First job as an lpn !! Helppp!!!

[nsalisbury]

okay yall. so the "hard" part is over. i passed my boards! Now does anyone out there have any advice on how to search for a new job? And once i do find that job, can anyone give me an insight on how a typical nursing interview goes?? Also, when jobs drug test, is it just the usual urine sample like everywhere else? and also..is it inappropriate to send your resume to places that are not advertising a position? Thanks for the help! Im anxious to get out there and start working.

[nsalisbury]

wow thats insane! ive never heared of this, of course everywhere is different. and i think thats terrible about the BMI. what if someone simply has a health condition where they just cant "slim down". i think its crazy they can terminate people for smoking tobacco. i know our hospitals here u have to go down the road or whatever to smoke. i can see how drugs can interfere with your work, and why they would test for that, but cigarettes?? that doesnt affect someones ability to be a good caretaker. the insurance thing i understand. wow theres lots i need to learn lol !

[conroenurse]

Personally, even though I do not smoke, I would not even consider a job at a place where they TEST you for tobacco UNLESS they also test you for etoh use. So no little cocktail on the weekend. wanna play fair, play fair, don't pick and choose,but also I think a company that controlling would be a company I wouldn't want to be at anyway.

[Fiona59]

Big Brother really is watching you!

Never heard of these types of testing in Canada. Never even been asked if I smoke.

[nsalisbury]

i agree. that makes sense, companies that test for something like that are probably very strict, and wouldnt be sucha great place for me. i do smoke (terrible habit, i know) and personally that DOES NOT affect the way i care for patients, for gods sake nurses used to smoke at the nursing station way back when. I do agree with having no-smoking policies, for the health of pts, and everyone around. but i think its pure ignorance to waste money on testing for something like tobacco. baffles me.

[angelabLPN]

NCLEX was by far not the "hard part". I feel you havent learned anything but the basics. As I am also a new nurse just licensed in July. I have my first LPN and job for 3 weeks now and I have only touched the tip of the iceburg of learning.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

They test for tobacco?? Thats odd. How nerve racking, answering pt scenarios on the spot! Im leaning more towards the longterm care kind of work. I can already tell this will be a challenge :/

They are probably less-likely to ask you patient scenario-type questions because you're a new grad so you don't really have those skills. At least that is how my job interview went. They asked me behavioral/situational questions, but it was more so dealing with coworkers, unhappy patients and unhappy MDs. They will ask you the basic interview questions, such as "tell me about yourself" (that is the time to shine and sell yourself and why you would be a good fit at that employer), what are your strengths/weaknesses...They may ask, "tell me about a time when you...." or similar questions.

A lot of places test for tobacco now because they are a smoke-free workplace...they don't want their patients smoking and they also don't want their employees smoking, either.

Drug tests vary. I just remember having to pee in a cup.