Nursing??

[LauraLeigh]

I am seriously thinking of going back to school for a two year LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) there is a high demand in this area as well as my hometown... I took a one year course in Home Health Care years ago and loved the work (Mostly with seniors) however when I moved to Ontario my course was not recognized and I would have had to retrain and honestly wasn't up to going back to school for the fairly low wages that level of health care offered

However I am not sure how the shifts will affect me at this, ummm, advanced age... Night shifts terrify me, and obviously that's a huge part of nursing...

Anyone here done 12 hour night shifts?

 

[joce]

Here LPNs only get hired in nursing homes anymore. The magnet licensing does not allow for them to work at hospitals. Most programs have an almost as quick RN program and its so much easier to just take at first. I have a friend that just graduated and he has friends that can't find work. May be completely different where you are though. But for the money you put in anyway might as well do RN.

12 suck. Your usually stuck after and your dragging afterwards. Nobody offers the bonuses like they used to to work them. They don't allow us to work them on our floor currently because 'its to mentally exhausting',but we are getting a new manager so we will see.

Its not that hard to get on day shift as long as you do the higher turn over med surg no one wants. Which sounds bad lol but its how you get in.

And if you do nights, they are sometimes easier in the hospital. Fewer docs and people sleep.

 

[MandyPug]

I can only speak for Alberta...

LPNs are basically being hired to do what RNs did before. It's no longer just nursing homes here, they're in hospitals and clinics doing "real" nursing and making a lower wage than an RN would make but not by a whole lot (though to the govt, every penny counts).

As far as RNs go, you'll find them retired or in management or teaching type positions now. However to get those positions, they want masters degrees minimum.

 

[OutlineACDs]

Here LPNs only get hired in nursing homes anymore. The magnet licensing does not allow for them to work at hospitals.

I'm currently an LVN/LPN and currently work in a magnet recognized hospital.

Around here LPN's can get just about any job an RN can get. You won't be a floor manager at a hospital, but plenty of LPN's are DON's at nursing homes and hospices.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Same here and in NS, LPN's seem to be replacing RN's and the RN program does not exist here anymore, it's either LPN or BNA and I do not want to spend 4 years in University, not is there one close enough to travel to...

It's the 12 hours that scare me, I have a bit of an "in" in that I already work for the County, so I feel pretty confident I'd get work and enjoy most of it, though parts are not glamorous at all...

 

[joce]

I'm currently an LVN/LPN and currently work in a magnet recognized hospital.

Around here LPN's can get just about any job an RN can get. You won't be a floor manager at a hospital, but plenty of LPN's are DON's at nursing homes and hospices.

Ours got letters three years ago they could go to school for their RN o become techs at the end of five years. It was pretty sad. Many had been there years. I know most of our area is like this, have heard from others into PA to so maybe its an area thing. I know for us we need so mny RNs per Pts and LPNs just didn't fit in. Nine Pts and two nurses with one being LPN and we were not technically legal. LPN can be directors at nhs but now we need our masters at the hospital. Grrrr.

Can you do twelves at your current job to see how It goes? Are you in medical field at all? Honestly it depends on how the shift goes.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I'm in Canada so it may be different here, and no 12 hour shifts in my current position, I am actually a weigh scale operator right now, so no, not in the medical field... However I love my shifts, 8-5 and no nights or Sundays though I do work every Sat.. However this division is changing and I'm not sure how long I'll have work...

 

[crazedACD]

When I was looking at degree options, I looked briefly into nursing and found the programs to be clogged with people going that route. There was a 2-3 year waiting list to get into a nursing program. Not to say it can't be done if it's really what you want to do! We will always need nurses, but make sure you look at other medical type programs too! I considered respiratory therapy and occupational therapy too.

 

[joce]

12s are not my issue. Weekends are. I am going for my bachelors and masters now darnit!! Because I hate weekends that much. Going into work while everyone else is out doing something sucks. I'm going to likely take a pay cut even with the extra education. Maybe they have LPNs assist in surgery there and you could get on 9-5 no weekends at a surgery center?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

In Ontario it is RPN, not LPN. Having been in the hospital as a paramedic the lst two years, I'd agree RPNs are doing more RN work. Most RPNs I had any rapport with to talk to a lot were doing night school to become RNs as they were unhappy.

Plus side there are totally jobs if you go through with it. I did 12s days and nights on a constant flip and liked nights the most.

Being a mature student gets you diddly in Ontario now. Depending what your high school or previous college courses were you may need to upgrade to apply which can seriously delay your plans. I was mortified at 26 to be back in high school.. but needed to upgrade a grade 12 math and while there chose to fix a very old chemistry mark. Added an extra year onto my game plan as paramedic programs only run in the fall, no january start dates anywhere.

 

[Samantha's pet]

My MIL, in her mid fifties, just quit working due to lupus, but she did strictly night shift for 6 years or so. Up until October 2012. With her lupus and all. I bet you could handle it. She was the equivalent of a CNA.

 

[nancy2394]

I'm a registered nurse and I work 12 hour shifts.... 7pm to 7am. I've pretty much worked night shift my whole nursing career. People assume that it's easier on nights because the patients sleep. Patients can be just as needy at night as they are on days. The biggest difference is the big wigs aren't there at night. Some people just prefer to work days, just as some prefer to work nights. I personally don't mind the 12 hour shifts because it means a 3 day work week rather than a 5 day. It allows me to spend more time with my family. LPN's here mostly work in nursing homes. The ones we have at the hospital I work at are pretty much grandfathered in. They don't hire lpn's anymore.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I'm still in maybe mode....

I'm just not sure!