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

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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??

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
And that is legal where you live?
It is perfectly legal to train a person from off the street and hire them as a medical assistant. Medical assisting is still largely unregulated and, while some MAs are certified or registered, the certification or registration is not legally mandatory. MAs work under the licensure of the physician, chiropractor, advanced practice nurse, podiatrist, or optometrist that employs them.
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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Do these MA's legally start IV's under the practioner's care?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I could have gotten a job in a LTC facility, but that's not really where my heart is.
In my usually blunt style, I'd strongly advise you to accept a job at an LTC facility until you can manage to land a job elsewhere. You might as well be earning money and accruing nursing experience while waiting for a "more desirable" position to open up. I love LTC, but I also realize it's not for everyone. However, you'll never know until you try it out!

It makes no sense to state that you don't think you'll ever find a job, when you could have had an LTC job by now. It might not be where you'd truly like to start your career, but we all must make concessions throughout life if we are to ever realize our dreams. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Do these MA's legally start IV's under the practioner's care?
Some MAs start IVs, if they have been trained to do so by the practitioner that employs them.
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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Please google MA's scope of practice. Apparently there are laws per different states that do involve venipunture,xrays and triage.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Some MAs start IVs, if they have been trained to do so by the practitioner that employs them.

Again, the do'd and dont's of the MA's scope of practice does vary. I'm concerned that some folks may not realize this according to the state they live in.

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Specializes in Pediatrics/LTC/ALF.

Thanks for the advice. Please lets not make this into a debate about MA's. I think MA's are very valuable to the healthcare field.

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Specializes in corrections, LTC, pre-op.
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??
Go to the local jail and start to work. You'll get good experience and a very decent starting pay.

Larry RN in Florida;)

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I do not know where in PA you are but here's some LPN jobs (some are clinic/fp type setting):

http://www1.geisinger.org/newcareer/listPositions.cfm?category=3

https://www.healthcaresource.com/wellspan/index.cfm?cjobattr1=All&fuseaction=search%2EjobList&ifacilityid=10000&ijobcatid=102&ijobrowset=3&template=dsp%5Fjob%5Flist%2Ecfm&

https://ps2kweb1.pinnaclehealth.org/servlets/iclientservlet/HRPHSPRD/?cmd=start&

http://nursing.hmc.psu.edu/web/guest/nursing/employment

Good luck! There are a lot of LPN's in clinic/office jobs here in South-central PA. I know a woman who is an LPN and the mom of a new grad LPN. Mom worked peds office. Daughter now works in a FP office. I do not know where you are. Around here, you'd probably have no trouble geting a job.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

Sorry, you are having problems finding jobs. Did you try searching the web? Like monster.com, careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com. I did a search in New Jersey the other day and found so many jobs available for LPNs. I cannot wait to finish LPN school. 4-5 months to go. Yay! hang in there and keep looking. Just a thought...I know you said you do not like Nursing Home but try it for experience and usually nursing homes pay the most as an LPN. Here the min is 21-24 per hour as a new grad. Well, good luck....

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it would probably benefit you to start in ltc.

even if you took a baylor position, that would leave you the week to search other jobs.

not only would you be getting a paycheck, but would be earning valuable experience.

one needs to remain flexible, esp when a new grad.

best of everything.

leslie

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Alot of it depends on where you want to live as well, some states let LPN's do alot more than others, thereby it is easier to get hired in the hospitals in these certain states....CA being one of them.

Just out of curiousity... you said your 'heart is not in LTC' - so where is it then?

One place not mentioned yet that takes LPN's.....psych.

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