DreadiLocs

So I went to an interview for peds home health and was offered a position. I have not accepted because the pay rate bring offered is $17/hr. I haven't made that since before I was an LVN. I'm in the DFW area and I'm wondering if that is typical pay for a HH LVN.

I am an LVN who has been in various aspects of hemodialysis for the last 5 years. I love what I do but my clinic has a lower census than most (I work Tues, Thurs and Sat) and it is a struggle to make even 30 hours. To supplement, I also work as a staff assist dialysis nurse on MWF. I carry my benefits with my TTS job because it used to be full time 40 hours. I am also working toward my RN through an online program. I have time to catch up on reading with my MWF but not on TTS. Plus the running around during turn over is starting to catch up with me. The mind is willing but sometimes the body can't keep up. Here's my dilemma. I interviewed with a pediatric home health agency yesterday. I was offered my choice of 3 cases, paying $5/hr less than I make in dialysis. It would be less physical exertion, perhaps more opportunity to study at work during evening or nighttime hours. I would keep my MWF job as it pays more between the 2 dialysis jobs. I'm looking to regain my weekends and just work Monday through Friday. I'm looking for some feedback on what some of you would do. Is it worth is to take a pay cut and go in to home health until I finish school? I could regain some of the skills that are rusty. Or would you stay in dialysis and try to work M-F, studying only on weekends and after work when time allows?

I chose to work and pay down my debt. There is such a thing as racking up so much debt in pursuit of education that at some point you will never be out of education debt, and it becomes no longer worth it. My suggestion is to pay some of it down, get a reliable car (you will need it for clinical), and get experience in the field. Then when you can honestly say that you can afford school, you be better able to focus on it.

What happens when you get to clinical and you are on public transport? That won't fly in many nursing programs.

Hi everyone and a special hello to my LVN/LPN brothers and sisters. I just wanted to get this off my chest. I am an LVN and while I have been taking a class here and there, in preparation for the Excelsior program for about 4 years. I love being an LVN, the connection it allows me to have with my patients, the slightly less paperwork that I am responsible for and all of that. I came to realize about 2 years ago that I was really only trying to get my RN for more money, it has little to do with anything else. I get so tired of people, especially other nurses saying "You're too smart to be an LVN", and "You could be a charge nurse if you got your RN". Point #1, LVNs are very smart nurses. Would you rather work with a stupid one? Point#2, I never said I wanted to be charge. Admissions, assessments, med recocikiation, etc......no thank you. What gives? Does anyone else get pressure from their peers that they should want "more"? I have 3 teenagers in high school, plus a husband who works full-time. I Am fine and comfortable doing what I do, without RN begins my name. Is that so bad?