Should I become an LVN?

[frenchiee123]

Hello everyone,

First and foremost let me say I have always wanted to be a nurse and I really enjoy helping others.I am currently enrolled in a community college and have my last three science classes to complete a&p 1 and 2 and micro, however my general ed will be completed after this semester. My problem I have been facing lately is should I just enroll into a LVN program.I currently work as a medication aide in a assisted living facility, which I think it is wrong on so many levels.I practically do what a LVN does but get paid crap.I sometimes feel like getting my LVN license so I can get paid what I feel like I should. I have always felt I could do more and know I am capable of taking on a better role. First let me tell you what my job consist of because my facility is one of the worst companies I have ever seen.I am not only a medication aide but a caregiver at the same time! I "pass medication" to 15 residents and give care at the same time, so I am running around my whole 8 hours I am there.I fax pharmacies, do a narcotic count starting and ending every shift, transcribe on a mar,did I mention I have to answer call lights as well while passing meds, pass out medications including prns,chart on residents, give ADL care from dressing to showers,I fax doctors on falls & on skin tears, and much more.The charge nurse that is suppose to help myself with these things has left myself with a resident coming back from a SNF so I had to make sure I had all the meds from the SNF and transcribe a new mar for the resident!! I do not understand how this is legal but I know I have gained a great amount of experience that will follow myself wherever I go. I am just torn because my boyfriend works at a hospital and wants myself not to waste money on a LVN program and try to get into a RN lottery program which I don't know how long it will take before I would get into one.I am just fed up doing what I do and getting paid what I do.Should I just finish my AA and then get into a LVN program? I could always bridge later on. Would my experience make myself a better candidate at getting a job if I become a LVN?I also I have my C.N.A license as well.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Where are you located? I assume you are either in CA or TX if you are using the 'LVN' acronym as opposed to 'LPN.'

The LVN scope of practice is severely limited in CA and many new grads are taking a year, sometimes longer, to find their first jobs. The job market for new LVNs is horrible in CA, but slightly better in most parts of TX.

[frenchiee123]

I am located in California and I know the jobs available and limitations aren't the best.I have had many nurses from the hospital where my boyfriend works say it is a waste of money don't do it because most programs are $30,000+! It's so hard to know what to do these days.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

If you like the work you do, such as passing meds to lots of residents, communicating with doctors, charting, etc, you might want to consider becoming an LVN because the job is similar to that of a med-aide, but with increased responsibilities.

Every setting I've worked in or done clinicians in has a ratio of 30-46 residents to 1 LVN.

Research the job market in your area, look at opportunities for new grads and the pay rate and determine whether the 30k plus cost is feasible.

I have a good friend who worked as a med aide for 10 yrs and then became an LVN do she could get paid more for the work she did.

PS I'm in Cali like you!

[frenchiee123]

If you like the work you do, such as passing meds to lots of residents, communicating with doctors, charting, etc, you might want to consider becoming an LVN because the job is similar to that of a med-aide, but with increased responsibilities.

Every setting I've worked in or done clinicians in has a ratio of 30-46 residents to 1 LVN.

Research the job market in your area, look at opportunities for new grads and the pay rate and determine whether the 30k plus cost is feasible.

I have a good friend who worked as a med aide for 10 yrs and then became an LVN do she could get paid more for the work she did.

PS I'm in Cali like you!

The part with the medications and dealing with doctors does not bother myself it is just the fact I have to do both along with care at the current job I work at. Yea I have to look at job market but If I decide to take the LVN path I would go and get a job as a C.N.A at a nursing home and then after I graduate let them know I am an LVN.That was some advise my supervisor who is a LVN said to do. I just would feel more comfortable being an LVN passing meds because I would have much better knowledge of the drugs. I feel as if Assisted living communities want you take a nurse role due to the fact they don't have many nurses on staff to save money. There has been many times I been asked to do things such as" call 911 because a resident had a cellulitis infection" I do know what they look like but how am I with my current title suppose to dictate those kinds of things? I just get discourage going for LVN because I have so many people telling myself not to due to the limitations, but to be quite frank I am not wanting to become a nurse for the money I really enjoy helping other especially my elderly folks.

[Forest76]

I'm not sure if they have openings in CA but I saw that Kaiser is advertising their LPN Jobs. Might be worth looking in to.

[cbwife91]

Hello I am an LVN in California. I am the only nurse working in an Assisted Living Facility. My question is, the facility I work at will not allow me to pass any meds or give any PRN meds. They have stated that RCFE regulations say that only a Med Aide can pass meds. I don't understand how a Med Aide can give them but not me. I have worked there over a year and I am finding that more and more responsibility is taken away from me and given to the Med Aides. Its very frustrating. Since I do not know many people who work at ALF I am trying to find out if this is accurate. Does this sound right? Do ALF have their own rules for LVN's and how can I be sure what they are telling me is correct. Where do I find out if the guidelines for me passing meds. I don't know how to find the right info and my work does not give me any info to follow up with what they are telling me. Any ideas?