Great Tips for Graduating LPN Students

Nurse Bridgid: Antidepressants and Heart Attacks

2011-05-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Nurse Bridgid: Antidepressants and Heart Attacks: "Many people these days take antidepressants for all types of different reasons; depression and anxiety are usually the top culprits, but for..."

ATTENTION NURSES: LPN, RN AND NURSING STUDENTS

2011-05-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

LPNs and Nursing Students Check Here for Nursing Salaries:
Thank you for your comment NP Odyssey. You are absolutely correct, the salary a nurse earns will definiteky depend on the region in which she works. This is why I was sure to include that “All salaries vary depending on the region." I've worked as a nurse in VA where most of the starting salaries for LPNs were as low as $16.50 (Hampton Roads) but I’ve also as a nurse worked in other parts of VA where the starting salary for nurses was in the mid $20's. I've worked as a LPN in the Chicago area where the starting salary for LPN was in the mid $20's as well. It also should be mentioned that the starting salary for nurses may vary according to experience because some employers do base there starting salaries for nurses on years of experience up to 10 years.
According to information obtained from www.payscale.com LPNs and nursing students who obtain a degree in nursing; becoming a Registered Nurse can make varying salaries depending on the type of job they fill. A RN (Registered Nurse) makes an average salary of $54,510 per year. However, if that Registered Nurse works in an emergency room she may make up to $59, 852 per year. A nurse working as a MDS coordinator may make up to $53,338 per year.( I know of MDS Coordinators who are LPNs and some that are RNs.) A Registered Nurse working as a Charge Nurse may make up to $62,612 per year. A Director of Nursing may make up to $72,059. Of course this information will vary depending on years of experience, education, region in which you are employed and the type of facility you work in.

I have included some pay scale charts below to better reference this discussion, please see below for more detailed information specific to your location, years of experience, and field, please also visit the link below for more detailed information. I found this web site to be a very helpful tool; http://www.payscale.com

Thank you again for your comments.

Hourly Rate Range

My What-if: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Average = $17.68

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Hampton

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Hourly Rate Report (United State

Job: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Hourly Rate by City

City	Hourly Rate Data (?)	$0	$8	$16	$24
Tulsa, Oklahoma	$15.05 - $18.90
Chicago, Illinois	$18.13 - $22.92
Atlanta, Georgia	$15.66 - $20.13
Tampa, Florida	$15.71 - $20.05
Orlando, Florida	$15.52 - $19.95
Indianapolis, Indiana	$16.12 - $20.15
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	$15.01 - $19.05
Country: United States \| Currency: USD \| Updated: 8 May 2011 \| Individuals Reporting: 15,383

LPNs, RNs and Nursing Students Check Here for Nursing Salaries:

The Nursing Site Blog: What Nursing Shortage?!!

2011-05-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Nursing Site Blog: What Nursing Shortage?!!: "As 'graduation season' approaches once again, another class of nurses will be looking for jobs and many will be disappointed that there seem..."

Nursing Jobs for New LPNs and RNs and What Salary to Expect

2011-05-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Nursing Jobs and the Salary to Expect
I have received several questions asking where new nurses should try to land their first job. There are several answers to this question; it totally depends on the nurse and what is important to that individual nurse. As a rule of thumb all nurses are encouraged to work at least one year in a hospital setting. It is important to note that several hospitals are now beginning to phase out LPNs. With that being said if you intend to seek employment in a hospital it would be good to try and gain some hospital experience while you are in school. Some may have to volunteer or work as a CNA. It is a well known fact that it is much easier to get hired as a LPN in a hospital if you are already are on staff prior to graduating. Some hospitals are still hiring LPNs so it will just be a matter of doing the research in the area in which you intend to work.

Some nurses graduate with experience in the healthcare field and are basically ready to make money after graduating. For LPNs, I find that they make more money and have more responsibility in long term settings such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. In a long term care setting there is also alot of room for growth for LPNs. LPNs in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers are often unit managers, supervisors, charge nurses, assistant charge nurses, assistant director of nursing, care plan coordinator, MDS nurse, wound care nurse and team leaders. LPNs also have the opportunity to be director of nursing in an assistant living facility.

Home health is another field of nursing that LPNs can go into to make extra money as well as agency nursing. I would suggest, again having at least one to two years of experience before going into these fields.

LPNs can expect to make anywhere from $19.00/hr to $24.00/hr working in a long-term care setting, home health or agency setting.

LPNs can expect to make anywhere from $15.00/hr to $21.00/hr in a hospital setting. All salaries vary depending on the region. I feel LPNs working in a hospital setting can gain the most experience working on a med-surge unit, where they will come in contact with a wide variety of patients.
I have included a video link at the beginning of this article that maybe helpful as well. Check it out and be sure to let me know what you think and post any questions or tips that you may have.

NCLEX Ready:All Nursing Programs

2011-04-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

If you have successfully completed the nursing program it does not matter which university, vocational school or college that you attended you should definitely be ready to sit for your boards. Procrastination is not your friend. Make the necessary arrangements to take your NCLEX. Typically all nursing programs are developing their curriculum based on the NCLEX.
While you are waiting for your test date it will behove you to get some studying done of course. Take some practice test. Investing in some NCLEX flash cards would be wise as well. These will work out extremely well for the busy graduate nurse. Saunders, Lippincotts, and Mosby are really good. There are also those that can be made online. Prices may vary from $15.00 to $40.00.

Attention New Nurses and Nursing Student

2011-04-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

LPN, RN, and Students Nurses:

Tips you can use

If you are a new nurse or about to be, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed, anxious and like you simply may not have been taught enough. As a "seasoned nurse" let me start by saying that you are not alone in feeling these things. I can remember being really scared when I finished my nursing program . I thought for sure that I had not been taught enough to be trusted with the care of the sick, elderly and disable....all while supervising people who were not only older than i was but had also been in the medical field longer than I had!

The first the thing that you need to do is RELAX. If you are nervous, this is something that your patients will pick up on quickly and they are depending on you. It will definitely make patients uneasy if you come across nervous, scared or like you don't know what you are doing. If you are supervising CNAs, medical assistants or medication technicians they will pick up on this as well and may take advantage of this fact. It is very important to put your confident face on. Remember if you don't know something then ask. Actually all of those great notes that you took while you where in nursing school can really come in handy during those uncertain times. Don't be afraid to pull out some of those notes to refresh your memory. If you were kind enough to pass your notes on to another nursing student in need ask for the policy and procedure manual make your self familiar with where it is kept and don't be embarrassed to check. For instance, you get a new admission you take report and find out that this patient has a new G-Tube, go to the policy and procedure manual and look up the policy for flushes, medication administration cleaning and feeding browse over it I would even suggest making a copy & taking it home or read over it on break when you have more time. Some nurses (old and new) start a"need to know" binder or keep a clipboard with them containing pertinent information.

Policy and Procedure Example

If you don't know your facilities policy on G-Tube care there are some things to always remember:

Keep the patient HOB elevated.
Always check for placement, if you are not sure what the policy is check for residual and also use the air bolus method that way you are covered.
Always flush the G-Tube with tepid to warm water before and after use. Starting a feeding without a water flush will almost guarantee a clogged tube.
Always assess the site. Do not ignore drainage. G-Tube sites are really good at growing infections, especially in long term care facilities.