For all you LPN/LVN's out there, was it hard to find a job after graduation?

[I♥Scrubs]

For all you LPN/LVN's out there, was it hard to find a job after graduation? We have 15 weeks left of school and I was just wondering if it took you a while to find a job, I currently work in a pharmacy and I am trying to decide on staying until I find another job or putting my notice in once I finish school to focus on studying for the nclex and then finding a job. Also where was your first job after school? Thanks-SM

[tbehlow, LPN]

I would for sure keep your job, until u find a LPN position.. Good luck with the NCLEX !

[5088gt]

Have had my license for nearly 3 months now and no job has even contacted me. I have applied everywhere including LTC and even jails. Everybody wants experience. Another thing I have started noticing is the increasing amount of jobs that are only accepting people from "U.S. Board of Education accredited schools". None of the LPN/LVN vocational schools in my state are accredited, so that rules out me and everybody else that graduated from about 7 other schools around here.

[ECBui]

I found a job after applying to 37 places and two months of agonizing interviews and call backs. Depends on location and luck I feel like. Cover letter is key!

[I♥Scrubs, LPN]

Thanks everyone! For clinical this week I was at a primary care clinic and I loved it. Since we started clinical back a few months ago I have done the nursing homes and the surgical floor at the hospital and the OR and they were all fine. I didn't hate them, but I didn't love them either. However, with the clinic I LOVED it! I know that is what I want to do now. I did not want to leave. I actually stayed a few minutes late before post conference because I wanted to stay! And the clinic I was at, had 5 LPN's that graduated from my program! Three from last years class, one from 2011 and one from 2010! It was good to see that the hospital had hired our graduates for their clinic! Hopefully I can get in there or somewhere like that too!

[HippyDippyLPN]

It took me a good 6 months...and I wasn't picky, just seemed green during interviews. I worked as an aide while I was trying to find my first Lpn job. My area is terribly saturated. A lot of plants closed then every Tom Dick and Harry went for nursing.

[Backblast]

I was offered a job at the hospital I worked at as a PCT before I even graduated. I worked cardiac medical telemetry there for 4 years before transferring to OR.

[lanorris21]

It took me about 3 months to find a job after graduation. The only place that would even give me a shot was a LTC facility. Most places in my area do require 1-3 yrs experience before they will hire you, but usually nursing homes and some clinics are willing to give new grads a chance. It's really unfair! When I was in school, we were made to believe we could get a job virtually anywhere as new grads, but the real world is not that easy. I hope you find something you truly love! I would go ahead and start applying soon.

[Berardini]

After getting my License, I was job hunting for about 3 months before I got a single call back. I'm from PA and there are a decent amount of hospitals that do not hire LPN's. I filled out 58 applications including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. I start at an assisted living facility tomorrow. It was the only facility that called that did not require previous facility experience. My preference was a hospital med surg floor, because I want to pick up as much experience as I can, but you have to start somewhere I suppose. This facility will give me the experience I need with the average routines, chartings, orders, and doctors etc. But as far as actual medical experience, not as much as I would like. I am excited to have the job though, and I'm hoping for it to be a great experience. :)

[Starting again...]

I'm not really sure that I can ease any concerns that you may have about your first job as a nurse,just keep your head up and stay alert and focused. Insofar as finding your first job you might check out you local sheriff's Dept. or the state prison system. The pace is usually a bit quicker depending on where your assigned and who's shadowing you. For the most part it is a good way to obtain some experience and the pay isn't to very bad. Once you've got 10 or 11 months in you can then start putting out resume's that state that you have experience and depending on the facility, experience in a number of other fields, which doesn't look bad to other employers.

Good luck out there...go slow enough to actually learn it and when teaching it NO SHORT CUTS...

[Stranded55]

Not for me, but that was 1990. I think that it's harder now days.

[Husband of LPN new]

When my CNA wife decided to study for LPN, I fully supported her by working two jobs and scraped the bottom of our family barrel so to reach her dream, but now that she finally gets her new york state license, I lost my two jobs n she didnt really have the time to land on her dream job. Every nursing home and agency she applied wants one year experience. We cant even pay next month rent, utilities will be cut soon. Why didn't the schools stop teaching LPN if they knew LPN will be phrased out? Why sold us a false dream? Why tell us theres a nursing shortage?

[Kaligirl02, ADN, BSN, MSN, LVN, RN, APRN, NP]

When my CNA wife decided to study for LPN I fully supported her by working two jobs and scraped the bottom of our family barrel so to reach her dream, but now that she finally gets her new york state license, I lost my two jobs n she didnt really have the time to land on her dream job. Every nursing home and agency she applied wants one year experience. We cant even pay next month rent, utilities will be cut soon. Why didn't the schools stop teaching LPN if they knew LPN will be phrased out? Why sold us a false dream? Why tell us theres a nursing shortage?[/quote']

Sorry to hear this. Have you guys looked into moving? I heard getting ANY type of nursing job in NY is an uphill battle.