Waiting to test....Can I work as a Med Tech?

[pnkgirl25]

Okay question for you all..My paperwork got sent of to the sate of CA about 2 weeks ago but I am now hearing that due to the Holidays and budget cuts the state is back logged and it's taking 6-10 weeks to get your paper work approved and to get a test date scheduled.

I have been seeing a few jobs in my area for "Med Techs". Is this the job I can do while I wait for my paper work to process and test? Not sure if graduating LVN school will make me more desirable to them or if I should leave that detail off and just include my CNA training?

Also, has anyone started applying for LVN jobs while waiting to test? I figured it wont hurt to try but the one issue I have run into is most online applications ask for my LVN number which I don't have. Should I just leave this blank, put in all zeros etc?

Thanks a million!

[pnkgirl25]

anyone....

[notmanydaysoff]

personally, I would be upfront with any potential employers. they need to know that you will probably be moving on when you become licensed. it is expensive and time consuming to train an employee.

[MedChica]

Are you talking about bring a Med Aide? Yeah, you can play Med Nurse as a GVN. But, you should tell your employer that you're a grad nurse. They may have PRNs or FT shifts available...and if youre open to unsolicited advice: If you cant get a FT position, take the PRN. You might have to piece your year of exp together with PRNs from multiple facilities. LOL If you cant get the hospital, take LTC if any will have you.

After a year, I swear, the job market just opened up for me...and I got a job with a clinic with urgent care (managing 5 med assistants and a provider over me). I want to mention that i got the job on the strength of my Psych nursing exp (and iv/acls cert) because reading people, working in fast paced environments and managing excitable/depressed/volatile personalities are useful skills. My military exp is always a plus, too.

Let this be a lesson: No nursing experience gained is ever a waste. No non nursing exp is a waste, either. For that matter. I don't care if all you can get as a new grad is some Flu Shot gig or some non clinical desk job playing customer care rep/nurse or some other where you do nothing but interview pts at the plasma center. It's not a waste. Clinics, for one, prefer that staff have strong 'customer service' skills as well.

Just trying to help you out.

Things may go well for you and you may land a good gig but do prepare for the worst.

Anyway,

Being med aide will never work with you just claiming CNA, I dont think. You need a cert to pop pills...as you need certification to be a nurse aide. So, you cant leave the nursing education off the resume. If you lack nurse/med aide certification, your GVN (and your LVN when you pass boards) is the only 'permit' that grants you the authority to perform those tasks.

[libran1984, ASN, RN]

I don't think you could. I've not seen nor heard of a GVN or GN in a very long time. My neck of the woods, in the midwest, eliminated such positions a little bit more than 5 years ago. A med aide (QMA / CMA) is certified via examination and continued education. As unlicensed/non-certified personnel I don't think you could work as something for which you have no credentials for. I bet you could challenge the course work and go straight to the QMA/CMA med exam to become certified and begin passing meds thereafter. This would be very similar to how first semester nursing students can challenge the CNA coursework, but they must still sit for a CNA examination to become CNAs.

either way... my 2 cents. GVNs and GNs might be more widely accepted in other states.