cyde

so soo sorry to hear of your profound lost. sending you peace, strength as she passes into the golden light. ox

last fall when i was in my last term in school our clinical instructor told us mount sinai was hiring lpns and that those of us who lived in the boroughs should apply. that being said, i do believe you do have to put your best foot forward when applying. good luck!

true words. you experience mirrors my current situation. a grad w/honors and am totally overwhelmed @ the ltc. the cart, being rushed to hand out meds and get the morning pass done before lunch is off the hook! nothing prepared me for this...30+ pt. i just hope i survive. unfortunately orientiees don't get full pay. which makes us all feel like cheap help. but i'm hanging in until i've achieved my goals. this is the only way and the best experience i can get at this point. good luck to all of us and hang in there. we will all emerge great nurses at the end of our first year on the job.

true statement. i'm 3 days into orientation @ an ltc doing med passes to 30+ pt 1st shift and i can't believe what has to be done...scary. tube feedings, tx, heparin, insulin, wound care, call bells...ahhhhh!!! i was luck enough to have a wonderful trainer today. the universe has been kind.

yep, i know what you mean. i live in NY and passed the nclex in aug. i went from sooo psyched!!! to completely bummed out. applied @ tons of places and no one would touch me being a new grad. some of the ads were so blunt clearly stating in bold print "NO NEW GRADS PLEASE!!!" all the ltc facilities in my area want 1 yr experience. then after pounding the pavement and knocking on every door someone finally gave me a chance. i had to be persistent and keep calling back because their were so many other fish snapping at the line that i almost lost my chance due to orientation spots filling up. and never under estimate the power of networking. my friend got an entry level position based on who she knew. keeping in-touch w/people in the nursing field really helps. but i finally landed a job @ an ltc. been orienting for a week and i'm so happy that i'm really and truly employed as a nurse. keep knocking my dear: someone will answer! the best of luck to you!

it sounds great! i've work w/MD practices for 4 yrs as an MA, and it is a far cry from ltc. i've heard the same concerns from one of the lpn's fearing loss of skills. that being said she did do much more that me: vaccinations, suture removals, ear irrigations, etc... she was paid well. i was making $17 per hr. she was in the mid $20's. it just depends on the practice. i would negotiate my tail off if you really wanted the position, detailing you level of skill. you can also try the larger HC facilities. i worked at one and the lpn's were the charge nurses above the MA's and were floor manager...better pay there also. everyone's different. i really enjoyed working in a MD practice setting, but can't wait to start at a ltc facility. good luck and keep us posted!

thanks jadelpn! the pay check isn't quite there but i'm new to the field. i think i need to give it a year for my options to improve. i can live w/the pay check for now but we are definitely on the same page as far as school goes. thanks for the advice. :)

i hear you... i'm a new grad too and starting my new job on monday. the DON told me i will be training to pass meds to 30 pt during a 7-3 shift and learning how to manage the aids. everything is on the emr. i just wanted to jump in and ask her, can i at least get the meds down before ya throw me into the fire? the facility has an extremely high turnover, that being said they only pay $10 per hr. during orientation and only hire per diem. this looks like it's going to be a yellow knuckle ride. gonna need a couple of paddle for this canon ride. happy, nervous and scared. here we go!!! glad to hear your rant...

congrats!!! welcome new lpn!! i'm 50 also licensed this year too, but have no desire go back to school ever! lol!!! good luck.

i was thinking of possibly doing the lpn to rn thing. i'm 50 yrs old and figured the one/two yrs program wouldn't be so bad cuz 4 yrs is not an option. now, while on an interview the director of the nursery said that she was flood with nurse from a near by hospital that just let go of nearly 60 nurse! she didn't go into details about it but i ask one of the people at the employment office about it and she yes! they did let go of all those nurses because they didn't have their bsn and this is going to be the trend w/all of our area hospitals in the coming year...wow!!! i thought the transition wouldn't happen for a couple of more years but it looks like the hospitals in my area are moving on this quickly. now i'm wondering what this means for the bottom tier of nurses? lpn and certificate rn looking for the same jobs??? the crazy thing is all the schools and ads i keep seeing for lpn to rn in a yr or their two yr program. what a scam! rn for me...maybe not?? anyone else in the same boat?

$10,500. including books @ a state vocational school. checked out a for profit program that wanted $23,000 which had a great reputation. but just couldn't swing it especial w/all the rumors saying lpns were going to be phased out; i just couldn't see myself getting further into debt. the vocational school had a sketchy vibe about it and many of my classmates felt the instructor could care a less if we learned anything...just in it for the paycheck. our graduation was lame. rushed, no hat, no candles...nothing just a pin if you ordered one and a certificate. i guess sometimes you do get what you pay for.

thank you all for your responses and input. well, i went with my gut and canceled the interview. i spent most of that morning very upset feeling like i missed an opportunity. but as a few the posts here stated my life (a mom w/3 kids) is more important that a paycheck; especially in a facility that i didn't feel ready for. the good new is that i got called for an interview @ an assisted living facility and offer a job! yay!! orientation today and training next week. 4 days per wk, $24 an hr. 10hr shifts. i'm so relieved!! my dad always told me to follow my gut and as one door closes another one opens. i wasn't feeling the rehab facility and in a way i feel like my dad is watching and it wasn't meant to be. i also got a call for from an agency to do home care cases. Training w/an RN, trach/vent & g-tube. hope it all works out, bc i need this so badly. thank you ALL for the advice, words of wisdom and good vibes and i hope we're all working by the holidays!!! oxoxox

thanks for the reply. yes i did check into the claim of the client. the report is on OSHA's website ie failure to provide staff with a safe environment resulting in the death of an employee. very troubling. that being said...still on the fence. maybe they pulled it together after the incident but judging from the recent posts it doesn't look like it. a lot complains from clients, family members as well as staff describing safety and administration issues which judging from the date are on going. very interesting...

just go for it! if that's what interests you just do it. if they like you and feel you have the drive and right personality they'll train you. you have years of experience in ltc and that should count for something. i would apply for it cuz the worst thing they can tell you is no and we all know we get a lot of "nos'" when applying for work so what's one more? :) don't let fear stand in your way. this could be the career change you've been waiting for. put your best foot forward and just do it.

Being a new lpn, I apply for every ad that applies to me. Well, I finally got an interview at a drug rehab/mental health facility. Set for this monday. The position is for nights and is out in the boonies about an hour away. In doing my research on the facility I came across reviews on the place from family members and clients who have attend the programs there. Everything i've read has been very negative and has me a bit concerned. The reviews include statements of poor care, drug treatment not given, patient neglect, very bad administration (only after the money) and unsafe conditions for clients and staff. One client posted that they and other residents felt very unsafe with the behavior of one particular resident and voiced their concerns several times to the administration and staff only to be told they were addicts and delusional and their complains were disregarded. The post goes on to state that within a week the questionable resident grabbed the night guard and stabbed him to death and then grabbed the night nurse and was preparing to do her in too, but was apprehended by the staff and residents. This was a year ago. Now i'm thinking is this why the HR women said to me "this is a night position in our facility are you okay with that?" now i'm just a little freaked out about this. I know I need a job but... really??? is this a position i should consider being a newbie? my gut is saying cancel!! but I don't want to be a wimp either. Any suggestions??