Soiledbrains

I work in a nursing home that's very disorganized. I've only been there a few months and it's my first job as a LPN. I was "trained" for 2 weeks and thrown on a floor all by myself. I have 40 residents to give meds and care to, aides don't help. Not to mention, they made me sign a sheet before I had completed tasks to make sure I'm competent. I never had those tasks demonstrated to me nor have I performed them under supervision. I have encountered a few problems and I don't know what to do about it. I work the second shift. There are residents that are left in the hallway at 11pm. Aides leave the work for me. I'm supposed to leave at 11 but never get out until about 1am. there are nurses who steal narcotics so residents aren't being medicated properly. residents have urinated on themselves in the hallway. One resident whips out his member and pees in the hallway because no one ever takes him to the bathroom. They float me to different units, again I've only been there 60 days, and in their system they don't always put in who is on altered consistency and someone can end up aspirating. I have reported everything to the nurse manager and supervisor who could care less. In regards to the nurse I know stealing narcotics, my supervisor said I complain too much and there's nothing she can do unless she sees it and they do not drug test there. I also hounded the DON because I am a patient advocate and I can no longer stand what I have encountered. The DON doesn't care. I just got off the phone with her, we got into a little tift, and I resigned. This facility needs to be shut down. Who can I go to? also, is it hard to get a job In nursing after resigning from another job? I need work but I refuse to put my license on the line.

So, I just noticed my current employer kept my LPN registration certificate, is this normal? I don't know if they forgot to give it back but I've beeen bugging human resources a lot lately and I don't want to bother them again. Can I get a new one from my state board of nursing?

Mainergal, it took about a month from when I submitted my resume until they called me for an interview. Belle, are you in the CNY area?

One more thing, they offered me an excellent pay rate and sign on bonus. How long does it take to receive the sign-bonus? They never stated if I have to work a certain amount of time to gain that sign on bonus or if it's immediate.

I just want to say...I GOT THE JOB! I can't believe it! I've never been more excited. I was hired on the spot. I'm extremely grateful that they are taking a chance on me. I just want to let others know who have graduated LPN school but took awhile to get their license whether it be due to taking multiple chances on passing the test or had life situations, like me, from holding them back. Never give up! Turns out they don't care when you graduated just as long as you have your license. In fact, my graduation date was never brought up. I didn't even realize that until I was dancing to my car in complete bliss. In all honesty, it wasn't my many years in private homecare that landed me the job. They were very concerned with what I have done prior to that. The hiring manager told me that it was when I told her that I worked at a pet grooming salon to get me through nursing school that she took a chance on me due to time management and customer service skills that I've learned there. They seemed very concerned about my one-on-one care private duty and then throwing me into a chaotic environment. I sold myself well. I told them I love being on my feet, working hard, and most importantly that I truly love caring for people. I made mention of that I can't leave my work at the door. I take it home with me because I'm constantly thinking of ways on how I can improve my patients' health and quality of life. I botched a few of the situational questions because working one-on-one is different from having one patient to 70 patients to care for. The one I botched the most was when she asked what I would do if a patient was extremely agitated, covered in stool and didn't want to get clean, what would I do. Since I'm in homecare, I answered that I'd do my best to calm her down, tell her why she needs to be clean and sit with her until she calms down. I'm extremely patient and I don't budge when something NEEDS to be done to ensure quality of health. Since I wouldn't have time to do that in a LTC facility, they wanted the answer to be to leave her alone for 10 minutes (she stated that she never heard of anyone dying from lying in their stool which put me a bit off because I can't do that) and to have someone else approach her. I can't wait to improve on my skills and to gain experience. When the nurse recruiter shook my hand and welcomed me to the team, my kneels buckled and I thought I was going to collapse from pure shock and enjoyment. I honestly didn't think I was going to get the job but just went in for the interview to get more experience. So, all you others out there who are trying to get a job years after graduating school, don't get discouraged! Go in and explain why you deserve this job, that you worked hard to get where you are at, and that you want to work for the company so badly (they seemed to like that). Tell them passionately why you'd make a great asset to their team. As long as you believe in yourself then they will believe in you.

I live in NY and they did not require me to take a refresher course although I did go through the Hurst review. I have the knowledge, I just need to implement it. My skills aren't fresh since I haven't maintained them but once I get in somewhere I know it will all come back to me. The only thing I'm worried about is inserting catheters but once I watch someone do it then I'll be able to, I'm a fast learner. My best skills involve wound care.. I'm quite discouraged by these posts. I feel like, why bother? I have my interview in a few hours. I wasn't trying to hide the fact that I graduated six years ago. When I told them "a couple years ago" it's just what spurted out of my mouth. She didn't give me a chance to state the accurate years I've been out of school and once she started talking about pay we were already on a different subject. I didn't lie on my application. I put that I graduated in 2008 so I'm guessing she overlooked that.

