Frustrated LVN cant find a job. What to do?

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 13, 2008

A couple of months while painful is still a lot better than yaers I've herd other occupations be out of work

vanessalynn30 · May 13, 2008

hang in there. I just can't believe that california is not hiring lpn's.

here in south texas, as long as you have a valid nursing license all the hospitals down here will hire. IT only took me two weeks after graduation as lpn to find a job as graduating vocational nurse, then when i took boards and passed, I was in already.

good luck.

midcom · May 14, 2008

I noticed that you didn't say you applied for LTC jobs. That's where the real need is & usually if you can't get hired, there is something wrong. LTC isn't for everyone; I know I couldn't do it but it is a very good way of getting experience.

Have an expert go over your resume and cover letter. Make sure it is perfect. Personalize your cover letter. Don't just write a generic one. Make it fit the exact position you are applying for. In my case, I wanted a clinic job & really didn't care if it was for a specialist or a family practice clinic. I just wanted to get that first clinic job & they are next to impossible to get in my area without experience. However, if I applied to work in a women's health clinic, I wrote why I would be the best candidate for that particular specialty. The next letter went to a surgeon & I told them why I'd be good in that practice. The same thing went for a pediatrician, family practice,etc.

Use experience from related jobs to show that you do have experience. It wasn't until I rewrote my resume to include a dental assistant job I had 35 years ago that anyone considered me experienced. Never mind that I only did it for one year & that it indicated how old I was, it proved that I had some kind of experience working in a health care setting, even if it wasn't as a nurse.

Use your customer service experience to your advantage. In many ways, your patient will be your customer. At interviews play up your service skills. Imagine, there are going to be many times where you will have to use those exact skills to please or deal with your "customer."

Also ask one or more of your instructors to write a letter of recommendation. One of my instructors offered to do this for me. It was beautiful & impressive. When I first started sending out resumes I didn't include the letter of recommendation. I figured I'd bring it with me when I went for the interview. Then I realized, when I didn't get many calls for interviews, that I should include it with my resume and referred to it in my cover letter. I credit that letter & adding my dental assisting experience with being offered my present job. When I was interviewed for it, I was told that until fairly recently, they only hired nurses with med/surg experience. Fortunately, that no longer is the case as those positions are very rare in this area.

Good luck. Don't give up but also don't limit yourself.

Dixie

nikki0607b · May 14, 2008

I noticed that you didn't say you applied for LTC jobs. That's where the real need is & usually if you can't get hired, there is something wrong. LTC isn't for everyone; I know I couldn't do it but it is a very good way of getting experience.
Have an expert go over your resume and cover letter. Make sure it is perfect. Personalize your cover letter. Don't just write a generic one. Make it fit the exact position you are applying for. In my case, I wanted a clinic job & really didn't care if it was for a specialist or a family practice clinic. I just wanted to get that first clinic job & they are next to impossible to get in my area without experience. However, if I applied to work in a women's health clinic, I wrote why I would be the best candidate for that particular specialty. The next letter went to a surgeon & I told them why I'd be good in that practice. The same thing went for a pediatrician, family practice,etc.
Use experience from related jobs to show that you do have experience. It wasn't until I rewrote my resume to include a dental assistant job I had 35 years ago that anyone considered me experienced. Never mind that I only did it for one year & that it indicated how old I was, it proved that I had some kind of experience working in a health care setting, even if it wasn't as a nurse.
Use your customer service experience to your advantage. In many ways, your patient will be your customer. At interviews play up your service skills. Imagine, there are going to be many times where you will have to use those exact skills to please or deal with your "customer."
Also ask one or more of your instructors to write a letter of recommendation. One of my instructors offered to do this for me. It was beautiful & impressive. When I first started sending out resumes I didn't include the letter of recommendation. I figured I'd bring it with me when I went for the interview. Then I realized, when I didn't get many calls for interviews, that I should include it with my resume and referred to it in my cover letter. I credit that letter & adding my dental assisting experience with being offered my present job. When I was interviewed for it, I was told that until fairly recently, they only hired nurses with med/surg experience. Fortunately, that no longer is the case as those positions are very rare in this area.
Good luck. Don't give up but also don't limit yourself.
Dixie

Thanks for the advice. I did have my mind set on just acute settings until I realized the slow and long process of it all. I did have my resume reviewed and update at school with the career advisor. The thing is I have never had a hard time finding a job, I think that is why I am so bumed. This week I got a list of LTC facilities and I have put in five apps already. Hopefully, I will get a call back by next week for an interview and land a job. Keep your fingers crossed for me. :up:

nikki0607b · May 14, 2008

I was the president of my class for cryin out loud, with a 3.7 overall gpa.

Something has got to give. I'm going to pray on it,:bowingpur and what will be will be.

nikki0607b · May 17, 2008

Thanks for all the advice. I landed a job at a LTCF and I start on the 19th of May. Once again thank you and god bless.