jenilu66

I have been an LPN since 2009 and recently graduated from an RN program. My jobs as an LPN have consisted of nursing home, walk in clinics, and home health. I have never worked on a MedSurg floor or in an acute care setting. I feel this has been a downfall for me not getting a lot of practice with skills. I live in a small community and although we have a hospital here..it is small. Working in a larger hospital will require at least an hour commute. I am divorced and 54 years old. My children are grown and I have two grandchildren. I don’t have a lot of bills so striving to make big bucks is not a top priority. My question is, should a drive the hour to a larger hospital to be in a nurse residency program that would expose me to skills that I have not been exposed to previously working as an LPN, or just take a job in my comfort zone working as an RN at a nursing home or a specialized clinic (woundcare, cardiac rehab etc) I am just so confused as to what direction I should go in. I always thought travel nursing was something I might look into but now that the time is here it scares me to death. Working from home is something else I might be interested in but most of these jobs I think require a BSN. I guess just any advice would be appreciated as I am rambling at this point. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post!

I live in Tennessee and am not sure about laws here, I appreciate the replies, I'm trying to do this on the down-low and just felt someone here might know. Thanks again!

I am an LPN working at a walk in clinic owned by our hospital. We work a rotation schedule being paid biweekly. I work a total of 83-84 hours for two weeks. The rotation is two on..two off..three on..two off..two on.. three off..etc.. I work approx 45 hours one week and approx 37 the next week. My check reflects 7 hours overtime. We have a shift differential as we work 12 hour shifts. My question is AM I being paid correctly/legally? I have read the 8 and 80 pay system and it states that one should be paid for hours worked over 8 each day as overtime pay and also anything over 80 in a two week period. Is this law? Or just simply up to institutions how they choose to pay? Sorry to seem ignorant on this subject; a non medical friend pointed this out to me and I'm just trying to get input/answers. Thanks!!