holly2422

I was originally hired for a float nurse position full time, salaried, exempt and 40 hours a week and the company could float me anywhere. I was placed with ONCALL support. My hours are 4pm - 8am Mon, Tue, Wed (16 hours a night). I also work 8am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.... so... my work week is 64 hours not 40. The administration people say, I don't work all of those 64 hours and in a way it's true I wait for calls that can come at any time and I'm expected to be available for the full 16 hours a day. I'm not per diem or part time or anything else but full time. problem is, is that the position I am hired in is 40 hours a week and I'm paid as such. I'm not being paid for 64 hours. Even worse, I have been given 20 PTO hours. If I take a day off, it is for 2 PTO hours. The other Float nurses in my same category that work a normal 5 day work week (40 hours) only need to take 1 pto. Can someone tell me if this is right ? I can't ask administration as they get angry with me and I'd really like to know if this is right Thank you in advance if someone can answer

hi there I have been going through the same sort of stuff. I landed myself a really nice job with a hospice. It works totally different then LTC. The people in my company are wonderful and helpful. that is an option

Suga I can empathize with you. As an LPN you should be making more in theory as the RN ASN and RN BSN should make more than the LPN. It might have been your negotiating that failed. I found myself advocating for nurses, especially LPNs since I'm finding disturbing things along my path. I'm finding that agencies and companies will take ADVANTAGE of us because they can. I had one agency offer me a terribly low compensation and I turned it down because I knew the next company would ask what I made at the old company and pay me no more than that. There always seems to be someone to take those low jobs and to be honest, we have done this to our selves accepting the low pay. However, in the company I work for now, my BSN did not make much more than I do and I'm finding this disturbing and wondering it worth getting my RN ASN but not going more for the BSN. It might be late to negotiate the salary at this place, I would polish up the resume, take some tasks from you exp as a CNA add them to the resume and try a new place. Try to find the going rate for an LPN in your state might be helpful also for negotiation. good luck

Hi D !! you are not stupid, not at all you went through too many difficult classes to even think that about yourself. I am new also and I have been employed through agencies in various disciplines. Some on this board reported I had no business being in a certain area. But, I am totally glad I took the opportunity to explore the area's available for employment. I was given a whopping 3 days of training in my long term care facility, set out on my own, but on a new floor I wasn't familiar with (meds in various area's, residents in hallways and difficult to I.D.) What I found is that it is a totally CRAZY position. I could not keep up either, no breaks, no lunch and meds falling out of safe admin times. I think the job is completely unrealistic to perform in a safe manner let alone giving the patients the attention they need. I honestly do not know how the regular nurses do the monotonous job every day and not get burned out quickly. The speed will come in time, they totally understand you need more time (they have been through this before with other new nurses) , they are just pushing you. Keep in mind, this is just building experience, it might even convince you to further your education to move on to more opportunity. hang in there and good luck

I wrote a similar post. I also worked at a place and couldn't get passed the 3 days of training and the first day on my own (on a totally different floor than I was trained) We were allowed a lunch and breaks but don't dare try to take it because nothing will get done. I found myself getting late on meds and figured even if I got a routine down it still would not let me get the meds out in time I left as well for a few reasons, another was the night shift nurses were totally nasty with me because I did not get the kind of nursing report they wanted.....OMG I couldn't wait to run from the place good luck on finding the right job and fit

thank you firefly... It's not that I'm glad someone else is feeling the same as I am...but that I'm not alone in feeling this way. I do not understand how this attitude is tolerated. It is not the same as corporate. I went back to school to question the chair of nursing, she said to go on to a higher degree, the environment goes with the education level. I'd have to say, I found this same attitude when I worked for a factory straight out of high school a gazillion years ago, I never forgot that feeling of not being a part of a the team. It could be that they seasoned nurses did not want you to be part of things because they were covering for each other and you, the outsider might not go with the program. Whatever it is, should not be tolerated by management. As far as pay (for other responses I received) , I can see some think it is all relative and yes, starting a pay at 20-27 an hour can seem like a lot and acceptable (kind of reminds me of Tom Hanks response to getting his first paycheck in "Big"). But, in all fairness to all of you, what is expected with the massive med push, treatments and documenting and no time to really keep up with it, is not good. This leaves room for error's, medication administration is the largest area of mistakes in nursing. The responsibility of carrying someone's life in your hands alone is worth more than 20-27 an hour. It's not only the pay, but a lack of staffing. Sadly, I made double to triple the pay, and for doing way less and with less responsibility. I never thought nursing was going to be sitting on my behind, but I also didn't think I'd be put into dangerous positions and given a time limit to do it well for now, I'm back in school working at more education and applying for more jobs

Thank you for your reply...It helps, this was a job I was referred to by an agency. It wasn't direct to the facility. I was given 3 days of training on one floor and set out on another unfamiliar floor. If I had more exp that wouldn't be bad. The facility was desperate for people. My company sent 15 and only 3 stayed, so that might have been a bad sign right there ? I really need to figure out things, I can understand the rudeness of the families. I was probably like that when I advocated for my mother. I cannot understand the rudeness of other nurses. But, I think that is a case of mismanagement. All I kept hearing was and even from clients on my rounds....she must be AGENCY (not she must be new)...because I was slow on the meds I applaud you for your advocacy, I would be the same and I can quickly see it falls on unheard or uncared ears.

