Getting certification help with the lack of 1yr experience ?

[tubycat]

Hello - I am currently midway thru my LVN program in California and I have started thinking about types of employment after graduation. I currently am a Medical Assistant and plan to complete Phelebotomy certification and IV Certification. i am wondering if it worth the investment to also do Wound Care. Also every job posting I see wants a minimum of 1 year experience. I would like to work in a Hospital so should I start by applying as a patient care tech ? or work at the Urgent Care ? whats the best area to look into when applying for that 1st year of work ?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Most professional nursing certifications require a certain (usually long) time in practice working in the field before you qualify to sit for the exam, and the exam must be developed and administered by somebody other than the professional organization or commercial concern that offered the class.

There's a difference between a certificate (such as you get from attending and passing a class, like in IV therapy) and a certification in a specialty.

Whether a certificate after a class in wound care without time practicing that craft enough for certification (which is, in this case, only available to RNs) would make you a more attractive hire is a question to ask the HR folks in the place you apply.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Are there any acute care hospitals in CA that even hire LVNs? The unemployment for new grad nurses is up to 40% in some areas of CA. Many facilities preferring to hire RN/BSN if given the option.

Wound care certification often requires experience, even if paid preceptorship. WOCN is minimum RN/BSN. WCC is available to diploma & ASN RNs as well as LPN/LVNs.

And no a certificate without paid experience as a nurse will not override a facility that has a minimum one year nursing experience. Neither will working as a tech or aide.