Experience?

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Hello all! I graduate from nursing school in less than three weeks and I plan on sending in my application for the boards right after graduation. My question is, I look up LPN jobs in my area from time to time just to see how the job market is. I notice a lot of them say "1 year minimum experience required". My professors who are both RN's tell us that if you apply, sometimes they may take you even with no experience. Is this true? I really don't want to go to LTC and I plan to stay at my current job (I am a pharmacy technician) until I get my license in the mail and I know I passed. However, if I don't find a job within a few months I will consider going to LTC. It's not that I hate it, it just wasn't something I liked when we did our rotations. Also any tips on landing that first job is appreciated! Thanks! :-)

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I thought the same way when I was about to be a new grad (about LTC)... Typically, as an LPN you will get paid more in LTC and have a much easier time finding a job. I love my job in LTC and never thought I would. It's entirely different than when you're doing your dreaded clinicals!! Lol!!

Some facilities will hire new grads and u will notice some employment ads that say things like "new grads welcome". These places like to train new nurses to do things "their way"... But however u get in... Take it!! Some people find their first job fast like I did & some struggle!! Good luck!!

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Specializes in Public Health.

Having worked as a CNA in LTC and in a hospital, I will say, and I don't know about where you live but, there are no LPN's in the hospitals here. I have mostly encountered LPNs in LTC, rehab facilities, home care agencies and the like. LTC may be your only option if your area is the same as mine (btw I live in Las Vegas).

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I guess it really depends on your location, here is MD the Hospital I worked at (security mind you) had a ton of new grad LPNs RNs BSNs CNAs. They also offered some of the highest rates for LPNS and CNAs I have ever seen, most were making over $19-20 with shift differentials. The RNs and BSNs were making well over $27-30 easy with shift differential. If you have the ability and the desire you may want to consider relocating, jobs are out there.

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I live in upstate NY and I know some of the hospitals are "phasing out" but some are still hiring. And I see quite a few jobs for clinics and Doctor offices. My husband is also still in school for another year at least and then we plan on moving (hopefully) within the next few years. So my plan was to try to get into a Dr office or clinic and get experience so when we move I will have experience and I will have a better chance at finding a job. Thanks for all the input!

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Specializes in ICU.

I guess it just depends on your area! If the places around you hire a lot of LPNs, you may be able to get a job that says you need experience without any. The hospital I worked at as a CNA had no LPNs in acute care, and as far as I'm aware only had three in an inpatient rehab center that took very acutely ill patients. So there were maybe three LPNs in the whole hospital. I imagine you'd have to have 20 years of experience or more to land a job like that even if the hospital's posting said they just needed one year.

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Our hospital system where I live hires LPN's for clinic like crazy, I work for one, but generally you won't get in without experience. I had worked in LTC and a clinic previously. The pay is a vast difference between the 2! I am talking a $5 less difference in a clinic. But if you are like me, have kids, and a husband with a crazy schedule you have to have normal hours and a set schedule. I sure miss the pay though.

I would apply anyways to positions that say experience required. It took me over a year to land a part time job in LTC but after 6 months I was able to switch to a clinic. You may not be able to avoid LTC, you do learn a lot though.

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I live in NJ and it’s very hard to find a job for a new LPNs.

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It is extremely hard! I passed my Boards the first week of May & began applying immediately. The least amount of experience they're accepting in NY, NY is 6 months, but most require 1yr & more. I have applies to almost every nursing home in Brooklyn, NY with no feedback. Resent updated resumes with license info & still no feedback!

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*applied*

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I live in upstate NY. I think all of my class - graduated Dec. 2012 - is working. Some landed in LTC facility, I am in home care. Some HH agencies hire new grads. This agency provides orientation to the case with training, which I really like. I worked home health as a CNA before nursing school. I like the flexibility with the hours, pay is better than most Doc offices.Some agencies pay better than others. Mine is more on the low end of the spectrum at $19 per hour. There was one agency that was paying $22 -$30 per hr. I took what I could get. My first job out of school , I got my Medicaid provider #- paid better at $24.72 per hour, but the patient's mother was a bit of a flake so I left it.

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