oh wow...I thought I was noticing things that no one else was. clients make complaints about various things, the nurse mentor literally kept moving - no time, they always say that - more meds to do..... I was really upset, even spoke to higher ups, it was taken in shock, but I know it will continue. Right then and there, I decided....I never want to go into a LTC myself

thank you guys in my old profession, rude comments and nastiness was not tolerated. To be rude or unprofessional was to be documented on your employment record. It was monitored. So, I'm finding this is a whole different world. To me, I find it sad. It reminds me of a factory job I had coming out of high school, it is the same mentality and thinking. I would have expected nurses (especially) to be a little more humane being that they chose a profession to help and care for people. I grew up with a mother that came in and out of cancer hospitals. I admired the nurses there, they seemed truly professional , kind and compassionate. Well, at least that is how is seemed. They always had a smile and looked like they loved their job. I didn't leave my other job for the money. However, my hat is off to all of you that work under these conditions and don't get paid enough. I will stick to that, you do not get paid enough for the work you do. One of my RN,BSN case managers only got paid 5.00 more than me. I do not think that is right either. I'm thinking about going back for my RN, it's only 3 semesters. But, then I think, I'm stuck in this same situation and environment but getting paid a little more. I'm at a cross road since I have enough credits to get an associates in health science ( don't know what I can do with that) or continue to the RN program. I miss the corporate atmosphere, the professionalism, the team building.

I'm a new LPN (3 months) new. I have tried just about every LPN position there is except for office work in my short time. Employed Per Diem everywhere. I left a great job in a totally different career and I had hoped to make a difference by being a nurse. I knew the pay would decrease a lot, but never knew the back breaking work it entails. The responsibility of a human life, passing meds, meds, meds, with no time for a pee, a sip of water or just to get off your feet for 5 minutes.... somehow, I find that abusive and cruel and more importantly.... low pay for the amount of work to be done, the infections and disease we face everyday. I had my first day alone in an LTC after 3 days of training. I was put on an unfamiliar floor and barely finished my meds and treats on time. The night shift nurses were totally rude and nasty, they asked what kind of training I got. Well, I told them I will not be back in the morning. I cannot deal with rudeness after I gave it my best try. Not sure why this is such a low paid field. Not even sure why nurses don't want other to succeed into helping them out. I have not found my niche and perhaps this was the wrong career for me to pursue I am totally discouraged.... If anyone has suggestions, I'd really appreciate it... kind of need some ideas or a booster shot thanks in advance

Pixie..... In your effort to prove my posting "FALSE", you neglected to read it in it's entirety. You can continue to be arrogant, however, you have no reason to be. You must be a "HOOT" to work with

oh wow....I wasn't aware that Excelsior has live campus classes...thanks fore clearing that up...thought it was strictly online guess that's why you are the RN,MSN !!!!

Well... it gets worse as I go on. I have my resume out all over the place and a few new prospects. I hope I get into a better place. So, I had a few more patients/clients. I go to the home, with barely any info except for an address. Medication may be on a table, maybe the family knows what to do with it. However, I do not have a report from my company. Some times a med is not there (to dry secretions and told the pharmacy is in another state and could not get there in time?!?!?!) This has happened many times, or a client has a med routine that I learned, they go to respite and comes back home with new meds and no new instructions....this is frustrating as heck. I finally contacted my HR rep. I explained this problem. I was courteous and to the point. I get no background, missing equipment, medication is at the house with no care plan available. She mostly blew me off, I heard her quickly typing something and said she just mailed out an email to the case managers to leave care plans at the homes. There was one incident, the patient had 10 medications that were not part of the hospice meds. The case manager came to the home that one time. The family said they know how to give the regular meds, but she denied them and said we handle all meds and she proceeded to change their routine of administration. PROBLEM - she had me write the new plan down. Not being paranoid, but she did not order these meds, if something was to go wrong, it is kind of her word against mine since the process was in my own writing with nothing documented from her. She also just picked the meds she felt needed to be administered (not all of them). I'm in a dangerous situation, I am aware of this. I questioned her and got yelled at in front of the clients. If I had another job, I most likely would have walked out of the home right there and left her to carry out the administration. Honesty, I think this whole company is working by the seat of their pants. Since I'm new, it seems I don't know what I'm talking about (of course I have nothing to bring to the process) , so no one is going to listen to me. The calamity is that they don't even have many clients either, so, its not an overload issue. Is this how hospice works ?

I have to chime in...Rose Queen is correct, however, not complete. Achieve test prep is not a college. However, they have online classes that help you pass the proctored tests for Excelsior. Excelsior does not have classes at all just the book work. After each class you take, you go to a proctor location in your area, take the course test, if you pass Excelsior grants you the credit for that class. So, basically you are taking an Excelsior course and paying for online instruction. Achieve test prep also prepares you for the clinical exam at the end of the program, Excelsior does not. I considered this myself until I started reading the difficulties of passing the Excelsior clinicals in the 3 day weekend. To me, there is too much in the air and they are too stringent on the tests, 2mm over the wound packing and you are out of the water. It would be a lot of money spent to wind up with not passing at the end. just my 2 cents

Hay.casey Not sure if there is a magic answer here. I'm surprised your school did not have an adjunct prep program like HESI or ATI. It is in their best interest for the program if you pass this test. The more failures the more the chance of the school being put on probation for the nursing program. There are plenty of prep book for the NCLEX PN. By now you should have an idea of the content for the questions. You need your core skills of critical thinking, medication, disease, treatment. I took ATI with my program and passed on the first try, my other classmates are starting to take the test and 4 out of 4 have passed. ATI is expensive, if you are serious, you need to put some serious study into it. I studied all my material after my program was complete for a good 2 months and accessed 3 books and my block of ATI books. Do test questions from online if you don't want to invest in books. We were told to do 100 questions a day. your nursing board should have some sort of summary of the topics for the test questions as well Good luck, don't give up