all work, no play

labvampire · Jul 9, 2008

Get it together man!! #1 is your health. Look what the stress is doing to you. #2 Look at your career, it's a mess. #3 Let's sort out the priorities!

I can tell you right off the bat that a hospital Lpn does not make close to what a nursing home Lpn does. I work in the ER. I am here in Illinois and an Lpn at a nursing home makes 20.00 and up. Nursing homes are depressing enough. You want to help these older people and you can't change the way the nursing home runs or the way these people are treated, I have tried, that will depress a person right there. Not to mention the volume of patients you are responsible for. I had 4 halls to worry about when I worked at one.

Secondly, yes it is stress and lack of sleep probably causing your flare up because you are not eating or sleeping enough and you are worried all the tme. You are not stable enough for a girlfriend right now!

Third, look into other options that will put you down to one job. Have you thought about agency nursing? What about agencies that do trach/vent care at the home. Or homecare nuirsing? Hospice hires LPN's. Are you IV certified? ACLS? PALS? Do a little research on jobs on the internet. LPN's can make a decent living.

We have to get your up and out of your storm cloud! Can you refinance your school loans to get the payment lower? Consolidate loans? You sound like a very outgoing person, now let's use that to get you out of your funk!! :yeah:

Jules A, MSN · Jul 9, 2008

Hi,

I have a part-time job with great benefits and then do PerDiem work for the great wages that might be something to consider doing if you aren't already.

Have you thought about downsizing a bit where you can? If you have it, cancel the cable, it sounds like you aren't home to watch it anyway etc. Maybe a roommate or cheaper apartment? Definitely keep your car until it isn't worth fixing. Keep chipping away at your debt and try not to get so frustrated that you end up spending more money on something just to feel better.

I wish you were around to offer your insight when people in the student forum are insisting it will be so easy to repay the "good" debt they racked up while in school. Hang in there. Wishing you the best.

Medsport, LPN · Jul 10, 2008

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I've already cut-back to basic cable and cheaper internet, ect. I've had my house for 10 years and thought about refinancing but have a good rate already and they usually charge you to do that. I also thought of trying to sell it and hopefully pay off most of the home equity loan, but the house needs a lot of work to get a decent price and that takes money.

For some good news?: I got offered the FT position at the jail today. She told me to think about it. I could quit one of my other jobs if I took it, but not sure which one. You would think the factory would be the easy choice, but I can pretty much set my own hours and work when I want to there. The work is hard, but you don't have to "think" and it gives my brain a rest. Also the insurance is a little cheaper than at the jail. But if I quit the nursing home, I would have every other weekend off at least. Now I work every Saturday. Plus its about a 30 mile drive to get there.

btw, I did notice that a home care ad was in the paper this weekend which I have'nt noticed before. But my sister did some of that as an aide and she said it was awful and did'nt recommend it. I guess a nurse would be a little different, but not sure if I'm ready for it with only about 6 months experience. The thought also crossed my mind about going for the RN if I took the FT position since I believe they would help pay and I already have some of the prereq's . But I just barely made it thought the LPN program. I probably could do 1 class at a time and cut back to the one FT job. but don't know what I'd do when clinicals started, because I need the hours to pay the bills...

eldragon · Jul 11, 2008

I'd say take the full-time job, drop the nursing home gig and work on having a social life.

You are a person, not just a bill-paying nurse. Take those weekends for yourself.

Just my two cents.

SecondGenRN · Jul 11, 2008

Ok, heres the deal. I'm a first year nurse, male, single and have 3 jobs to pay the bills. My main job is 32 hours at a jail. I also work in a factory 1-2 days a week and a nursing home every other Saturday. I've been doing this for about 5 months. All was going alright for the first couple months, but now I'm just getting worn down I think. I'm almost always late to the NH job because I don't want to go and starting to only work at the factory once a week at the most so that I have maybe 4-6 days off a month instead of 2.
On my days off I don't have any energy to do stuff around the house or do anything fun for that matter. I'll also not making much headway towards my school loans and credit card bills I racked up going to school. The jail is very stressful most days, but time does go fast. I heard rumors there may be a FT position open. I could probably quit one of my other jobs if they offered it to me, but they have'nt yet so I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Maybe they sense that I'm a little over-whelmed or something. It does take me awhile to catch on to things, but I feel I'm improving slowly. Anyway, I'm not sure if its really worth it to work all the time, but I guess I have no choice. I do want to get another new car in a year or two, which I probably should keep my current one and get caught up on bills, but thats all that is keeping me going is looking forward to getting that new car. I have no other hobbies besides lifting weights and that is starting to suffer since I don't want to go to bed until morning anymore (work 2nd), then I have to get up and go straight to work. Now my ulcerative colitis seems to be acting up and it has'nt bothered me in over 10 years. I wonder if it is stress? Seems there should be more to life than just work and paying bills. Maybe it would be better if I had a gf, but I never have the time or energy to go out to meet anyone. I guess I don't know what I'm asking. Maybe move to a bigger city that may pay better or get a baylor job at a nursing home and work 3 12's to get it over with. Too bad very few hospitals hire LPN's...

I think you're living my life by accident! God I've been doing the same thing as you! except its only full time nursing school, full time job and a single mom... different, but same schedule and lack of motivation and energy. I went 3 1/2 months without a single say off I just keep telling myself its almost over.... its almost over....