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by blameitonrio

Hi all, I am a new nurse (LVN) here in Houston TX. I have applied several places and they all want experience except the nursing home. I am depressed by nursing homes and do to want to work in them and have heard personally from several nurses many horror stories.

That said my interests are any hospital setting, psych or corrections.
I thought I could do corrections but was turned down. Psych here also wants experience and the hospitals which do hire lvn's want it also.

So....my plan is to revert back to my old line of work while I volunteer at one of the Medical Center hospitals. What do you think? The volunteer person I spoke to said I could work in the nursing unit.

I hope if I put in many hours of free nursing they will count this as experience. I am willing to lighten the load as a volunteer for any nurse to gain experience....is this gonna work?

[oneLoneNurse]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

I think you should bite the bullet and work in LTC. Nothing like experience to support your credentials for your next job. LTC is not all that bad. The first one I worked in out of nursing school had a pianist come in to play swing music for the residents at breakfast. It was fun!

Unfortunately, I have no idea how employers view volunteerism. Guess it depends on, if you want to take chances with your career.

[SteveRN21]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

I would also bite the bullet and find a good LTC or LTAC unit to gain some experience on. You'll never know unless you interview and visit a few places. LTCs can be widely varied in their condion and level of pt care.

[Tait]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

Sometimes LTC can surprise you and you might just love it!

My first clinical was on a LTC unit and I just wanted to stay because there are so many little things you can do with your practice that make life just a little bit better for them.

If you do decide to go the volunteer route, I would double check with the facilities you are applying to and see if that is acceptable experience before you get too many logged hours. I am pretty sure the tasks as a volunteer won't be as broad spectrum as you can get working a paid position with your degree.

Tait

[LiverpoolJane]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

In the US do you have the such a thing as a nurse bank - a department in the hospital which runs like an agency, so you sign up with them and they will offer you work as and when it becomes available? That way you could take the LTC job and do perhaps one shift per week at the acute facility so as you get yourself known to them but still having LVN paid employment?
Or could you still accept the job at the LTC facility - perhaps even part time - and do one shift per week voluntary?
I believe voluntary work is an excellent way of selling yourself, my son has been out of work for nearly two years and frankly stood little chance of securing a decent job. I knew the medical secretaries where struggling so I encouraged him to join the volunteers dept so as he could help them. They were so impressed with him they asked him to join the bank as they want to pay him. When a position is advertised he will hopefully stand a good chance of getting it.

[llg]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

If you rely on non-nursing volunteer work to be viewed as "nursing experience" that will help you get a nursing job later, you may be setting yourself up for failure. The longer the gap is between your nursing education and your commencement of a nursing job, the more questions it will raise in an employers mind about whether or not you have the nursing skills that they are looking for.

My suggestion:
Continue with your plans to do some volunteer work in the clinical facility of your choice. But take whatever job as a real nurse that you can get -- even if it is only part time. Your idea about establishing a positive relationship with a hospital as a volunteer is a good one. It may help you get the job you really want in the future. But don't jeopardize your credibility as a real nurse while you wait for that to happen. First and foremost, you need to establish that you are a competent nurse.

[pagandeva2000]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

If I were in your situation, I would take a job in LTC just to get the skills. Most of the things you would be doing in long term would be what you'd do in a hospital. Plus, you would have worked with a higher nurseatient ratio, making the hospital see that you probably can handle the job. I do believe that volunteer experience is nice, because it gives you a chance to see what it is like in the hospital you wish to be employed without being committed, but, I agree with llg, it may not amount to much, because as a volunteer (from what I know), you still may not be able to practice much of your nursing skills, it may be more CNA oriented.

[jlcole45]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

I would not recommend volunteering - because they aren't going to let you do anything that will count as nursing experience. Besides you spent all that time in school to get zero pay? Can you really afford that?

Do your time at one of the LTC facilities and then reapply for a hospital
position once you have a year or so experience.

In the meantime start taking classes towards your RN, it will open a lot more work opportunities, especially in acute care. Many hospitals have been phasing out LPN/LVN's, and they will continue to do so.

So if your desire is to work in acute care then get your RN. It will be well worth the time, effort, and money.

Good luck.

[remmy3]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

My first job was LTC. I am still there. I never saw myself working in a nursing home, but once I started and with each day I do really like it. I have been there for a year. I adore some of my residents, and it makes me feel good when they tell me they are so happy that I am their nurse for the day or night. I am also in school(RN) I willbe finishing in May. I learned very quickly that it has helped me espically with meds. Over the year, I have learned my residents, their ways, and their medicines. I have got plenty of experience in some things. I would suggest taking the position, not volunteering. You didnt go through all the schooling not to use it. You will get more from working at a LTC than you think. And it can be very rewarding. One of my residents is a retired RN. I love talking to her and hearing about how nursing was in "her day". I also heard many horror stories about LTC, I have not experienced any of them though. Go check out the facility and ask questions, meet the staff. I wish you the best in which ever decision you go.

[blameitonrio]

Re: What do you think of this plan?

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am taking everyones suggestion and applying part time to a nursing home nearby. Someone also pm'd me that a hospital in katy hires new grad lvn's. I'll call monday to find out.

Yes, I agree I should not dilly dally much longer in getting a nursing job. I want to have a good foundation for the future. I will be working towards my RN as well.

I have never heard about a nurse bank Jane...sounds interesting. I will ask when I get a chance.

Thanks again everyone.