I have not worked as a nurse since graduation.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Feb 6, 2019

I would imagine most employers will simply view you as a nw grad nurse, which in a way you still are because you have zero experience. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be considered for an entry-level position any other new LPN would be considered for.

They will probably be mildly curious as to why you haven’t worked as a nurse. Frankly I would not say anything about the place you oriented at then left. No employer likes to hear you used valuable orientation resources then quit. Personally, I don’t blame you for not wanting to work there, but from an employer’s POV you cost them thousands of dollars with zero return. Just tell them you haven’t worked due to personal issues, and you waited until you were able to devote yourself fully to a position.

As a new LPN, your main option for lucrative work is in nursing homes. Be aware that all nursing homes share similar faults to varying degrees. Some are better than others, but 99% of them deal with high staff turnover, large patient loads and are extremely task-oriented.

Florida Sun RN · Feb 7, 2019

You should try getting into primary care (outpatient doctors office). Look on Indeed for these jobs) Forget nursing homes! You won’t be able to handle 24 patients and that huge Med cart. (Read my most recent post). You will then work days and maybe a Saturday here and there. You may not make a ton of money to begin with but maybe over time you will. I’m BSN studying for a medical assistant certification so I don’t have to deal with understaffed hospitals, patient overload and uncaring nursing homes. I don’t really care that I won’t make $60k - I just want a little job that I can succeed and grow with and not worry about getting canned because I’m not good enough or worrying about killing someone.

I wish you you the best. Let me know what you find!

nmichelle001, LVN · Feb 7, 2019

6 hours ago, Florida Sun RN said:
You won’t be able to handle 24 patients and that huge Med cart. (Read my most recent post).

Why wouldn't they be able to? Hundreds of LVN's do it every day. I do it every shift twice a day and even though it is stressful and your being called around in different directions it is possible. Every day I try to improve and do my best. Sometimes you land the dream job right away, and sometimes you have to put in the work to gain experience and then land the dream job. A positive attitude goes a long way, just saying.

Florida Sun RN · Feb 7, 2019

4 hours ago, nmichelle001 said:
Why wouldn't they be able to? Hundreds of LVN's do it every day. I do it every shift twice a day and even though it is stressful and your being called around in different directions it is possible. Every day I try to improve and do my best. Sometimes you land the dream job right away, and sometimes you have to put in the work to gain experience and then land the dream job. A positive attitude goes a long way, just saying.

Well kudos to you Michelle! I DO have a positive attitude. I put in the work to find what works for me. I’m not a quitter. I don’t want her to quit after all she’s worked for. The original poster of this thread said that she worked for a minute and didn’t feel comfortable. I felt the same. I can only assume that she was in a SNF or other awful environment. You think throwing her in your environment is going to make her comfortable or allow her to thrive? I think not. That’s why I replied to her thread and offered her advice. That’s what she wanted - advice - for other avenues she could pursue and succeed without feeling completely overwhelmed and fearful. She didn’t ask to read a bashing of another person’s comment. Thank you, next...

Snowgray · Feb 7, 2019

11 hours ago, Florida Sun RN said:
You should try getting into primary care (outpatient doctors office). Look on Indeed for these jobs) Forget nursing homes! You won’t be able to handle 24 patients and that huge Med cart. (Read my most recent post). You will then work days and maybe a Saturday here and there. You may not make a ton of money to begin with but maybe over time you will. I’m BSN studying for a medical assistant certification so I don’t have to deal with understaffed hospitals, patient overload and uncaring nursing homes. I don’t really care that I won’t make $60k - I just want a little job that I can succeed and grow with and not worry about getting canned because I’m not good enough or worrying about killing someone.
I wish you you the best. Let me know what you find!

