How the heck am i supposed to get one years experience if no one will hire me?

wifeandmomoftwo · Oct 13, 2010

Keep looking my friend! I'm a new grad lpn too. I was licensed on September 29, 2010. I had a big pity party yesterday and today decided to drive 45 minutes from my house to a SNF. I got an interview and sent for a physical. She said if all comes back well (and it should) I'm in :)

Just wanted to offer some encouragement.

mrf0609 · Oct 13, 2010

thanks so much and good luck - it sounds really positive! Keep me posted...

RNlvn · Oct 13, 2010

Sorry to hear this. Don't give up. Go at it like a full time job

hcox1975, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2010

A lot of LTC facilities hire LPNs and need them desperately. Most hospitals have gotten away from this, aleast where I am from. (Alabama) Keep trying and check around doctor's offices too. They also hire LPNs. I worked in LTC while I was in the LPN-RN mobility program. I worked Baylor and it all worked out great. I also had a friend that worked in a doctor's office when she was in RN school. Don't give up!

noahsmama · Oct 13, 2010

I know what you mean about never being turned away from an interview. I don't think I can quite say "never", but prior to going into nursing, in my previous line of work, I was interviewed for a pretty large percentage of all the jobs I ever applied for. What a shocker to go into a field where the public perception is still that any nurse can "write her own ticket", only to find that it was virtually impossible to even get an interview, much less a job. Persistence finally paid off for me -- it took 5 months and literally hundreds of applications to get my first job as an RN, but I did finally get a grand total of 3 interviews, of which one turned into a job. So all I can say is, keep on trying, and we'll all keep our fingers crossed for you! Good luck!

elprup, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2010

Trying to get a job right now as LPN, LVN, RN, RN with BSN sucks in Northern California. Let's see, I graduated May 2008 and finally just started a postion that I think I am going to LOVE! I am trying to not hold my breathe (The last two did so NOT work out. No mistakes on my part, I just didn't fit the part they wanted...or maybe I refused to fit the part they wanted? lol

Anyway, it is wicked tough out there. I hear your frustration and agree with you. During my job seeking days, I volunteered at my local clinics and kids school for a super long time....that helped alot actually, and actually the director at the clinic I voluteer at, knew the director at the clinic I applied at, so I got the job! Nice! If you can, volunteer. I did a couple times a week for several hours. I love it so much I still do it once a week for a few hours!

IndiKast · Oct 13, 2010

Remember that your past experiences in school also count as experience. Clubs, volunteer stuff, things like the NSNA. It looks great if you can put memberships n your apps like that you re a student member to the ANA, NSNA, and any other nursing organization which shows you have a passion for the field. Volunteer work at shot clinics as an LVN is great especially this time of year and typically you CAN get paid for it too. School stuff that you did like that taking vitals on the elderly to help teach them about heart disease is experience...it all counts. Don't assume you have NO experience. You have been in school for at least a year and a half getting that experience already and if you can put it into words and list those clinicals and such, use it to your advantage. There are positions out there for you. PS: LVN/LPN home health is a great start for new folks like we older people and they will make sure you know what you're doing and you'll have study time. With Peds you only get one patient too.

delilas · Oct 13, 2010

As an LPN, it was far easier to find home health jobs before I could take on other work. Most teach the skills, and in many cases are very basic (I had several pts where all I did was a blood sugar stick), so they often don't require experience.

Also, if you have time (which is always a crunch when you're in school), volunteering with the Red Cross helped me immensely. It gave me experience, proved I could do IV work and in general, volunteering looks good and sets you apart from the 9128308081 new grads in your area.

Best of luck to you!

sillyang · Oct 13, 2010

It seems that teaching hospitals are more apt to hire new nurses. I had the same thing happen, the large area hospitals liked my resume, life experience, and job history and told me to get a years experience and reapply. I ended up with a position at a skilled nursing facility which gave me great experience. Now I work on the skilled/rehab wing of a rural hospital not much different than the skilled facility but I like the environment and care better. Lots to do, quite a bit of deversity in patients, Anyway it has given me experience and right now with this economy, job security. Many of our area hospitals have had layoffs in med-surg. Keep lookin, something will come along, mabey not your dream job but one to keep ya busy till then.

SamiRN · Oct 13, 2010

I just posted a thread for the same thing. Its bull crap that they claim nursing shortage but wont hire those of us ready to work. Really, someone NEEDS to do something about this!

violet_violet · Oct 13, 2010

There's hope. It's been almost a year since I graduated and of all the applications I sent out, I got interview 3 times. Yes, it definitely took time and patience. But I applied everywhere all over the state. I looked at each city and looked into the medical centers there and see what job openings they may have. I was willing to relocated. There will be times you will be frustrated.

What I did that helped me a lot was, I kept track of all the applications I sent out. When they replied on email saying that I didn't qualify or if the position had already been filled, I would update on my spreadsheet. If I didn't hear from them in 2 weeks or so, I would give HR or the unit manager a call to see if they had looked over my application or not. Because of those followup phone calls, I really believe it helped me get the 3 interviews I had.

Of those 3 interviews, I got all offers except for the first one, it was rescinded. I will be starting soon and am very excited.

Don't lose hope. Your time will come. Best wishes.