Houston area jobs for LVN now an RN..anyone havin trouble?

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Hello, I haven't posted in a LOOOOONNNG time. I have 3 years LVN exp. and just received my RN. I am having a heck of a time even getting an interview. I know this time of year is tough b/c of all the graduates, but geez. Is it really that hard to get a hospital job fresh out of school?

This is my first go round as far as REALLY trying, but so far I have only one interview. Anyone have any helpful hints?

Thank you!

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have you applied to the internship programs at the hospital or are you applying for rn jobs at the hospital? i think since you just got your license i think it might be better if you applied for the intership program.

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Hi Ms. RN, thanks for reply...I applied for internships back in January (i think)......no responses. I applied to Hermann, St. Lukes, Christus, and St. Joseph's internship program.

Went to a career fair this week, and got an interview with Triumph. It went well, and the place seems pretty positive. However, there is a two-year contract that I will have to sign..

Honestly, I have a 3.2 GPA, and no other accolades. I am a REALLY good nurse though. It's just frustrating at first, because you have this idea in your head that you are a good employee, hardworker, and good nurse so you will have no prob getting a job....I think I need to work on my resume.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm also a newer RN with 4 years of LVN experience. I completed an associate degree RN bridge program in March and passed NCLEX in May. The only appreciable difference between us is that I am looking for work in the DFW area.

I've applied to numerous major hospitals in my area, a couple out of the area, and even one out of the state to no avail. St. Paul Hospital in Dallas did interview me for a new grad internship, but I was not selected for employment by the recruiter. Right now, I am working as an RN floor nurse in the same nursing homes that have been employing me as an LVN during the past four years.

A local rehab hospital recently hired me for a PRN position. I wanted full-time, but I'll take whatever I can get in this employment market that seems to be overloaded with too many nurses. I am simply thankful to be employed, since many others contend with a much worse situation.

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Congratulations on your new job, then!

I think there's a false sense in nursing that we will graduate and have the job of our dreams. When in reality, it's just like any other job. Unless you know someone, you have to work your way up. Now that you have that PRN position, you are in......thanks for sharing, and good luck to you.

OH! I am moving to Frisco next summer, so we seem to have a lot in common :)

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I have my LVN and my RN (new graduate) and recently had to accept a low paying/part time LVN job after 5 months of job hunting. Looking forward to my first RN hospital interview next week. It is pretty rough.

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Trubie- I didn't think you could work as a LVN if you have your RN license????

Secondly, are you interested in home health? If so, there are TONS of home health agencies around the Houston area, and the pay is decent.

I have worked HH for 2 years, and I absolutely love it. I did get a job at a LTAC, and I am super excited to learn more....but at some point in my career, I would love to go back.

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I just searched the BON website and I was not able to find anything about whether you are able to work "below your highest license" if you hold BOTH licenses?? I emailed the BON with my question, and I will update when/if I get an answer.

I would be willing to work home health, but I have had very bad experience with the agencies so far. I was "hired" by 2 agencies this summer, then found out they had no one available to train me, so I never got to start. Most of the other agencies I have found require experience.

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i just searched the bon website and i was not able to find anything about whether you are able to work "below your highest license" if you hold both licenses?? i emailed the bon with my question, and i will update when/if i get an answer.

i would be willing to work home health, but i have had very bad experience with the agencies so far. i was "hired" by 2 agencies this summer, then found out they had no one available to train me, so i never got to start. most of the other agencies i have found require experience.

this was their response:

thank-you for your inquiry. nurses may work in positions requiring a lower level of licensure and in positions that do not require a license. however, rns, lvns and rns with advanced practice authorization are held to their highest level of education and licensure level and are responsible for adhering to the nursing practice act (npa) and rules and regulations. please refer to position statement 15.15 board's jurisdiction over nursing tiles and practice for additional guidance with your question.

position statements and guidelines are located on our website, www.bon.state.tx.us under "nursing practice". the npa and rules and regulations are located under "nursing law and rules". i hope this is helpful.

laura lewis

board of nursing

333 guadalupe, suite 3 - 460

austin, texas 78701

tel: (512) 305-7653

fax: (512) 305-8101

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Thank you for the info, Trubie....Good to know :nurse:

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dont want to appear rude but houston has a max of about 20 major hospitals, which if i calulate correctly can employ about 40,000 nurses at 2000 a hospital (achuuuu, bless me), with the influx of all the nurses coming from all the other states and city's in texas into houston, new grads from about 4 community colleges and 3 universites, hospitals cutting jobs etc, getting hospital jobs, not adding the lack of experiece (RN experience), getting hospital jobs is at best like finding a needle in a haystack, on the other hand nursing is so diverse that i wonder why everyone is looking into getting into hospitals. have you looked at hospice, MDS co-ordinator, nurse case manager, LTC, LTAC, role as DON in a nursing home, Nursing home supervisor, psychiatric health, correctional nurse, home health and the list goes on and on for miles especailly with 3 yrs as an LVN. With the question of knowing people, i think nurses over exagerate the issue, i work in a nursing home and on average recieve 10 to 15 employee applications walk ins ( no internet applications) for LVN, RN, medication aid etc, that results in 300-450 minimum applications a month, people are hired according to their skill level and what the company deams favorable for them, example LVN hired rather than RN (usually due to company politics, pay rate etc). all applicants will not get hired. Also, employees already employed are considered for promotion prior to looking for other nurses, we had a CNA who graduated from nursing school promoted to LVN status, n people started talking about "she knew people." absolutely not true.

PS: sorry for ranting, i just get carried away sometimes

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