Cali lvn looking for work

jjic3982 · Apr 21, 2011

Hi yoonurse,

I live in Cali too and have been lurking around the internet to see if there were any LVN jobs available.

Do you speak any spanish? If you are fluent, emphasize that in many interviews. The hospital I work at have spanish speaking patients (and that is why most entry level jobs here require spanish).

Your best bet is the nursing homes or anything non-acute (I know you tried them but keep trying). There are few hospitals that still use LVN's but then again imagine all the experienced LVN's that will apply for it.

California has a lot of private LVN schools pumping out newgrads every year. (Some has three programs in one year). So this plays a big factor.

Keep on trying and don't give up. I have read a lot of posts on allnurses and see many struggle but few prosper.

You can try doing private care. I hear if you're lucky, they will pay you 800 a paycheck (per week). But from what I know most pay less.

yoonurse · Apr 21, 2011

Hi yoonurse,
I live in Cali too and have been lurking around the internet to see if there were any LVN jobs available.
Do you speak any spanish? If you are fluent, emphasize that in many interviews. The hospital I work at have spanish speaking patients (and that is why most entry level jobs here require spanish).
Your best bet is the nursing homes or anything non-acute (I know you tried them but keep trying). There are few hospitals that still use LVN's but then again imagine all the experienced LVN's that will apply for it.
California has a lot of private LVN schools pumping out newgrads every year. (Some has three programs in one year). So this plays a big factor.
Keep on trying and don't give up. I have read a lot of posts on allnurses and see many struggle but few prosper.
You can try doing private care. I hear if you're lucky, they will pay you 800 a paycheck (per week). But from what I know most pay less.

Dearest jjic3982,

Thanks so much for your reply.

As a matter of fact I am fluent in spanish. I usually emphasize that, hoping it would at least give me the opportunity to interview. So, far nothing. I see its gonna be a struggle and like I said im really starting to regret this career change. I will most definetly keep my fingers crossed and keep applying. Im not going to give up. Im just a bit dissolutioned with the job hunting. Ive been told by my family members not to give up, I am considering going back to medical billing and forget about my nursing career.

As for pvt care, I would be more than willing to apply for that type of work. anything!

thanks again!!

jjic3982 · Apr 22, 2011

Hi yoonurse. Any interviews yet?

First, no problem.

Second, here's a tip. Never regret what you've done. I'm sure you made the best choice regarding your career change from what you knew back then (but luck sometimes just doesn't come). I like to think ahead and try to learn as much as I can from the past.

What are you doing for work right now? I hope paying the bills isn't too big of a problem for you right now (for me it drags me around and tosses me in a blender). For lvn's in Cali, I have heard it can take more than 2 months for one to find a job, so your situation isn't uncommon. Since your fluent in Spanish, you won't have too much difficulty finding one compared to others. But just in case, try to work in a facility that has many lvn's working, and try to somehow join the "family." In other words work for them for any positions possible whether it be a assistant position or even front desk. It is comfortable for the employer to see your work ethic in person for a while, and he/she will trust you from there on, leading into a chance for you to become their lvn one day.

I'm sure you had this in mind already since you worked as a MA and in billing.

Also, I'm sure you're aware that most people on this forum is going through the same thing. For example, it took me two months to find a job in retail (YES RETAIL). I was considered over qualified but they decided to take me in anyways. I am awaiting acceptance into a great CNA program. I hope I get in!

Although there won't be dream jobs available for everyone, those who work the hardest (with the best of luck) will succeed. SO BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

yoonurse · Apr 22, 2011

Here is a tip. Never regret what you've done. I'm sure you made the best choice of a career change from what you knew back then. I like to just think ahead and try to learn as much as I can from the past.
What are you doing for work right now? For lvn in Cali, I have heard it can take many months for one to find a job. Since your fluent in Spanish, you won't have too much difficulty finding one compared to others. But just in case, try to work in a facility that has many lvn's working, and try to somehow join the "family." In other words work for them for any positions possible whether it be a assistant position or even front desk. It is comfortable for the employer to see your work ethic in person for a while, and he/she will trust you from there on leading into a chance for you to be hired for your dream job.
I am working hard to learn Spanish right now to become more marketable.

I am currently unemployed, family members are helping me and I thank them for that. I read on a previous post where a nurse went to neaby nursing homes and got job interview. I am seriously planning on doing that. I think if anything at least I can see if anything else is " open" I just need that famous "one year experience" that all employers require. I know I am a good worker and extremely dedicated to my job. So, that is my next move. I am starting on monday morning. I am re-vamping my resume using better paper that sort of stuff.

Trust me , Spanish is the most easiest language to learn, me you will be speaking it before you know it!!!

Thanks again for replying. I thank you for this, it brings up my moral...:)

jjic3982 · Apr 22, 2011

No problem my friend. (No problemo mi amigo xD).

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

I see openings for bilingual LVN I's come up on kaiser's website from time to time for their outpatient facilities. Check daily and apply when they come up. Just be patient and keep your head up :)

caliotter3 · Apr 22, 2011

Keep your eyes open for ads for the upcoming flu season. One of my first nurse jobs was doing flu clinics. Not much, but better than nothing. Ads should start running in July, early August.

yoonurse · Apr 23, 2011

No problem my friend. (No problemo mi amigo xD).

You see! you're already on your way! :yeah:

yoonurse · Apr 23, 2011

I see openings for bilingual LVN I's come up on kaiser's website from time to time for their outpatient facilities. Check daily and apply when they come up. Just be patient and keep your head up :)

Dear SquishyLVN,

I have applied, I got an email back stating, "thanks for applying" and so far, still looking. I have pt care as a medical assistant, do you think this type of patient care is something I should emphasize????!!! Here is the thing, I work as an MA many years back, nothing recent. What a dilema!

Thanks!

yoonurse · Apr 23, 2011

Keep your eyes open for ads for the upcoming flu season. One of my first nurse jobs was doing flu clinics. Not much, but better than nothing. Ads should start running in July, early August.

Hi caliotter3,

It good to know!

I will look in to it. something is better than nothing.

Thanks!!

tiffnie, RN · May 5, 2011

I think that it wouldnt hurt to emphasize how much experience you have in health care already. In my clinicals in school I came across many CNAs who knew more than the new LVNs, so Im sure that you would have a heads up in that department. Also, I agree with the post about just getting your foot in the door. I have several family members, including my husband who work at Kaiser, and they all tell me the same thing - if I cant get in as an LVN, get a job as CNA, desk clerk, even maintenance if I need to, because once youre in YOURE IN, and Kaiser always hires from within first.