LPN school: wasted a year of my life

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

i cant believe nurses are having trouble getting a job. my agency rings my phone 3-4 times a day asking for me to pick up hours here and there cuz places are short. i dont know where you live but there has got to be something. you need to get out and put applications in. if your putting apps in, its what your putting on them. did they teach you resumes in school? maybe thats the proble. the jobs are there. good luck

Sorry, but certain cities and states have a tough nursing job market due to a surplus of nurses competing for work. It might be true that there are plenty of jobs in your area, but your area does not reflect trends in the rest of the country. It is unfair to blame the jobless person for not having a job.

For example, the Los Angeles area has a really rough market due to several factors. First of all, there are over 100 trade schools in the area that churn out new LVNs into the job market when the demand is not there. Second of all, the state is in a deep money crunch, with masses of unemployed people. Unemployed people are not inclined to seek out healthcare unless it is a dire emergency because they tend to be uninsured. Less patients means lower census, which translates into reduced need for nurses.

BJ in GA · Sep 12, 2009

I hate to say this but I am beginning to feel the same way!! Did I waste my time too? Gosh, I was thinking the very same thing, maybe I should look to banking where I worked years ago, - I had experience there. I have no experience yet in nursing, so I'm out of luck I guess.

Well, ... maybe we shouldn't give up yet! Good luck to you in whatever you do!

VM85 · Sep 12, 2009

I was just sayin this to a friend last night- i feel like i put myself in debt and wasted a year. I am so stressed out because I have no job, a young child and no money. These are tough times. Ive gotten to the point where I am now just gonna take a step back and reevaluate what I am gonna do- desperate times call for desperate measures. There are plenty of jobs around here for LPN's, but you need experience! So affter applying to over a hundred jobs and only 1 call back(did them online, most of them had no contact info- said theyd contact you if you fit their requirements) I am just gonna take a break, because I am beginning to lose my sanity over it. So I am now applying to jobs at department stores- I cant work as a CNA to get my foot in the door because I wasnt a CNA prior to school and cant take another 8 weeks taking a course then payin for a test to get a job. Its tough out there adn I feel like such a failure as most of the people in my class I graduated with have jobs already and some have started school for their LPN to RN- which I wanted to do but figured i would take the semester off so i could start working and get as many hours in to pay off soem bills- Had i known i wouldnt have been employed i wouldve just started school in september. This is an awful situation adn I feel for you! Do what you have to do to provide for your family, cuz once the bills start rolling in they pile up quick, and youll never get ahead. You can always look for per diem LPN positions if you do have your old job adn just work as a nurse to get some experience, then hopefully it will open some doors down the road. Good luck to you!

Jules A, MSN · Sep 13, 2009

I'm also sorry to hear that so many are having trouble getting their first nursing job. Quitting a job and going into debt for anything can be risky. As some have mentioned it might make the most sense to get another job until the market loosens up if you are not able to move. Good luck and definitely don't let your license lapse because its very likely to be of value in the future.

dulcemorena · Sep 14, 2009

I live in an area where there are just a few schools, but are holding 3 or 4 classes at the same time (night classes, weekend classes, day classes, Ft and Pt) so there are a lot of LPN's in the area.only two of the hospitals hire LPN's, one of which is the VA and theyre on a hiring freeze. Theres a bunch of nursing homes that are advertising but since there are so many around that already have experience, they get picked over many new grads. Many employers want at least one year experience, how is a person supposed to gain experience if no one hires them?? I was going to start prereqs for RN classes this month but I cant because I have no idea what my work hours will be if I ever do get a job. I'm so stressed that I cant concentrate on a class right now anyway. I sacrificed a lot to try to get into a field that I loved, I never wanted to be one of those people that have to drag themselves to work everyday. And no, in reference to one of the other comments, I didnt get into this for the money, but yes I do need to think about how I will provide for my family. Money is a part of life, and as a parent its something I need to think about. I'm not a fresh high school grad that can just jump into anything because it seems fun. I have to think about finances as well. I really feel like I shouldve never quit my old job and just taken night classes for RN. Now I'm stuck barely making ends meet. Trust me, I've been filling out apps and making calls and sending out resumes since the spring and nothing. Every city and state is different and I hope that one day I'll be able to relocate and find something. I'm not trying to gain pity, I just feel like I wasted my time. Oh, yes I've looked into becoming a private provider, I have the paperwork in the works, but they say it can take up to 90 days before youre approved so maybe I'll be able to start by.. what...new years?

camren25 · Sep 22, 2009

Hello everyone! I started asking myself this very same question? In my heart I know that I did'nt waste my time, but I fell like crap rite now! I graduated school in June, just past my boards on the first of this month, been on a few job interviews but all I hear is that I don't have any experience, nobody cares that a I a medical assistant, CNA. I live in Michigan and the pay here is great, but I have not had any luck yet! I am going crazy rite now!

LPNAW07 · Sep 23, 2009

In the state of Ohio its called www.carestar.com You can call your local ODJFS and find out how to become an independent providing nurse for your state through home health. Hope this helps. If you don't succeed with that. You could always call the ODJFS of Ohio and ask whhat number you should call for your state. Thanks:)

April

Lady-Q · Sep 23, 2009

Keep trying! I know I sound like everyone else but my story has a twist. I took my LPN classes 3 years before I took the test AND have never worked as a CNA or anything. In experience I was backwards! I live in Chicago where the Job market isn't bad but if you have no experience, its murder. I went to over 60 places in the city and suburbs and finally someone hired me! It took a month and a half and probably a tree full of resumes but it does pay off. Hope thats inspiration!

egglady, LPN · Sep 24, 2009

Come to our rural backwoods areas!! We need help!! We pay good!! Please come to the back woods and not the city!! I would love to not work short staffed- just once!!

AllwaysB+ · Sep 24, 2009

Home Health ALLWAYS need night nurses 4 24 hr pts.

rayshetta · Sep 29, 2009

I graduated earlier this year, (March), could not find a GPN job. Got my license a month ago and still no luck. I have applied everywhere, nursing homes, hospitals, Dr offices. I feel like I wasted a year of my life. I quit my office job because they were laying off. I figured that was a sign that I should pursue my dream of becoming a nurse and that I would have a steady career. 6 months after graduation and I'm still working as a CNA for a temp agency. No one will permanently hire a CNA who has their LPN license because they know eventually an LPN will leave in order to use their license. I feel like I wasted my time and now I'm 7000 in debt. Loans payments will start to be due next month and I cant afford to make payments because I have two kids to support. Thought the investment would be worth it. There's only about 10 people in my class that have jobs, and most of them had been working as CNA's at the same facilities beforehand. What a waste of time. I'm considering going to try to get my old job back and just hope that I dont get laid off. What a joke.

having the same problem,no one wants to hire a new nurse grad.Working as a Clinical Assistant II until something comes up,applied everywhere.I work for a big HMO they don't hire either unless you have a year experience. I just get told hang in there:confused:

josh1974, LPN · Sep 29, 2009

OK, I didn't read all the posts but man! were do you live? I passed my boards in august, worked a couple more weeks as a CNA at the hospital, went in at 9 am one morning, gave em my resignation and accepted an LPN positon at an LTC at 1230 p. Good luck to ya! It's not a wasted year for you I hope!