Started Med-Surg Per Diem

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I started med surg as a per diem at my hospital today. It wasn't quite bad; my memory came back to most of the procedures today. LPNs primarily administer medications there, so, it was not as bad as I anticipated, but I am a bit nervous about hanging piggybacks. I only got to do one today, wasn't bad. I have one more day of orientation and from there, I'll be waiting for their calls on weekends. Boy....I am glad that I am not working there all the time. They are sure BUSY!! Wish me luck, guys! I am trying to get more experience than just the clinic. The supervisor told me she will also try to get me into the ER per diem also.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am definitely wishing you luck, because the med-surg experience will prove to be invaluable.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I am definitely wishing you luck, because the med-surg experience will prove to be invaluable.

Yeah, my stragedy is this; I do not plan to work in med-surg or any in patient area on a permanent basis; the clinics are fine with me. However, my future applicants do not have to know that I worked med-surg once or twice a month...they'll just see that I have community health, ER, home care and med-surg under my belt within three years. I am seeing positions for LPNs to be case managers in my area but they need two years med-surg experience. My feet are blaring from the plantar fasiciitis, but, stretches and exercise should decrease that. Thanks for the good vibes!

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glad it is working out for you!

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Good luck with that! I think it will be great experience for you.

As far as the plantar fascitis is concerned, I heard somewhere that rolling a tennis ball along the bottom of your foot, (like while you are relaxing, watching tv, or reading (yeah, that happens, right?)) can help a lot.

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I started med surg as a per diem at my hospital today. It wasn't quite bad; my memory came back to most of the procedures today. LPNs primarily administer medications there, so, it was not as bad as I anticipated, but I am a bit nervous about hanging piggybacks. I only got to do one today, wasn't bad. I have one more day of orientation and from there, I'll be waiting for their calls on weekends. Boy....I am glad that I am not working there all the time. They are sure BUSY!! Wish me luck, guys! I am trying to get more experience than just the clinic. The supervisor told me she will also try to get me into the ER per diem also.

Wait a second...don't mean to be nit picky here...but I thought we (LVN's) weren't allowed to hang piggy backs? read the hospitals manual (or maybe I need to) but be sure you're not doing something beyond your scope...don't let them set you up.

p.s..congrats on your great day! :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Good luck! Med-surg can be tough.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Wait a second...don't mean to be nit picky here...but I thought we (LVN's) weren't allowed to hang piggy backs?
If I had to make an educated guess, I'd conjecture that you're in California, where LVNs are basically restricted from most aspects of IV therapy.

I am in Texas, a state that has an extremely wide LVN scope of practice, and I hang my own IV piggy backs. I also give meds via IV push through PICCs, central lines, and midlines. The Texas BNE allows LVNs to engage in most aspects of IV therapy if they have completed the appropriate certification course. The Texas BNE also permits the facility's management to decide if they'll allow LVNs to give IV meds.

I am not allowed to hang or spike blood, though.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Im in NC and LPN can hang Piggy Backs and do IV pushes at certain hospitals. We cannot hang blood. We can pretty much do it all. Good Luck to you! That is a great stratagy.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Wait a second...don't mean to be nit picky here...but I thought we (LVN's) weren't allowed to hang piggy backs? read the hospitals manual (or maybe I need to) but be sure you're not doing something beyond your scope...don't let them set you up.

p.s..congrats on your great day! :)

It depends on the state you work for as well as the facility. In New York, it is not a mandate for LPNs to be certified in IV therapy or hang piggybacks, however, if the job requires it, the facility is obligated to train us. The LPNs in our ER are certified to hang blood, but an RN must sign off with them.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Good luck! Med-surg can be tough.

This is why I would only do it per diem. My plantar fasciitis is acting up again after only two days of orientation (my heels and feet have literal smoke coming from them as we speak). It would just kill me to do it full time. I am looking at the outlook for better opportunities with the med-surg background.

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If I had to make an educated guess, I'd conjecture that you're in California, where LVNs are basically restricted from most aspects of IV therapy.

I am in Texas, a state that has an extremely wide LVN scope of practice, and I hang my own IV piggy backs. I also give meds via IV push through PICCs, central lines, and midlines. The Texas BNE allows LVNs to engage in most aspects of IV therapy if they have completed the appropriate certification course. The Texas BNE also permits the facility's management to decide if they'll allow LVNs to give IV meds.

I am not allowed to hang or spike blood, though.

yes, I am in Ca, and we are pretty much restricted...with further certification, we can start an IV but that's pretty much it...oh, and hang normal saline (ooooooh..lol) but that's awsome that you guys are able to do so much more there. What with your scope of practice being so wide, I'm sure getting jobs are easier too right?

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