new Nurse starting Maxim...

You are putting your license in danger by working for an agency without experience. You are also opening yourself up for a lawsuit and being banned from all agency work in the future in your area.

An agency nurse has to be able to pick up and go without little to no orientation or assistance from other nurses. When a floor is shortstaffed, they expect a nurse who is able to function autonomously when they get someone from an agency. Agency nurses are also frequently given the highest acuity, sickest, worst patients on the floor. As a new nurse, you do not have the experience needed to care for these patients. As an agency nurse you will often find that the "regular" staff are unfriendly, and unhelpful. Being a new nurse who is unaccustomed to caring for patients is hard enough without having someone available as a back up.

Do yourself a favor - get a job as a cashier at Walmart to make ends meet until you can get experience at a "regular" job. If things get screwed up now, you can kiss any dream of being an RN goodbye. Protect yourself. Do not believe what the agency or hospital tells you. They only want a warm body but they won't be there for you if you make a mistake.

Agencies can make any offer that they want, but they still need to get you placed. And that is where you are going to have problems, especially if you have no experience already under your belt. Facilities use agency nurses when they are short-staffed, and that means that they do not have the time to train you for the weeks that you need. You are hired on a contract basis to be able to go into the facility and function without any orientation other than finding out where the crash cart is, where the bathroom is, etc.

Please listen to the other poster that is here, you are setting yourself up to put your license at risk before you even get started. And you may have found it easier to get hired as a student nurse extern while you are in school for your RN and then get a solid training while you are at work, but not having to function under your own license.

You are not going to find any hospitals that are going to accept you without any prior experience, and then that leaves a nursingn home and without experience and a med pass on 50 patients, you are truly setting yourself up to fail.

Please look for student assistant jobs, and save your license at this time in your career. Also, if you are in school, you do not have the time to complete a full-time orientation either.

I see your point regarding agencies and all but if an LPN can't work in a hospital, nursing home etc, where should we be? A doctor's office? I certainly wouldn't to lose all my skills I have worked so hard for! Where have all the other LPN's started out?? You have to start somewhere. I know how to pass meds, insert foleys, change dressings, charting, etc.

In no way would I want to jeopardize my license, nor would I suggest that anyone else should. I wouldn't put myself in a situation that would hurt anyone or my future career. Staffing agencies may not be the best place for a newbie to start, but I don't see why a LTC or hospital with a good orientation program wouldn't be a suitable place to start.

I guess I am a bit frustrated, being a new LPN, in an area where there are slim-pickings for LPN jobs for us. I truly believe where there is a will, there is a way.

When I first got my LVN license I lived in an area where all nursing jobs had slim pickings. The only reason I ever got hired at my first real full time job, was because I happened to walk in the door at the right moment so to speak and fit the bill for a DON who had her own agenda. It also helped that I was in school to obtain a BSN. Bonus for her. If she didn't have a certain personnel need at that time, and I didn't look so promising as an RN to be, I never would have got that job. So I fully know what the OP is going through. I had to leave that area eventually due to lack of work and have had to leave another area due to lack of work. LPNs are not as easy to place as RNs. That is just a fact of life.

Some of my classmates were hired with no experience by both agencies and regular employers. I know at least one of my friends was encouraged to tell a white lie when she applied. They did what they had to do to get jobs. It is a shame that people have to lie to get a job or have to try to get a job that they are not really qualified for, but somehow a new grad has to start somewhere. This is the story that isn't talked about when the media covers nursing and nursing "shortages".

And in the beginning I was so green, I didn't even know to what extent my license was in jeopardy. For real. Had I known, I might have cowered in a corner and never sought work. I don't recommend that new nurses go to work for an agency because most agencies won't go through the trouble to try to make the individual nurse up to speed. My friend made it. But she was the exception, not the rule.

I don't think you necessarily have to get a job at Wal-Mart but you certainly don't want to work through agency this fresh into your career. I'm amazed that you found an agency to hire you with less than a year experience. That would be a HUGE red flag to me.

As for LPN jobs: you can work LTC, assisted living, sub acute, dialysis, med surg, doctor's offices, some EDs, some telemetry units...go to a teaching hospital and I'm sure you'll find an abundance of jobs you are qualified for as an LPN and as an RN student. There are people who have been LPNs for YEARS and are completely satisfied with their career choice and they are making a nice living.

I myself am an LPN, a semester away from my ASN and three years away from my PA. I understand the need to further your career but I also don't want you to get so frustrated with your accomplishments thus far. YOU ARE NURSE and YOU CAN GET A JOB THAT WILL BE FULFILLING. Please don't limit yourself and be careful about jeopardizing your license.

You made a great judgment call coming here for guidance before starting. However, please don't let our words discourage you. Be encouraged. You've accomplished a lot already and you are just beginning a great journey whether you remain an LPN for a few years or never work as one at all!

I work corrections and it isn't a place for a new nurse. There is too much independent practice. You run the risk of getting into trouble. Whoever told you "corrections" was easy and required no nursing experience? They were lying to you. Good luck in whatever you do though.

I have not yet decided exactly where I'm going to work after I pass boards. I know I want ER and 2nd choice is ICU. There are only 2 hospitals that hire new grads in the ER. The money is horrible and I will definately need a supplement considering they are 40 miles away(gas) and I'm already in a deep hole with bills(single parent). The best facility for experience is a level I trama center(state), but they take 7.5% for retirement. I've been doing agency(MS floor) since March off and on to supplement my pay at my present job(LTC). I only go to this one particular facilty 50 miles in the opposite direction. The nurses there are very helpful, grateful and friendly. Why could I continue agency at that particular facility only, considering I have worked on 3 of the 5 floors and most know me and my situation(graduating RN).

What would be the difference in doing PRN at a facilty I've never set foot in?