transferring from LTC to Hospital <1yr exp. I have questions

[viperblue72]

Hi,

I am an LPN that took a LTC job right out of school (6 months ago) in a facility that has relatively healthy patients (NO IV'S or PEG tubes or foleys). I have taken a 40 hour IV therapy class through Lee Medical and a 10 hour class in school. I hate it there and want to switch to hospital because from my experience in school I like that environment better and would like the experience since I am working on my RN through excelsior.

I have connections at the VA in Nashville and they are hiring. It seems like it would make more sense to work PRN (hoepfully 1 day a week) there while working fulltime at the LTC facility I am at so I can see if I would like it before going full time and quitting my job. My main concern is: Do hospitals give adequate training for someone working PRN or do you have to work full or part time to get a good lengthy training/orientation? Also: Does the VA have a good training/orientation program? Would I be better off just quitting and going full time at the VA? I'm nervous about it because I really want a job I will like, yet want to be prepared for it and need good insurance coverage for my wife during all this.

Thanks for any help!

[BlondieNH]

I say, "GO FOR THE VA!" I have worked being an LPN going on 18 years in the VA. The orientation is about six weeks long. Then, you should be assigned a mentor or coach. Not sure what unit at the VA Nashville you'd be assigned to. It doesnt' matter. Get on board ASAP. You can always move on when another department has an opening. Way back when, I started in LTC, then moved to neurology, pain management and rehab, follwed by a big move from the south to the north. I wanted to move north. I did pay for the move, however, I wanted the transfer. Got a $7,000.00 increase in pay due to cost of living. Started back in LTC(you have to take what you can get in life, it's all part of the sacrifices), and moved a few months later to the surgical unit. Unfortunately, that unit closed it's doors a couple of years later and so I'm back in LTC which also includes palliative care, respite and rehab. I will be transferring back to the south when my youngest is done with high school. Just can't take the winters anymore. It'll be 6 more years. The pay I'm getting here will follow me back south. They can't reduce your pay in a transfer. The benefits are decent. The sick leave builds up as well as vacation, which you can carry over from year to year. From my experience, the farther south you go, the warmer the people are. Here, it's a bunch of cold-hearted folks with control issues. I felt team work was much better down south as well. Look into and think about your long term goals. They even have programs to pay for your continued education. Good luck!

[BlondieNH]

I forgot to mention that you will get loads of experience with foley's, g-tubes, peg-tubes, ostomies, trachs and IV's. The VA facility will have it's own IV certification course, which will cover IV starts, antibiotic therapy via PICC and central lines. Some VA's even have IV teams with LPN's on them, mine doesn't but the one I worked at before did. We also use wound vacs. You'll have lots of opportunities to finding your niche in nursing.

[viperblue72]

wow! great info! Thanks! It sounds like I would definitely get enough training and support to feel comfortable to make the switch. Now I can't wait until January so I can switch!