Requesting Opinions From LPNs with 7+ Years Experience!

[newbzLPN]

First off, Thanks for looking and I appreciate input from those with experience!

I just finished my board exams for LPN and am awaiting my Licensure Number.

My question goes out to those with 7+ years of experience in the LPN field in the realm of career paths. I'm debating as to what type of position is best to attempt to land as a new graduate, with keeping in mind a career path that is most beneficial for long term success.

Are you happy with your current career path? If so, what career path did you take (i.e. what starting positions, how did you move from one position to another, if you did). If you're not happy with your career path, what would you have done differently from the get-go?

With the experience you have now, any suggestions as to what the best types of positions that an LPN can hold are? I'm not lazy, but want a respectable position.

With "position" I mean LTC, mental health, children's hospitals, etc... basically what type of position it is.

Appreciate any and all input!

NewbzLPN :-)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moving to the LPN/LVN Corner to help you get more targeted feedback.

Best of luck!

[guest2210]

When I started out, 30 years ago, I worked in LTC. Lasted there for 2 years then got a job in the hospital I did my training in. Became a float nurse due to low census on the med/surg floor I hired in on. That was the best experience I could have ever hoped for. I floated to every unit, always learning new skills and perfecting skills I already felt confident performing. It is not as easy getting a position in a hospital these days for an LPN. If you can join a float pool somewhere, that is what I would recommend. Good luck.

[T-Bird78]

I'm only 6 years in, but I've only worked in offices. It's what I prefer right now because I have my evenings, weekends, and holidays off to be with my family.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

I have been a LVN since the dawn of time (aka almost 39 years) so my job arc can't be replicated anymore since many of the jobs and fields of nursing I encountered are either no longer a viable option for a LVN or the scope of practice has been reduced greatly.

Having said that I would recommend finding a job in either a LTC with a dedicated rehab/skilled section or a LTAC facility to hone those skills and gain experience with assessment, staff supervision, time management and critical thinking skills. After you feel comfortable in those settings then do your best to find mentors who have knowledge of the "big picture" involved in the spectrum of health care. By that I mean nurse managers, business and billing employees, the MDS nurses and expand your knowledge of all the factors involved in running a LTC and a good working knowledge of the nature of managed care and insurance regulations and survey regulations. So many of the nurses I meet everyday are super smart but so intensely focused on simply getting through the shift that they never learn all the requirements and regulations and (alledged lol) rationales for things that they run into roadblocks constantly trying to do their jobs and get immensely frustrated. If one learns about survey regs, insurance requirements, a bit about budget development and staff development then it makes it easier to find ways to solve problems AND easier to know when a facility is being poorly run.

Even if you never desire to advance your nursing to the RN level an effort to learn the "business" aspect of nursing is still an excellent job skill to have. That kind of mentoring and exposure enabled me to get nursing management positions, get jobs in insurance case management and community based nursing case management and lead to my current position of consulting in LTCs. I also recommend doing more than the required CEUs each year and pick topics that interest you but you are not currently dealing with at your job. Never stop reading medical and nursing journals, never stop picking the brain of physicians, NPs and PAs to learn more about disease processes and treatment approaches. In other words the education should never stop post school.

I hope that helps.