Why I Became an LVN

I’m so glad that I decided to become an LVN. It took a lot of hard work, time, and so much more. I learned so much that I can use to take better care of myself, my family, and my fellow man. I feel like a whole new person. I have a whole new outlook on life that allows me to see things for what they really are. A lot of sacrifices had to be made to become what I am today. I lost almost all my friends, my girlfriend broke up with me, I became broke and in debt, all for the sake of learning. I was told I would never be any good as an LVN, so that made me want to strive even harder to get my license. I was so proud the day I got my license. It validated everything that I had gone through in the last year.
Cut to several months later. I’m a full fledged LVN. I am IV certified. I am unemployed. I thought becoming an LVN would be a good thing. Instead, it was one big joke. There are no jobs for new grads. No facility wants to take a chance on a new grad, period. I’ve even tried for volunteer work, and I still don’t have enough experience to be qualified to work for free. An LVN license is nice to show off to your friends for a few weeks, until you realize it means nothing. No one understands that you need years of experience to even get a job as an LVN. I look like one big huge failure since I can’t get a job anywhere.
It’s even worse when people keep telling me “so and so said they’re hiring nurses because there’s a nursing shortage, so how come you can’t get a job?” It seems to amaze me how many people who have nothing to do with nursing magically think nursing jobs are falling off trees. No one takes the time to ask exactly why new grads can’t get a job. Once you explain it to them, they don’t believe you. Instead, you’re one big idiot who thought they would get a decent career started after schooling and licensure. Well, I guess the joke’s on me.
I honestly thought this would be a good springboard into a new career. I wish I was smart enough to never even sign up for school, since I just wasted a year of my life and $30,000. I want to go for my RN soon, but I still need to finish my pre-reqs before I even can apply. Even after that, it’s still a 2 year waiting period at most schools to begin the RN program. I’m starting to think this is all one big scam. I love nursing, and I want nothing more than to start my career. I should have done more research before going in to school. If I knew then that I’d be broke and unemployed even after working my ass off in school and getting licensed, I would never have signed on the dotted line at all.
I know there’s a recession going on, and I know the job market is very tough, but this is absolutely ridiculous. I’ve put out close to 300 resumes and applications, and have only gotten 2 interviews. Both of those interviews were a waste of time, since the moment I walked in the door, I wasn’t “what they wanted”. Apparently I need to speak more than just English and French to even get a job in this backward state, regardless of whether I am more qualified or not. I have received more letters saying to stop applying more than anything else. Most HR people I call will either not talk to me directly or even return my phone calls.
At this point, I don’t even want to tell people I’m an LVN. It’s embarrassing when you spent time to do a job and then not have a single job available for you to do. When people ask me if they should go into nursing, I sadly tell them “no”. There are no jobs whatsoever. Becoming a nurse is one big scam, and to those who profit off of idiots like myself, my hat is off to you. May you enjoy the thousands of dollars you’re making off of people who won’t get a chance to use anything of what they have learned outside of their own home. Everyday I stare my new scrubs and Littman stethoscope and wonder, “Can I still return these? They haven’t been used!”
My opinion is jaded for sure, but this is not uncommon amongst new grads. Being a new LVN right now is another way for saying “I’m unemployed”. If you’re in school for your LVN right now, see if you can still back out and get a refund. Run, don’t walk, away from this license since it will get you nothing. You won’t get a job because you’re not an RN, and you have no experience, which means you have no chance in this field. So I’m glad I became an LVN. I finally realized how stupid I was all along. Becoming an LVN has become almost pointless. In the end, I’m the idiot who decided this was a good idea. At least I’m an idiot with a state-printed card for a job that I’ll never get to do.