The nursing home I was at had 40 patients on the floor that I was orienting at. I felt alright and continued a bit longer because I did the orientation all on one floor, but then when I saw my schedule they placed me on 3 different floors in one week, all with about 35+ pts. This is a major reason for me leaving as well, if I could just stick to one floor at least for the first week, that could have changed things a bit. But you are right, there was so much disorganization, I think for any new grad this would be difficult having to move so often from different floors.

Thank you for the advice, I will be looking into those type of jobs!

Snowgray · Feb 7, 2019

17 hours ago, BrandonLPN said:
I would imagine most employers will simply view you as a nw grad nurse, which in a way you still are because you have zero experience. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be considered for an entry-level position any other new LPN would be considered for.
They will probably be mildly curious as to why you haven’t worked as a nurse. Frankly I would not say anything about the place you oriented at then left. No employer likes to hear you used valuable orientation resources then quit. Personally, I don’t blame you for not wanting to work there, but from an employer’s POV you cost them thousands of dollars with zero return. Just tell them you haven’t worked due to personal issues, and you waited until you were able to devote yourself fully to a position.
As a new LPN, your main option for lucrative work is in nursing homes. Be aware that all nursing homes share similar faults to varying degrees. Some are better than others, but 99% of them deal with high staff turnover, large patient loads and are extremely task-oriented.

You are 100% correct!! I know that most facilities have similar faults. This one in particular was very disorganized, had 40 pts on the floor I was orienting, and on all other floors the pt load was pretty much similar. I continued orientation because I was aright if I had worked on that one floor, but my first few shifts were on all different floors that I have never stepped foot on. This was the hardest part for me.

Yes I'm sure I will get asked why I have not practiced, truthfully my family moved 2 times within that time period(2 different cities), also I was focusing on trying to go to school at that time.

Golden_RN, MSN · Feb 8, 2019

On 2/7/2019 at 1:22 AM, nmichelle001 said:
Why wouldn't they be able to? Hundreds of LVN's do it every day. I do it every shift twice a day and even though it is stressful and your being called around in different directions it is possible. Every day I try to improve and do my best. Sometimes you land the dream job right away, and sometimes you have to put in the work to gain experience and then land the dream job. A positive attitude goes a long way, just saying.

Agree. I did it and loved it. Other nurses do day shift with 40 residents. Busy, busy, busy but do-able.

Golden_RN, MSN · Feb 8, 2019

What about working as a CNA for a few months to get your feet wet, get reacquainted with basic patient care again, and gain some confidence?

Florida Sun RN · Feb 14, 2019

On 2/8/2019 at 3:51 PM, Golden_RN said:
What about working as a CNA for a few months to get your feet wet, get reacquainted with basic patient care again, and gain some confidence?

I know where I live, if you’re an RN, you “cannot work beneath your license!” I know the original poster of this thread is NOT an RN but because she is an equivalent of an LPN, she’s may not be able to get a job like what you’re suggesting unless she just starts out as an aide of some sort (not letting them know that she has education and a license) and does that crap job but I do not think she wants to do that. Basically she would be in the same predicament but unable to do things that her license allows.

moretonel · Feb 25, 2019

Instead of working as a CNA, how about working or volunteering as an EMT-B. When I graduated LPN school, I started an EMT-B program two weeks later while studying for the NCLEX-PN (I was too nervous to take NCLEX-PN right away). Most if not all EMT-B programs are about 3 months and cost around $1300. I passed my NCLEX-PN on first try about 2 weeks before I passed national EMT-B tests. My thinking was that while applying for an LPN job I could volunteer/work as an EMT-B to keep up my assessment, wound care, and CPR skills - you wouldn't do that as a CNA. It will also show that you can handle emergent situations. Fortunately for me I found a job about a month after my NCLEX-PN. I am still a licensed EMT-B and plan on keeping that certification - you never know.

19Kristin · Apr 1, 2019

When I graduated as an LPN in march of 2010 I didn't begin my first nursing job until January of 2011 and I was fine. I'd just brush up on labs, meds, skills, etc depending on what kind of nursing you're attempting to get into.