discrimination in the nursing field

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hi everyone, am a new lpn nurse, got my license in august, been applying for jobs here and there, taking quizzes etc, but what bothers me so much is the discrimination involved in this field. as nurses we are all meant to work together to achieve a common goal which is caring for the patient and ensuring their safety, but its frustrating to realize that every where you turn, the door is closed against you and all you hear is" we are only hiring RN's and BSN holders"

since the system know that all these will occur, why did they start the lpn program, make you go through a lot of hell in nursing school, sacrificing so much in order to get to where you are but at the end you can't get a job.omg! don't get me wrong, lpn program is good in the sense that you learn a lot and more over, it has paved way for many nurses that has reached a better position on the ladder,it provides for families and pays the bills but why is it so hard getting jobs?

i will keep studying and continue to look forward to a testimony

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

How is requiring RN and/or BSN discrimination?

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Everyone who attends an LPN/LVN program instead of a BSN program made that choice. They can say it was for this or that reason, but in the end, they had the same doors in front of them that those who chose BSN programs had. And beyond the end, the employers hold the cards. So we all deal with the consequences of the choices we made.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

There are jobs for LPNs outside the acute care arena; look to sub-acute facilities, LTC, corrections, home health, wound care clinics, ambulatory clinics, and home health.

Many of us started out as LPNs and had successful careers and went in to get their RN; I was an LPN for seven years in a highly saturated area that was pushing for BSNs and had jobs outside of the acute care setting; my experiences have made me a great candidate for acute care positions and leadership positions; the key was to find a job and use it to gain experience for my practice.

Cast your net wide; you WILL find a job.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in LTC.

I got employed as a LPN about a month after passing NCLEX. Maybe the issue is where you are looking for employment with your LPN license. And no, it is not discrimination. If you want to work in those places requiring BSN then you will have to acquire one.

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Thanks and god bless

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I don't understand. How is this discrimination? You had the same opportunity to investigate the job possibilities and the programs BEFORE you chose the LPN route as did everyone who took the BSN route. If you failed to do so, there is no discrimination involved.

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Specializes in LTC.

The scope of an LPN/LVN is different. That's not discrimination, that's just how it is. I am in an LVN course to immediately bridge and avoid wait lists and lotteries, but I went in well aware that I'd most likely work SNF post graduation. Where I live you can work acute care, but those jobs are rare and go to experinced LVN'S not new grads. If you want the jobs that require a higher education level, enroll to achieve a higher degree.

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thanks everyone, may be i didn't use the right word, but you know its just very frustrating, especially when am being asked for a year or more experience, when no one is giving me a chance.

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thanks everyone, may be i didn't use the right word, but you know its just very frustrating, especially when am being asked for a year or more experience, when no one is giving me a chance.

Yep, wrong word chosen. Tough competition isn't the same as employment discrimination. People are definitely sensitive to those differences, so you'll want to be very careful when choosing such words!

Job market is tight for nurses across much of the country. RNs are rarely needed in outpatient clinics, medical practices where LPNs and non-licensed assistants are used much more frequently. Long-term care (nursing homes) frequently use LPNs instead of RNs, including using them as charge nurses (when they wouldn't be afforded the same opportunities in most hospitals).

It isn't that being an LPN means not finding work. It typically means finding DIFFERENT work than RNs, and ALL nurses are fighting the tide of newly-graduated nurses choking the system with surplus. I'd have hoped you'd have researched employment options in your area prior to choosing a nursing program.....?

If you think about it, since there are so many new grads to choose from, if someone "gave" you a chance over someone else when you don't have what they do, THEY might cry 'discrimination' ;)

Good luck!

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Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

Just don't loose hope I know it's very frustrating to find and get a job.try to boost you self esteem, reevaluate your resume by someone who is pro in recruiting nurses. and try to apply as walk in,

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Just don't loose hope I know it's very frustrating to find and get a job.try to boost you self esteem, reevaluate your resume by someone who is pro in recruiting nurses. and try to apply as walk in,

Yes, hang on tight to that hope!

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