Anywhere in the country hiring new LPN grads with no experience?

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Hi...I am a new grad LPN and passed my boards July 30th. I have no previous experience in the healthcare field except some volunteer work - I ran a family business for the past 20 years. Anyway since I passed my boards I have applied for at least 120 jobs online and in person and have not heard from anyone. How are you supossed to get experience if no one will hire you. I am becoming frantic and will move anywhere to get that elusive 1 year of experience (Im in Mass). What is a person to do? Is there anywhere that is willing to give a new grad a chance? Trying to keep the faith but its hard. Thanks!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Try the Dakotas, I don't recall which one.
The location is Minot, North Dakota.
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Specializes in CV Surgical, ICU.

If you're willing to apply for reciprocity that could open up a lot of options for you! I believe Fairview nursing home in Hudson, NH is taking applications (my brother works there as a kitchen aide and he mentioned it to me a month ago when I was still hunting, so it could still be open).

My only other advice would be to keep your shift open because that will give you a greater chance of getting into a place, and once you're in a facility you are golden! Days (7-3) spots are very coveted! Often times there is a waiting list of people who already work at the facility who are vying for the next available days spot.. 3-11 is where most new grads will end up starting, unless you already work at a place and/or get lucky enough to snag a day spot. Just tough it out, if you do get hired for evenings chances are you won't be stuck there for long! I was hired at my workplace as an LPN for 3-11 on the waiting list for 7-3, and literally two days into orientation someone cut their hours and they told me I had a day spot! Things in a facility can change very quickly like that! :)

Good luck fellow grad! (I believe we went to school together?) :)

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Im totally convinced that nursing schools only exist to make money. I am a new lpn grad and i have sent out my resumes to over 65 places including ltc, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.... I have called, faxed, e-mailed, gone in peron etc. And i have gotten nothing, not even a phone call. I would love to to see what happens when all the current nurses retire, get fired, get sick, etc....and wanna see where thats gonna leave every sick person out there. I have given up to look for Nursing Jobs. I have to pay my loans off and i have no money so i had to get a cashiers job at a local grocery store. So any students out there that are interested in becoming a nurse ......you might just end up like me..... A cashier making 8 bucks an hour. Good luck to all of you searching for your jobs. I wish you all the best!!!!

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Hi Sawyer -

This thread has been going for a while now so I'm not sure how much this will help, but I work for Genesis HealthCare at a nursing home in Lowell, Mass and my director of nursing is hiring nurses left and right because so many of them are leaving us to move on to bigger & better things (like hospitals..lucky -_- ) anyway we tend to hire new grads..especially LPN's...and especially from Greater Lowell Tech because they have such a good program. Students that graduate from that school definitely learn a thing or two. SO if this helps at all, msg me and I'll give you specifics as to how to go about applying.

I'll be taking the TEAS at Lowell Tech next month so fingers crossed! I went the Medical Assistant route last year and just wasted money, time and effort..not to mention being away from my family while I worked and went to school. Medical Assistant programs are the real waste..Nursing schools arent out to get your money, there are jobs out there. Its just a matter of staying within the field doing whatever they'll hire you for so you can make connections. I've been in the medical field for almost 4 years now, not a nurse yet, but I've met people from all different hospitals and I've made sure to keep contact with these people open...so that when I do pass my boards, if ever, I can apply to where I've made connections, including where I work now. So maybe they dont have any jobs as an LPN or an RN, but that same facility might need a CNA, or a unit secretary or even a kitchen aid...anything to get them to know you and your work ethic...then that one year of exerience wont be so "elusive". You wont make a nursing salary BUT it'll be one step closer to it and it'll probably come with benefits, so that outweighs any grocery clerk job in my book.

Hope this helped, Sawyer! Good luck with everything and stay positive! ;)

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Specializes in MH/MR; Substance Abuse.

Unfortunately, I think that this is something that a lot of new grads run into. I passed my boards in July '10 and immediately started putting in applications everywhere. Only to get the same story, "We're looking for someone with at least a year's experience." Like you, I kept asking myself, "Well how in the hang am I suppose to get a year's experience, if no one will hire me?" My advice is to keep applying and stay positive! I finally landed my first job in October '10 thanks to a wonderful RN, who decided to take a chance on a new grad! Also, check Craigslists for LVN openings. I started a new job last year at a substance abuse clinic after coming across a job posting on there.

Good luck to you!

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Prisicruz - thanks for the info! I did finally get a job at a hospital - 24hrs 3-11 shift. I am still on orientation and so far so good. My manager even said that she is trying to get me more hours too so if she does I will be all set. If not then its onto looking for a per diem but at least I will have experience and it might be easier to land the per diem job. Is your place hiring per diem also?Good luck getting into GL Tech and if you have any questions feel free to ask! Its a great program - intense but so worth it.

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Hi there !

I also live in Low as well. Graduated as LPN since May, and got my license in July. Can u please tell who can i go and talk about apply in Genesis?? i would really appreciate that. Right now I'm totally lost hope in Job Search!:(

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Sawyer,

congratulation for new job!

now only still unemployed new grad! Feel like a loser right now:-(

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Hi there !

I also live in Low as well. Graduated as LPN since May, and got my license in July. Can u please tell who can i go and talk about apply in Genesis?? i would really appreciate that. Right now I'm totally lost hope in Job search!:(

I work at Willow Manor, we're on Princeton BLVD. You have to go in and fill out an application in person as opposed to online, otherwise, we will never see the application. It'll get lost in the Genesis corporate office and never get to any of my bosses, which is unfortunate. If you go in person you can ensure that it'll go directly to the director of nursing and she's really good about giving new grads a break. Private message me if you need any further info or if you're not sure about exactly where it is.

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Family Lives pediatric home health care agency based in Westborough, MA hires new grad RNs and LPNs for less complex cases.

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I visited Westborough, MA many many years ago when I was young with my friend Jennifer D. It was a beautiful town. Absolutely beautiful. Is it still a peaceful small town full of trees or has it turned into a big city now?

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Hi! Did you finally get a job? I'm having the same problem , having hard time getting a job . I live in ft.myers fl anybody here that knows a facility that gives new grad chance ?

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