first. I did mine a few years ago and will be starting RN school in August. I'm glad they made us do the CNA first because the experience I've gained working in that environment will be extremely helpful when it comes time for clinicals. Can't wait!!!