Volunteer for experience?

[mannina]

I am currently working as a CNA in a LTC facility and next year I will study for my LPN license. Just after i get my license, I'll be moving to Washington state for family reasons. When I look at LPN job listings there, many of them ask for at least one year of med/surg experience. How can I get this before I get my license? What kind of volunteer work might I get that would check this box, so that I improve my chances of getting hired as a newly graduated LPN?

[RunBabyRN]

Thank you for this RNsRWe. This is the solid advice I was looking for. I think now I will try to find a way to stick around in my current state to help land that first LPN job before relocating to another state where I'll know nobody. Maybe I'll consider adding a Spanish class into the mix too. Just a thought.

Fluency in Spanish (not just speaking some) will help immensely in CA, as there is a large Spanish-speaking population here. Taking one Spanish class won't give you enough to be able to take a patient history or to do their discharge teaching.

[mannina]

No, of course not. Having taken languages before though, doesn't hurt to improve.