I don't think I'll ever find a job

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

I've used head hunters before to find well-paying jobs that acknowledge my LPN license. Some are emlpoyer fee paid and some are directed that you pay a fee. I've only had experience with having to work 1 year at the facility and the employer paid the fee. The wages seemed higher than when sending CV's to various "office jobs". Just a thought.

rhp123 · Sep 12, 2007

Sorry to hear your situation, maybe look more places and hold on there.

One of my classmates who is a medical assistant and who tries to become a nurse told me that, at her work at dr's office, she pretty much does the same job that a nurse does. The doctor knows that, I guess the dr wants to save money too.

I graduated from LPN school 2 months ago and have had my nursing license for about a month. I'm very frustrated @ the moment b/c it seems like I'm having such a hard time finding a job. I could have gotten a job in a LTC facility, but that's not really where my heart is. I would love to work in a Dr.'s office as a nurse, but the only positions that are being offered to me are MA positions (which their is nothing wrong with, but I need the higher salary). No one seems to be willing to hire a new grad. It's frustrating to me b/c I think I have the knowledge to make a good nurse in a Dr.'s office, but none of the offices seem to think so. I just needed to vent b/c right now it seems like I'm never going to find a job as a nurse. Has anyone else had this problem when they first became a nurse??

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

I've worked many different specialties in my career thus far and at these jobs I was amongst manyLPN's and RN's. Larger medical centers with different specialists or hospital-based clinics may offer more of a variety of nursing. I found working in Family Practice, I became very proficient at school, sport, adult, pediatric physicals. I became easily bored with that, but I don't regret the experience.

MikeyJ, RN · Sep 12, 2007

You will find that many physician's clinics will no longer hire nurses. Nurses demand a much hire wage than most physician's are willing to pay. They can typically hire an ordinary person, train them to do MA work and save a lot of money doing so.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

You will find that many physician's clinics will no longer hire nurses. Nurses demand a much hire wage than most physician's are willing to pay. They can typically hire an ordinary person, train them to do MA work and save a lot of money doing so.

And that is legal where you live?

nancykday · Sep 12, 2007

I graduated from LPN school 2 months ago and have had my nursing license for about a month. I'm very frustrated @ the moment b/c it seems like I'm having such a hard time finding a job. I could have gotten a job in a LTC facility, but that's not really where my heart is. I would love to work in a Dr.'s office as a nurse, but the only positions that are being offered to me are MA positions (which their is nothing wrong with, but I need the higher salary). No one seems to be willing to hire a new grad. It's frustrating to me b/c I think I have the knowledge to make a good nurse in a Dr.'s office, but none of the offices seem to think so. I just needed to vent b/c right now it seems like I'm never going to find a job as a nurse. Has anyone else had this problem when they first became a nurse??
/quote]
There several LPN positions available for state facilities.
Check out www.jobnet.scsc.state.pa.us if intrected you can fill out a state civil service application online and get on the civil service list for LPN jobs available acrros the Commonwealth

MikeyJ, RN · Sep 12, 2007

And that is legal where you live?

Why would it be illegal? A physician's office can train someone to be a medical assistant. In fact, MA's can do many of the tasks that a nurse would do in an physician's office.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

Why would it be illegal? A physician's office can train someone to be a medical assistant. In fact, MA's can do many of the tasks that a nurse would do in an physician's office.

Thanks for your reply, but I have a few concerns.

Without Basic Med/Surg exposure how could a person off the street understand a posible very sick pt who may need to be directed to ER or call 911? How could a person off the street report lab results that a doc has reviewed and ordered to call pt and give results, what if the pt had questions. Do you think the person off the street would understand that it is illegal to give medical advise on their own accord to patients. I have many concerns and doubts that a person off the street could legally be hired to perform venipuncture and then handle any complication that might arise. I give doctors more integrity than that. What if this person off the street was hired and worked for an OB/GYN doctor and a patient presents with a hemmorrhage? What happens if a patient has C/O chest pain, does this person off the street take VS and leave the patient in the room until it's there (turn)time to be seen? I've never worked with a person off the street in a clinical office capacity.

I'd really be interested in how many states recognize this type of employment and seek employment from this population.

MikeyJ, RN · Sep 12, 2007

Thanks for your reply, but I have a few concerns.
Without Basic Med/Surg exposure how could a person off the street understand a posible very sick pt who may need to be directed to ER or call 911? How could a person off the street report lab results that a doc has reviewed and ordered to call pt and give results, what if the pt had questions. Do you think the person off the street would understand that it is illegal to give medical advise on their own accord to patients. I have many concerns and doubts that a person off the street could legally be hired to perform venipuncture and then handle any complication that might arise. I give doctors more integrity than that. What if this person off the street was hired and worked for an OB/GYN doctor and a patient presents with a hemmorrhage? What happens if a patient has C/O chest pain, does this person off the street take VS and leave the patient in the room until it's there (turn)time to be seen? I've never worked with a person off the street in a clinical office capacity.
I'd really be interested in how many states recognize this type of employment and seek employment from this population.

I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, MA's need no formal certification or licensure and are able to give injections, perform IV's, and many other tasks.

There is a nurse practitioner that blogs on Studentdoctor.net and she has talked about the MA's in her practice, and has blogged about MA's who have nearly killed patients in her office. But the physician probably prefer's to keep on hiring these type of individuals in an effort to cut costs.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

Sistermike,

MA's are not to be starting IV's, giving IV meds. Period. A NP may very well have a medical assistant working for her, and the Doctor may feel comfortable in this. But as you pointed out,it is the doctor's choice in regards to "this blog". I feel better knowing he/she has a NP working there as well.

MikeyJ, RN · Sep 12, 2007

Sistermike,
MA's are not to be starting IV's, giving IV meds. Period. A NP may very well have a medical assistant working for her, and the Doctor may feel comfortable in this. But as you pointed out,it is the doctor's choice in regards to "this blog". I feel better knowing he/she has a NP working there as well.

Preaching to the choir. :)