Discouraged

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Hey guys, I'm starting to think I made another mistake going back to school and getting my LPN license. I must be doing something wrong. I never got an interview for my accounting degree. I've had 5 interviews and 2 "unofficial" interviews for work in nursing homes and one jail. 3 of them said they would call me back and never did (I called the one back that I was really interested and she said she would call in the morning and did'nt). I got offered jobs from the other 2. The one I did'nt accept because someone I knew worked there for a week and told me not to go there. The other one, I called an accepted 2 weeks ago. I called last week to see what was up and she said "we're working on it". I guess they are working on paperwork. She did say it would be a week or 2, but now it's been 3. I was excited about it, even though it would be contingency for awhile, they said they would work around my other job schedule. Now I don't know if I really have it. Maybe I should go ahead and fill out the apps at the "unofficial" jobs. They were just very limited part-time positions. There are only a couple places left to apply in the area and I know they don't pay very good. I have'nt heard from any of the local hospitals either. Any advice? Should I start applying in other areas of the country? I've had my license 2 months now. Should I forgot about the nursing and go on to something else? I have to start making some money.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

I noticed you are in NW O.

Could it be that the job market is slower there for an LPN?

Have you tried any of the hospitals?

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Call them back and get some answers. Tell them that you need to have a definite start date to make plans with your life. Their answers should tell you whether or not you should apply elsewhere.

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Yeah, I should have asked that last week, but she sounded like I was bugging her and she just said they were working on it. I'll call back Monday and check in. I'm not sure what exactly to say, maybe that they want to know if I want to go back FT at work since I keep asking for more hours as I wait on PT. I hope they are not avoiding me. I thought it was my best/longest interview there. I have applied 3 more places since I went there. One never called back, just went to one today and the other one (which sounded good), called back yesterday and said they went with an applicant with some experience. At least they let me know, the only place so far...

PS: I have applied at all local hospitals, but know they will probably not hire new grad LPNs without experience. I think I'll get the bigger cities paper on Sunday and look through there. I hate to think of driving over an hour to work, but may have to if the pay is good and nobody will hire me around here. I guess I could always move as I'm single right now and would like to sell the house, but I was thinking more next spring or summer..

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Update: I called the place back where I supposedly have a job. She was in a meeting, so I left a message, still have'nt heard from her. I wonder what the deal is? Either something turned up bad in my reference check or they hired someone else. But it was contingency anyways so it seems like they could have tried me out...

Now I'm going to call all the places back where I applied. Think I should try the other place that offered me a job and I never called back? Its been about a month-I was going to call but waited until I had the interview at the place above and decided that one sounded better. Then I was going to call, but that guy from my class worked there a week and quit. He said they had awful patient-to-nurse ratio and their scheduling was bad. Maybe it was just bad luck for him. My ex says I should try it if it is still available, maybe they could train me longer than the 2 days he was trained since he had some experience in health care. There is also another place that said they would hire me under contingency, but the pay is'nt great. Then there is one that is every other weekend, but that would interfere with my factor job if I go back to FT.

PS: think I should ask if any of the places have baylor positions, since I think that would work out great since I'm a night owl and I could still work the other job PT?

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Don't be too discouraged. My last job, I was hired on the spot at my interview. However, weeks went by and I hadn't heard anything. The assistant DON told me that he would hire me, but Human Resources has the final say. He saw no reason why they would object, unless my references didn't check out. When I called the first time the nurse wasn't in, and they asked if they could help me. I told them what was going on, and they transferred me to HR. They assured me that I was hired, but the new oreintation did not start for two weeks, yet. I received an official notice a few days later in ther mail. Why don't you check with HR, if you haven't already?

In the area I live in, they are always looking for LPN's in Nursing Homes. And, they take new grads. I think there is a high turnover in the nursing homes. It is tough. I know that I could not handle it. If memory serves me right, I believe that I had like 50 pts. I had an exacerbation of my chronic illness. I didn't last there very long.

Good Luck! Don't get discouraged.

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I don't know, I tried calling 3 more times this week. I left a message twice and still nothing. I even talked to HR once and she said I have to talk to the lady I interviewed with. It seems like she would have at least returned my call. I don't know if I should try calling once more this week or not. Maybe I should tell her I got offered another job and see what she says and if they are still planning on starting me. Its not far from the truth as I had 2 more interviews Friday. I'm really interested in one of them. Its 64 hours/pay period, but the pay is very good and its a nice place. The problem is she has had about 10 interviews.

The other interview was weird. I just went in to fill out an app. and they told me to wait to talk to the DON. Well, I ended up being there for almost 2 hours! She took me on a tour and showed me the charts and everything. It felt like an orientation. Funny thing is she said she did'nt know what was available besides prn on first or possibly temporary on 2nd while a nurse takes maternity leave that could turn into permanent. I was'nt really interested because the place was sort of old and run down, it is the farthest away from my house that I've applied (about 30 miles), and she could'nt give me any direct answers on whats available, but said she'd let me know first of the week. (I need something with somewhat set hours so I can work my other job part-time for awhile until I can get something full-time). She was real nice though and told me not to give up and really try to get into a clinic or hospital if I was interested in good benefits like insurance that did'nt have outrageous premiums.

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Hey guys, I went through the Sunday classifieds today (even got the paper from the bigger city, but not much in it), and guess what? That job that I really wanted (baylor position) in which the lady called me back and said she hired an applicant with more experience, well, its in the paper again. Either she lied to me or she put it in earlier in the week before she hired someone. Anyway, I wonder if a teaching hospital in a big city would hire me? I'd have to move though...

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