Are LVNs having hard time finding jobs?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Hello to all~

I've recently made a decision to go back to school to be a LVN and am hoping to attend the Temple College (Central Texas) in June of 2010. I just missed this time around. :(

My questions is...After I put in all the work in to become an LVN, is it going to be hard to find a job? I realize it's different in every area, but after reading A LOT of the posts on here and reading some other internet sources it seems as though LVNs are being phased out. Am I wrong about this? I thought there was a nursing shortage...or does this only pertain to RNs?

I would appreciate any thoughts on this...especially, but not only, if you live in the central Texas area. I've never worked in the medical field, btw...but it is something I'm very interested in.

Thanks!

Specializes in ER.

in houston, there are lots of jobs available for lvns. hospitals seem to go in cycles where they wont hire lvns for a few months, and then they will. they want to go all rn, but the fact is, there arent enough rns to meet the demands. doctors offices hire lvns, as do ltacs and nursing homes. home health and agency also always seem to have room for lvns. houston is a great place to live if you are in healthcare because it is a huge city with lots of hospitals, etc. there are also many lvn-rn transition programs available here. at least 9 that i can think of right off hand, in community colleges alone. there are a few in the larger universities as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you all for the responses. I've been looking in the the local paper and on online job sites and haven't found a lot of ads for LVN positions. This concerned me a bit, but it is good to hear that there are people in my general area getting jobs.

texasg67...I live in Temple area so it was especially nice to hear that you found a job so quickly. This seems (to me) to be a good area to live if you want a job in the medical field.

Like I said in original post...I'm still preparing (studying for NET-PN) to get in to LVN program at TC. I just wanted to make sure it's not a waste of time or $. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well where I live in Northern IN/ Southern MI NONE of the hospitals are hiring LPNS anymore. We are talking 5 different hospitals in 2 different states.. It makes me sick. I want to go back to school so badly, but I work in a dr's office and the schedules don't work. I can't go back to LTC I have had too many bad experiences not only in school, but while working. I want so badly to get into a hospital to have at least the flexability to attend school. I get sick thinking of how much more I could be doing if I was given even the slightest chance.. I don't think there is anything wrong with being an LPN by any means, but I want more in my life right now, and I miss school..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

While you are waiting to get into LVN school and working, try to take some of the prereqs for RN school. It could help you to get into LVN school, and should you decide to go on for RN, you are one step ahead. Plus if you have been out of school for a while it will get your mind set to studying and testing again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health.

I live in the Denton area and I know for a fact that HCA hires LVN's. I was actually offered a position to work for a HCA facility (in houston) on the pedi floor or the NB nursery after graduation. They where both full time postions. The office manager (she is a LVN) that I work with works at a HCA facility in the NB nursery and L&D FT weekends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Most Hospitails are not hiring LVNs (just CNA"S and RNS )If you want to work a night shift in a nursing home then you will have no problems. There are other positions for LVNs but the problem I am finding, is most people want experienced LVNs, and there seems to me more LVNs than jobs in the Houston, Beaumont, Texas area. My advice is think seriously about getting your RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Weight loss, geriatric/SNF, Rehab.
Hospice is one thing I want to do but none of the agency's are hiring right now,LTC is only hiring Per Diem,I did have 2 places that would hire 3-11 but NJ is so slow with my actual license{took nclex the 13th and found out the 16th and recieved a letter from state on the 18th,they said it should be here in 10 days and today is number 10(working days)the 2 jobs will not accept anything but the green paper..so we shall see

10 working days? Ha! Here in CA it takes a minimum of 4 wks just to get your results, then another 3 wks to process your license. I sent them an e-mail after 5 wks asking if my letter was coming; they told me they would send it out the next day!! Five weeks? Especially since my test shut off at the minimum number of questions, which I think means I did really well.

I too am having a tough time finding LVN work here in Orange County. LVN jobs are few and far between, and those jobs they usually give to the experienced ones.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi there

I actually googled this (Lvns having a hard time finding work) because i am a LVN that can not find any fulltime employment. I have 15 years experience working acute care to LTC and everything in between. I live in a larger metro area (Los Angeles) and in all my years of being a LVN ive never seen anything quite like this.

Up until about 3 years ago, jobs were everywhere, I could walk into anyplace and get hired on the spot...amazing how things changed almost overnight. In my opinion...i believe there are just too many LVNs being cranked out of these career schools. Here in my area there has to be at least 35 alone.. all of them graduating LVNS every 3 months. When i first started back in 95 most hospitals took LVNs no problem, most no longer use them. So far ive gotten some per diem work thru several home care agencies, im barely keeping my head above water, working 2 days a week (if that).

My advice ..if you really want to work as a nurse then your best bet is RN training, it does take longer but your options will be many.

Good Luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My advice ..if you really want to work as a nurse then your best bet is RN training, it does take longer but your options will be many.
Having an RN license is not a guarantee of employment or enhanced options in today's job market, either. There are many unemployed RNs in southern California, as well as in many parts of the country.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Depending where you live, there are still LPN jobs available. Just not quite as abundant as they were just a few years ago. LTC in my area, is always hiring, as are Assisted Living facilies, Clinic positions here, and some Hospital positions (generally in Med/Surg) For the hospital positions here, they usually want some rehab experience(a year or more). Home Health is another option. It surprises me that more hospitals are not utilizing LPN's in this economy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there

I actually googled this (Lvns having a hard time finding work) because i am a LVN that can not find any fulltime employment. I have 15 years experience working acute care to LTC and everything in between. I live in a larger metro area (Los Angeles) and in all my years of being a LVN ive never seen anything quite like this.

Up until about 3 years ago, jobs were everywhere, I could walk into anyplace and get hired on the spot...amazing how things changed almost overnight. In my opinion...i believe there are just too many LVNs being cranked out of these career schools. Here in my area there has to be at least 35 alone.. all of them graduating LVNS every 3 months. When i first started back in 95 most hospitals took LVNs no problem, most no longer use them. So far ive gotten some per diem work thru several home care agencies, im barely keeping my head above water, working 2 days a week (if that).

My advice ..if you really want to work as a nurse then your best bet is RN training, it does take longer but your options will be many.

Good Luck!!

Wow. Nice to see it really ISN'T just me. :( I was beginning to get an inferiority / low-self esteem complex. :mad: I have been saying the exact same thing: Up until a couple years ago, I could walk into a place and walk out with a job and start the next day. I've been looking for a job for about 6 months now...... doesn't help that I moved from Indianapolis In to a much smaller city in TN 2 years ago. I have 20+ yrs experience in LTC; my last job I was at for a little over 2 years.... but just got soooo burned out from working so many hours, I needed a break. Now that I've decided to go back to work, there's nothing available!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NURSING SHORTAGE??? I'm beginning to think I need to get into something else, but dang, I've spent the last 20 years in LTC. Am seriously thinking of doing some travel nursing just to get a paycheck coming in since i have no little ones, but I don't like the idea of being gone for 3 months.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment