Lmomma

Thank you all for your comments I will find out more on Wednesday when i go to view the classroom and ask more specifically about salary. I don't mind if it's a bit less just can't be too incredibly low

Hello fellow nurses, a question Not sure if this is the right forum, but I am looking at a job as a special needs school nurse in an educational collaborative. It is in a special needs classroom overseeing 4 students, tending to their medical needs as well as a lot of educational support to the teacher as well. The students also go on field trips once a week, and I would accompany them on these trips. 2 of the students have serious seizure disorders, which is why they are more comfortable with having the nurse in the classroom every day instead of a separate office. This is an ideal job for me, as I worked in special education prior to becoming a nurse. I am curious as to what to expect to be offered for a salary? I live in Massachusetts if that helps. I currently work in psych/addictions nursing. I love it but working in a school has always been my goal. Should I expect to make less money?? I will go on Wednesday to discuss salary and benefits. Any input or experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Thanks Everyone. Looks like I'm not gonna be looking at Florida. Guess I'll figure something else out

How is the salary range compared to cost of living?? I never thought of indiana, hmmmm

Why is that? No I didn't look for other threads I honestly never thought to,

I am looking for some input from fellow LPNs Please! I'm an LPN currently licensed and working in the state of Massachusetts. The cost of living here is making it pretty impossible to support my family on my salary (I make 46000 a year). I am hoping to make a major change. and I've heard Florida is a good place for nurses to work. Is this true?? How do you find it financially? Are you able to support yourselves somewhat comfortably? Would love to go back to school for my RN but that will be at least a year away before I can begin. Any input would be greatly appreciated

Moreover, day shift staff usually straggled in 30 minutes late because "the daycare center doesn't open any earlier," so my 8-hour shifts were actually 9 to 10 hours each due to waiting for the oncoming nurse to arrive. I['m sorry but that's awful. I'm a new graduate about to send out my resume to some places and seriously can't imagiane how people can justify this. Dh and I are looking for a center that opens before 7 in case it's needed. Currently he works from home so it's no problem for him to get my little one off to school once I leave, but he's looking to change jobs so we will need a back up

Good luck! I would do a good few weeks of intensive study prior to testing, Just passed my NCLEX and it was tough but I studied a ton. HUGS

When do you graduate?? Good luck :)

I feel the same way. I'm so nervous I don't want to fail the NCLEX, ad I'm so scared of being a new nurse. Very excited tho!

Get yourself into a routine before school starts. You will be so thankful for it. I had a hard time adjusting to full time school and 2 kids and trying to juggle dr and therapy schedules for them, along with all the studying and papers. Also, find your "people" right away. I made many friends, but I found 2 people who were my study partners. They were serious and dedicated and we easily complimented each others strengths and weakenesses. One friend made great study guides,one took great notes in class and I was good at editing papers. These things made a huge difference GOOD LUCK

Thank you! Scared of the NCLEX exam, lol

I did it! 1 week ago today, I graduated my LPN program. So amazed and proud of myself. Now to pass the NCLEX...

Oh and Thanks! I forgot to say, in order to get accepted, I needed to take an entrance exam (it was pretty easy actually) and get 3 letters of recommendation. Once I passed the entrance exam I had to schedule an interview with the director of the program. She asked me many questions bout why I wanted to be a nurse and if I had the supports in place to make it thru the program, if I planned on working full time, etc,etc. Good Luck!

I did not need to take prereqs but some LPN schools will require them. In school we have taken Fundamentals in nursing, which teaches you basic nursing info (lab values, what they mean, how to do basic nursing care such as foleys, injections, bed baths, transfers of patients with limited mobility, setting up IVs, etc), We took Pharmacology, where we learned about medication calculations and the different types and routes of meds, A&P, Med Surg, which taught us how to work on a Med Surg floor in a hospital, and Maternity, which I am finishing now. In our clinical sites we have been doing basic patient care (basically CNA work) in addition to medications, wound care, treatments and care planning It's been awesome, but tough. If you want to work with the elderly, LPN is a perfect job :)

What is your current situation? Are you married, single, kids, no kids?? All of those play a role If you're single, no brainer, I'd go strait thru for my RN. If your married and/or have kids, I would personally take a year and just work as an LPN and spend time with my family I am personally not going to go for my RN, as I have 2 kids and ahusband who will like to get to know me again after I graduate :)

Have you considered home care? If you like your patients and enjoy the skills and work but hate the environment I think that could be a good niche for you Good luck

I am in LPN school and will be graduating in 25 days (YAY). I will NOT be going for my RN. I am 40 years old, married, with 2 special needs children. I have no desire to spend another 2 to 4 years in full time school,nor do I wish to spend the money it would take. I can make a good wage and do work that I like as an LPN. I can tell you if you want to work in Long Term Care with the elderly, LPN is the way to go. You will be respected as a nurse, because the vast majority of nurses who work LTC are LPNs. There are a few RNs but they are not considered any "higher" than LPNs. Good luck to you!

RIGHT?? That is how it is done here in Mass. Stupid! In LTC the DON must come in and pronounce death, as there is rarely an RN on the floor. The vast majority of LTC nurses are LPNs. So dumb

WHAT? Umm. all she wanted to know was if our state allowed LPNs to pronounce death. In Massachusetts the answer is "no". That was no work for me to answer. Sheesh!

Starting wage may be only 7 bucks an hour over minimum wage, but raises and advancement opportunities will be far better as a nurse than a burger flipper. Plus I can't see loving a job at fast food or feeling good about myself doing it as a career. If others want to and enjoy it then go for it, but for me, I want to do something more with my life. I want to make an impact on people

Have you spoken to administration about this?? I would for sure, also I would tell them (and follow thru) that I planned on alerting local media if they choose to allow a cheater to represent the class

Totally, completely unacceptable! I agree with Red, I hope she fails NCLEX.

Thank you! This is exactly what I want to do. Did you find your time in LTC helpful at all? I am concerned about being the only nurse in the building strait out of school. I think I should get a good 6 months experience in a facility before jumping into a group home position. Thoughts??

This is what I want to do when I graduate as an LPN (5 weeks!). But I am worried about being the only nurse available as a new nurse. HOw much experience as a nurse did you have before doing HH nursing?