Should I stay or should I go now...

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 11, 2016

1. That song will be in my head all day, lol. I own the 45 on vinyl, showing my age.

2. What do you LIKE about your position? Obviously not the pay, but is your management supportive? Good environment? Like your coworkers? Sometimes those "intangibles" make a huge difference, and the grass ... well, you know about grass colors.

CCU BSN RN · Sep 11, 2016

I feel like I need more information here if you want informed opinions. What kind of area are you working in? The only thing you expressly state that you don't like about your job is the pay, so now that the pay is equal, what else is making you think of leaving? What do you dislike about your job, and what evidence do you have that it would be different somewhere else?

Are there job opportunities for LVNs in your area? Would it be easy to find another job? (I'm not trying to be a jerk, but in my geographic area there are no LVNs in hospital settings, except a few grandfathered positions.)

BabyFood26 · Sep 12, 2016

1. That song will be in my head all day, lol. I own the 45 on vinyl, showing my age.
2. What do you LIKE about your position? Obviously not the pay, but is your management supportive? Good environment? Like your coworkers? Sometimes those "intangibles" make a huge difference, and the grass ... well, you know about grass colors.

OK #1 that's awesome lol

And #2 ... I like that it is familiar. I have had the same patient 1:1 in the home health care setting for a year now. My manager is very supportive. She expressed to me during my yearly evaluation how much they appreciate my reliability and perseverance as this case has a high turn over rate. She is also always open ears to any concerns I have and is easily reachable or replies quickly.

That is very true about the grass lol. That is why I'm having a hard time. I don't want to leave, thinking that I'm escaping a stressful environment, and into another.

What I don't like... the patient requires the use of an arm restraint to prevent hitting herself. She has a depth of psychosocial needs plus pain management more than anything. There are some days she shifts between laughter and smiles to screaming, crying and violent outbursts in a matter of minutes. These days she is inconsolable. This highs and lows behavior can last the entirety of my shift. 10 hours plus. On a good day she is easily distracted and consolable, we do things like dance and be goofy. She is amazing.

I do sort of long to utilize more clinical skills. Besides performing g-tube care and incontinence care, I have not used any other procedural skills I learned while in school. (I've had Trach patients before though) An average day yields more psych/behavioral interventions then any other kind. It can be a bit mentally and physically draining for me on a bad day. I do take a beating some days, literally lol

My biggest concern is burning out I guess.

So I know that my dislikes were longer but I felt like you guys were owed a better explanation to my hesitation to stay even after getting the raise.

Other possible positions for an LPN in my state are mostly LTC/AL facilities, which ive been seriously considering. They do not utilize LPNs in any hospitals near me. There are physicians offices near me who hire lpns but utilize them as and offer pay at the level of an MA.

I'm also beginning my pre reqs towards an RN program in January, so I'm not sure if it's a good idea to risk leaving here, thinking I have it all bad, then going to a facility that is 10x more stressful. I have 2 kids in grade school and my husband and I who both work share one car. So it gets a little complicated some days lol.

Honestly,.I'm positive this is not where I'm going to be forever. But I was wondering if anyone had a similar dilemma. The only thing that's still up in the air now is how soon do I move on to something different.

BabyFood26 · Sep 12, 2016

I feel like I need more information here if you want informed opinions. What kind of area are you working in? The only thing you expressly state that you don't like about your job is the pay, so now that the pay is equal, what else is making you think of leaving? What do you dislike about your job, and what evidence do you have that it would be different somewhere else?
Are there job opportunities for LVNs in your area? Would it be easy to find another job? (I'm not trying to be a jerk, but in my geographic area there are no LVNs in hospital settings, except a few grandfathered positions.)

Hey thanks for your reply I wrote my comment above for both of you because I was in a hurry ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :wideyed:

CCU BSN RN · Sep 12, 2016

I'd probably stay where I was while doing RN school, having kids at home, car-sharing. Switching jobs along with other changes in your life at this point could prove really stressful. It's nice to have a job that knows you when you're going back to school- they're more likely to give you a break on scheduling when you have classes/etc. Also, if your prime objective is to use more of the skills you can do, and you're going to be an RN anyway, why not wait and eventually work in a hospital and get to use all those skills.

On the other hand, going to long term care would give you a lot of prioritization and time-management skills of caring for several patients at once that would definitely be an asset to you as a new RN.

Haha so basically I can see both sides.

BabyFood26 · Sep 12, 2016

I'd probably stay where I was while doing RN school, having kids at home, car-sharing. Switching jobs along with other changes in your life at this point could prove really stressful. It's nice to have a job that knows you when you're going back to school- they're more likely to give you a break on scheduling when you have classes/etc. Also, if your prime objective is to use more of the skills you can do, and you're going to be an RN anyway, why not wait and eventually work in a hospital and get to use all those skills.
On the other hand, going to long term care would give you a lot of prioritization and time-management skills of caring for several patients at once that would definitely be an asset to you as a new RN.
Haha so basically I can see both sides.

Good point about the scheduling. I didn't even think of that... So thankful for AN :yes:

It's true, there's no need for me to feel like I'm missing out on skills when I'm going to be an RN anyway. The only thing is, I might consider starting a position in LTC once we get a 2nd vehicle and things at home are a little more stable? Just so I can, like you said, gain some time management skills, before landing my first RN position.

Thanks for your advice! :up: