What was your new grad job as an RN or LPN?

[Birdie3]

Hello,

I am considering whether to attend an LPN or ADN program and wondered where people found their first job, either as an RN or LPN. I notice many job postings say no new grads or one year experience required. Where am I most likely to get this one year of experience just out of school? Thank you!

[Guest757854]

My new grad job as an LPN was, of course at a SNF..... ugh. i HATED that job.....LOTS of bullying, backbiting and horizontal violence. My new grad job as an RN was at an LTACH. BEST RN experience, imo, for a new grad RN. i learned soooo much there. and the fact that i had ALOT of LPN experience...really gave me a leg up when i started at the LTACH.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

RN , charge CCU, major teaching hospital in Memphis

[Birdie3]

Thanks mso819, I will look into that. I'm sorry your time at the SNF was so bad. Can I ask you why you chose to do an LPN first, then an RN? Trying to decide what is best for me. Thank you!

[Birdie3]

Thank you sallyrnrrt, that sounds like a very challenging job for a first!

[Guest757854]

@Birdie3........

i decided LPN first because it was more practical for me, was only 10 months, amd i had 2 small kids at home. Plus, the cost was $5,500 and i didnt want to have to take out any loans.

Hope this helps.

[Birdie3]

Yes it does, thank you! Have also PMd you if ok.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

It depends on your geographical area. Mine is overly saturated with nursing programs and therefore the employers have the advantage - nurses are considered disposable, especially new grads.

I graduated in 2006, when it was a better market for the prospective employee, so I didn't have heaps of trouble finding a job. I worked in an inner city community hospital on a surgical floor that was typically closer to 50% medical also. I learned so much and used tons of skills every shift. When I transferred to a medical floor at a huge suburban hospital, the floors were so specialized that skill sets were much more specific. Therefore I was the go-to concerning NG tube insertions, drains, incision care, etc.

My friends who graduated more recently (in the last three-four years) have typically ended up working in a skilled nursing facility unless they were one of the fortunate ones to secure a specialty internship at aforementioned big ol' hospital.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I spent three months at THE WORST nursing home. Left for a too 100 employee in my state nursing home for three years. Hated both jobs. The first I hated a lot, the second was a low simmer. I realized i didn't enjoy LTC and left for pediatric home health, have been doing that for a few different agency's for the past eight years.

[Birdie3]

Thank you Alex and Penelope!

[HiddenAngels]

RN-home health PEDS.. It is slow paced one-on-one.. Nice way to get your feet wet for starters..

[Birdie3]

Thank you HiddenAngels!