frustrated new grad lpn in il with no job

pink_shoes99 · Feb 22, 2011

I never understood why jobs always want so many years experience before they will hire you. How are you going to get experience if you can't get a job?! Best of luck to you!

jesuslovesme · Feb 23, 2011

Hi Dominique, looks like we are in the same boat. I am a new grad RN have not been able to find employment. I always get the 1yr experience requirement also. Keep me posted, I will pm you if I find anything.

nursingsfuture · Feb 23, 2011

thank you pink_shoes99.

Jesuslovesme I most definitely will.

samirish · Feb 24, 2011

Dominique,

Have you considered LTC? I just checked the jobs listed at indeed.com and I found some available in LTC in Illinois which do not state you need 1 year exp. I remember seeing a few in the Oswego area and HCR Manor care is having a LPN open house on Mar. 3rd. in Hinsdale.

Hope this helps, good luck in your search and please keep us updated.

echo56 · Feb 27, 2011

Sent you a pm.

carolyncohoon · Feb 27, 2011

It seems that the only jobs out there for LPN's is in long term care. If thats not your thing, I totally understand. Its not my thing either. Thats why I am continuing on for my RN right away instead of looking for work as an LPN. In Ohio we are so limited as LPN's. Hospitals won't hire us. Doctors offices will but the pay is crap. LTC pays well but it stinks, literally (no offense to LTC lovers but its true.) I decided early on when I started out in LPN school to move straight through to the RN bridge because i don't want to work in LTC. We can only hang IV antibiotics and if you are lucky enough to get a job in a hospital, policy dictates that you cannot even do that. They barely allow you to start IV's. A LPN is a glorified aide in a hospital setting and a medication dispenser in LTC. If you can, go back for your RN. You will never regret it, I guarantee.

nursingsfuture · Mar 1, 2011

At this point, i don't even care where I work. I have worked in a LTC facility before as a CNA and it wasn't so bad. I just want to gain 1 yr experience so that I can get a better job and go back to school for my RN. I have been applying to all jobs posted on careerbuilder, monster and indeed but I have gotten 0 calls and 0 interviews. I'm just feeling discouraged. :crying2:

samirish- i saw the open house for 3/3 and even that requires 1 yr experience but I will contact them to see if I can still go.

carolyncohoon- I really want to go back to school for my RN but the plan was to get my LPN then work for a few months for experience and start a bridge program which requires LPN experience.

nursingsfuture · Mar 1, 2011

Thank u echo56 but I'm in the south suburb area of chicago. I used to live close to there though.

Hope2017 · Mar 9, 2011

Hi.. passed my nclex 5 months ago and up to now I still have no job. Yes I posted in the internet posting, walk in and apply to the diffrent LTC and Assisted Living... and still have not received ang single response. Am a STNA but my license lapse coz my previous employer where I work PRN did not renew it. its really bad. am trying to apply in homehealth.... as an LPN they will require 1 year experience. as a home health aid? I dont know what is the requirement and qualification

am despirate to find a job. Going to nursing school is my future plan but having some money now... is immediate.

Barbiem2 · Apr 12, 2011

Hope you have found a job since you posted, if not maybe this will be helpful.

I have heard of people having a hard time finding LPN and RN jobs but thats never been the case for me. It may have something to do with how I look for jobs. Hopefully these tips help.

1. Set up accounts with hospitals that hire LPN's like UIC, Rush, Resurrection, Northwestern, Advocate, unversity of chicago and so forth (and before anyone says they dont, they do) the pay is low though 16 to 18 hour and you they are for clinic jobs or geriatic jobs

2. Walk the beat - dont do all your searching on line, print out a list of nursing homes and walk-in and fill out application. Most nursing homes DO NOT adverstise. I got 5 interviews on the spot in a one month time frame from doing this! from just walking in! Only two offered me positions however

3. Craig's list, Indeed jobs, simply hired

Not sure what area's you are willing to go to but making it broad helps. As a new grad LPN my first job was 23hr. My friends got jobs at 16.42hr (UIC), 21hr(mental health facility in evanston) and 25hr (lexington in schuamburg) after they graduated all new grad LPNs! and I work in Rolling Meadows. So none of us had nursing experience, some of them didnt even have experience as a CNA. I look at searching for a job, like that is my job. I'll spend 5 hours a day looking for a job. Im still at my first job, but I've had about 3 other nursing jobs as (2nd income) since then and have turned town job offers and interviews. I truly believe its because I apply everywhere and consistently (when I am looking). Good luck, hope the tips help

BigButtNurse · Apr 14, 2011

I feel your pain about your job search. Does anyone have specific job leads for the job leads in the Houston or surrounding areas that are hiring new the new grads?