So, after graduating in June of 2008, I had a couple of traumatic events that sent me on a downward spiral. It was rough and I thought I'd never get back to who I was but I've been working hard to better myself. I sat for the boards this past August and to my astonishment, I passed! I set my mind to it and I did it. Now, I have a license which I thought was the hard part but it's not, it's getting a job! No one will hire me since I'm not a new grad. I just got an interview at a pretty crappy LTC facility tomorrow (I did a clinical rotation there).When the hiring manager asked when I graduated I said a "couple" years ago and she quickly responded with, "Okay, I see you just got your license in August." But, I'm sure to her a couple of years ago is 2 years and I was scared to say I graduated in '08 (I will let them know this info at the interview). I want this job more than anything, to get my foot in the door, but they want a recent grad to train. How can I get them to take a chance on me since I graduated lpn school 6 years ago and didn't get licensed until recently? I've been a private aide since graduating but I want to get clinical experience! What can I do or say? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Please post what happens. I hope you pass!!! I read only one post where a girl was charged trying the new PVT but she didn't say if she passed or failed. I assume she lives in one of the states that doesn't participate in quick results. If you passed, I'll be so happy for you but also a bit sad that you lost money and the pvt doesn't work like we all think it does. Anyway, keep us posted! I hope that if you do pass that maybe the people at pearson will be kind to refund your money. If you failed that's okay, just try again. Lots of people fail especially their first time. There's people who have failed 7 times and are still trying - good for them! If you need to re-take the test, I highly recommend Hurst review. It's expensive but well worth it. I swear, I learned more from that review than I did in nursing school. I was out of school for 6 years, took the hurst review and bought the hurst review book off of amazon, and I couldn't have passed without it! Now my next hurdle, is someone hiring me with no clinical experience.

They can't change my results right? Now, I keep looking as if it's going to change to "failed" LOL. I just can't believe I did it! You guys out there who have tried and tried, keep trying! Don't ever give up! I had a few messages in my inbox but I don't have privileges to respond. I just want to let you know that I had someone telling me the whole time to "give 'em hell" and that built up my momentum and confidence. I even kept telling repeating that to myself as I was taking the test. Since I took a little over 2 hours to complete the test I took the break so I could go to the bathroom and regain my composure. I was doing jumping jacks, running in place, and some kickboxing moves to let my nerves out LOL. I didn't care if anyone walked in. I was there for me and I, for once, made myself and my dreams top priority. I went from feeling so down low to now feeling on top of the world; nothing and no one can stop me now!

omg, I passed!!!!! I can't believe it! I was certain I failed! 6 years after nursing school and I passed my nclex! Now, I need to write hurst a thank you letter. If I never took their review, I don't think I would have passed. I passed! I can't believe this. I am an LPN! RN, here I come!

Actually, I read ONE post where a girl's card was declined because of insufficient funds when she tried the new PVT. I don't know if it's on this board or another. I've been scouring the internet on this subject to help calm my nerves. So, maybe pearson will allow you to pay if you failed. I used a cc with insufficient funds and it wouldn't let me re-register since I was already scheduled. I hope to know in an hour if I passed or failed with quick results. I'm certain I failed but so far everyone who has tried the new PVT and they couldn't submit a payment has passed. *crosses fingers*

Awwww, thank you so much!! I feel like I have a huge, giant pit in my stomach! I'm at work and can hardly concentrate. I hope I can get my results at 6pm (3.5 more hours to go) today and I hope those results make me jump for joy!! I thank you for your prayer so much!

I tried the new PVT and got the good pop-up (I used a reloadable card with like $5 on it). I still feel like I failed. I took my test at 4pm eastern time (I'm in NY), on Tuesday, and I didn't finish until 6. Will I be able to get the results today at 6pm or do you have to finish your exam by a certain time to get the results in 2 days? I feel like I have to wait an extra business day because I finished so late. I'm a neurotic mess and I just want to know if I passed. I never wanted anything so badly in my life! I feel like my life is on hold. Ugghhhh. If anyone can let me know if I'll be able to access those results today I'd be very grateful. I'm one of those neurotic messes who has been checking the pearsons site since I walked out of the building.

I tried the new pearson vue trick since I took my test on Tuesday. It hasn't been 48 hours yet so I can't access my quick results and my status is still "results unavailable". I tried to re register with a reloadable card I have so if it did go through the transaction would be denied due to insufficient funds. When I clicked on submit, my heart was pounding, but I didn't get an error saying that my card was denied, it stated that I had already registered blah blah blah whatever it's supposed to say for the "good pop-up". I finished my test at 6pm so hopefully I can access my quick results then and I will let you guys know how accurate this new trick is. I'm so nervous! I keep checking every 10 minutes! The next 5.5 hours will be brutal. I thought the test was very difficult. It was mostly SATA for me and a couple diagrams. I took the test 6 years after graduating. I know I failed but I'm holding onto that tiny piece of hope if the new PVT is accurate.

I took mine yesterday and yes I had only generic names for meds except for one question. The answers were very trick because 2 stated the brand name of the drug while the other 2 stated "this medication". Unfortunately, for me, I had no idea what the med was anyway, lol. I truly never heard of it. The test was much harder than I anticipated! It shut off around 150 questions and just my luck the PVT is now dead. I was in the parking lot panicking because I was receiving no pop-ups and not seeing a "delivery sent" status. Grrrrrr! I took mIne on Tuesday at 4pm (6 years after graduTing school - long story) so hopefully tomorrow I can get the results. I'm so nervous! But, yeah, anyway, good luck to you and yes only generic names! You can do it girl! Remember your formulas as well, I.e., wants/have and how to change drip factors. It's not all pharm though. As long as your know the classification of the drugs you can work your way through the answers and pick the right one!