Jobs for new grad BSN who worked as LVN

caliotter3 · Nov 21, 2013

Every employer I have had as an LVN that I asked about RN employment told me that I had to get at least a year's experience somewhere else before they would give me an RN position. On the other hand, I have met many LVN's turned RN's who got a pay raise and kept on going with the same employer. Your best bet, not to run into this attitude, is to look for employment with new employers once you get the RN license. As a matter of fact, all of them discounted the LVN experience. I could have been a clerk at 7-11 as far as they were concerned.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Nov 24, 2013

Yes, I am in the same situation....and NO it hasn't helped me find a job. With LVN experience you are not considered a new grad, even though, technically, you are. I am still at my old job, I just got a pay increase.

My suggestion is to either stay in your current job, or apply to new grad residency programs. Some hospitals have them, and will not hire you unless you go through one of their programs. Talk to instructors and family. Hopefully someone will have connections. A lot of my classmates stayed at their old jobs, or had friends who were able to help get them hired on in the hospitals that will take new grads without doing a residency program.

A friend told me sometimes HR's just look at the school you go to, and hire based on that.....they don't even bother to read your resume because they get so many. Pretty crappy, if you ask me. I got extra certifications in the specialty I want to go into, volunteer experience and even put down a medical missions trip on my resume. I have had ONE interview out of the tons of apps I put out. It's unreal. I kinda feel like I wasted my time and money for a BSN and still nothing. I should have just went straight for my RN. Oh well.

Good luck! I wish they counted LPN experience, I've been told that they do, but really....who knows.