[emy912]

I know that once I pass my NCLEX and get my license I will need to start looking for a new job. I worked as a paralegal for many years and while I was completing the LVN program. I would really like to work in a clinic or doctors' office while I'm working on getting into the 3rd semester of the RN program.

I would appreciate any advise anyone can give me on where I should send my resumes to. Ultimately, I would like to work at an acute hospital in med/surg. Unforunately, our local hospitals aren't hiring LVNs at all.

Thank you for your input!

[TheCommuter]

I am an LVN in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. I was trained and initially licensed in California, so I am rather familiar with the two 'LVN' states.

When I was attending LVN school in California's San Fernando Valley 2 years ago, outpatient clinics were hiring new LVNs. However, the pay rates tended to be very low (about $15 hourly), and a definite preference existed for bilingual nurses. I now live in DFW, and the clinics around here also hire new LVNs without the stringent bilingual requirements, albeit at very low pay rates (about $14 hourly).

[pagandeva2000]

Immediately after receiving my license, I started working in a clinic at the hospital I work for, in fact, the same clinic where I worked as an aide. My hospital sponsored my education to become an LPN and I was actually a bit shocked, because I was under the assumption that after paying for my education, they would automatically place me in med-surg to pay my dues. But, the administration really liked me and brought me back. I worked in med-surg for a 6 week orientation and returned to my clinic.

To be honest, I prefer the clinic over the floors. It is slave work on the units. Our clinic is not a piece of cake, mind you, with the high volume of uninsured patients we service, but I am enjoying the weekends and holidays off. What I have done to supplement my nursing skills is to work in home care on Saturdays, and now, I am about to begin working per diem on the med-surg units of my hospital. I only plan to do it once or twice a month (maybe more if the need arises), but I do wish to say that I have med-surg under my belt. No one has to know that I was not a regular employee there or how often I was actually there. However, I want to be able to share experiences with confidence to any potential employer.

[PACNWNURSING]

I am also in the same position, hospitals in my area are not hiring LPN's in hospital except for the emergency room. I am currently looking for work so I can get in a LPN to RN transition program, I would say go for it, any experience is better than no experience.

[blueberrybon]

Same goes with me.

I got a job right off the bat with a small pediatric doctors office. They were very happy to have me, even though I was so green.

It's nice in a way because you get an initial feel for the nursing profession without being thrown into the lions den. I'm sure the job description varies incredibly between facilities, but I learned oodles. I'm now transitioning into LTC and feel that I'm just a little less glassy-eyed than when I started at the doctors office.

I will be making 3 bucks more per hour at the LTC facility than at the doctors office and realize that I will be working my tail-end off for that difference in pay. But I want to learn to use the LPN skills that I went to school for.

Good luck to you... I hope you find the right job...

Blue

[kstec]

I did my last 6 weeks of clinicals at a family practice clinic and they hired me on right after I graduated. Initially I worked as a MA until I passed boards. The pay is not that great but your other option is LTC which pay more but the responsibility is 100% greater.

[mimeduke]

I started working after graduating in June at a cardiology office. I am set to take the NCLEX on Aug 21st and I will get a raise after I get my actual license. I am in NY and a couple of fellow grads also got jobs in doctor's offices (derm, pulmonary, family practice and peds). A couple went to LTC, too. One ended up at the hospital but that is about all I know. I picked office because of the hours and my hubby is in the military and can't always be around to get our kids. Pay is less than LTC and the hospital, but still better than I was getting before I finished school.

GOOD LUCK in your search!!