Experienced LPN with 25 years can't get hired.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Critical Care, LTC, Home care..

I have been an LPN with over 25 years experience. My last job was working for a company that did nurse case management. I was with them for 5 3/4 yrs. Because my last position was not clinical no one will hire me. They all tell me they want recent clinical experience. I explained that I have not forgotten what I was taught and I know enough to look in a book for a drug question or ask a question to a co-worker. This is happening in the Albany NY area. Any suggestions???

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I was on disability for 13 years. I kept up my licensure and was afraid to return to nursing when my disability ran out due to previous injury. When I "bit the bullet" and decided it was time to return to a career I loved, I called an LTC from an ad in my local paper, just to get the city the place was in. I ended up setting up an interview with the Nursing Director, aced both interviews and since it had been so long since my last clinical employment, they didn't check references. I worked as a staff nurse for 4 years then found a new career in training and implementing electronic medical records in large health care centers around the country. If you can travel and are computer literate, it may be worth exploring. Good luck....:smokin:

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Critical Care, LTC, Home care..

Thanks for the suggestions. I am looking into other training that will keep me local. Have a 14 Y/O in school. Don't want to move until she graduates. In all my years of working as an LPN I have never experienced this. I have always been employed in my career.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm in California but after working for over 10 years I had left nursing to be a stay-at-home-mom and kept my license on inactive status. In 2004 I had no choice but to return to work thinking the red carpet would be rolled out as it had been when I left.

What a shock! I got very few calls - a cancer hospital at USC almost hired me but it was the "recent acute care experience" that put the nix on that. The recruiter was very nice and offered to help me in some of their other facilities.

The homecare agencies were the only ones who bugged me nonstop to work for them so out of desperation I agreed. I ended up doing private duty care for vent/trach patients and stayed there for 7 years. Now I'm out looking again and it's even worse than it was. Nothing. I headed my resumé with my years of experience thinking it might give me an edge. Now I think it may be a hindrance.

Anyway, I know what you are going through and hope you land a job soon! :)

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