Regret? LPN straight out of nursing school went into office intake nursing.

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I recently received my LPN license. I applied for over 100 jobs for about 6 months. I did receive a few interviews for nursing homes and doctor's offices but was turned down due to "no experience ". I finally was offered a Intake Nurse position. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and have been working there over a year.

My dilemma is, although I like the job for now, I fear for the future. Some days I really miss the hands on (from school). Other times, I feel lucky I don't have to deal with the stress of it. And even if I did want to, I feel like at this point no one would consider me anyway.

Also, most non clinical jobs require clinical experience. I'm afraid I kind of burned my bridges doing office nursing right off the bat. It seems kind of unheard of for a nurse to skip the clinical experience and go right to office nursing.

Basically, my question is..how difficult will it be for me to, at some point down the line, get another job in nursing? I'm wondering but doubting anyone has had a similar experience. I'm thinking it's going to be rough no matter which direction I take and I've been beating myself up a lot lately about it..

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Many people would kill to be in your position...you have a nice, clean job without slinging bedpans or being shouted down by verbally abusive families.

Anyhow, I'm sure you could obtain a bedside position in a nursing home or prison infirmary if you really wanted to be in that environment.

If I were you.....I would keep my awesome job and pick up a few shifts as PRN at a nursing home to get hands on experience. Just my 2 cents. Im a school nurse and understand what you mean, you feel you lose all your skills. I work some prn shifts during the summer, makes me appreciate my school nursing job:yes:

Specializes in Geriatrics, infusion therapy.

I have 1.5 years under my belt and for the first year I was the only nurse in a very small assisted living facility. I gained valuable administration experience, but unlike my fellow former classmates, I was not keeping up with hands on skills! I thought I was in trouble too. However, we moved back to Ohio and I took a position with a HHC agency who quickly trained me and I was doing g-tubes, Caths, vent & trach care etc. I did that for 6mths. Now I have accepted a position more similar to my first nursing job. I know I can perform the clinical skills and I am ready to Not have to do them again lol.

Of you truly love your job, keep it. HHC agencies are always looking for lpn's and it's a good way to keep your skill set up! Best wishes!!!

If you want clinical experience maybe you could look for a per-diem position in addition to your FT intake position?

If you enjoy the administrative side of nursing have you considered going back for your RN so that if this position doesn't work out in the long term you could transfer into a similar position?

Unfortunately it's all based on education now a days and not experience.

Good luck

Straight out of LVN school I was having a really hard time finding a clinical job since every place seemed to want 2+ years of experience. I was finally able to find work through staffing agencies doing utilization management and HEDIS work. Even these jobs required nursing experience but they took a chance and I've been successful at my jobs. Anyway, although these jobs have been very rewarding experience wise and monetarily I got into nursing because I wanted to do bedside care.

So after two years of being licensed without paid clinical nursing experience (other than 3 months at an Adult Day health center) I set out to find a new job and I have been offered two different positions. One at a SNF and another at a small community hospital.

Just be honest about your experiences and willingness to learn in the field, someone will take a chance on you! Best of luck in the future!

Honey embrace it. Just to get some clinical experience, I say apply for some PRN/per diem job that will enable you to work on weekends only. Now the downside to that is orientation; which is usually during the weekday while you're doing your office job. What u can do if the orientation hours interfers with your office job, I would take a few days off which is usually a week just to get through it. HOpe that helps.

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