Input please for recent LPN graduate

[lifeisgood2012]

Good morning friends - I hope everyone is having a great Thursday so far.

I have posted on here before about the dilemma of not being able to get

a job, even when going face to face, because of the "Everything looks great

please come back and see us when you have 1 year experience" response.

I got some great ideas from you all - including applying county by county, which

I am doing, and also I am branching out 1.5 hours away from where I live in all directions.

I just relocated to NC and got endorsed just 5 weeks ago - so I know, relatively speaking,

a little over a month isn't that long. Even tho it feels like it because all I want to do is

go out there and be a nurse. I simply feel that this is where my faith led me.

That being said, I do obviously have bills to pay and can't wait 3-4 months to find a job, and from the sounds of it, t may be longer than that. I have tried doing the CNA/Nurses Aide route but was told by NCBON that it is considered "working below my license" so that didnt work. I feel like my faith led me here, and I did work so hard (like we all did) in nursing school - but i need some income coming in.

How long do I want to fall back on being an administrative assistant or even a medical transcriptionist (which I have experience in)? I have been applying to a few Admin positions, but not near the amount of LPn positions that Ihave applied to. And I also know that medical transcription is a dying/dead field so that may not even be an option. I just dont know how long to give it. I feel like I am utilizing all my networking branches, including my teachers from my school, NCBON and friends here in NC that are nurses,, plus coming on here and getting constructive criticism.

Am I just not finding a job because my faith is trying to lead me in a different direction? I just dont know when the cut off point should be. I tell places face to face and in my cover letter I will work any/all shifts any day any time too. Maybe my faith is leading me somewhere else? I just dont know. I have never experienced anything like this. It has never been this hard for me to find a job. Thanks for reading and any input you can provide. xoxo

[scameron]

I am a new grad and I feel ya! I have had 3 interviews and hopeing the 3rd times the charm! I just depsperatly changed the cover letter of my resume and I have had a lot more call backs since. I listed in bold the places and areas i've worked in clinicals and bolded the procedures i have done. I also listed how many clinical hours... 750 hours at my college. So we shall see. Since this change I have gotten several emails saying my qualifications match the jobs and they are reviewing my application. Fingers crossed. I just figured they were getting many of the picture perfect new grad resumes and thought mine needed to stand out as much as possible.

[shipmanmisty]

Just a little input facilities usually hire at the beginning of the month. I would cont. putting in apps everywhere including nursing homes, home health, sub acute, m/s...It took me 3 months and over 50 applications to finally get a job and now I've been at my job for little over 6 months.

[ncnrse2b]

Many nursing homes will hire new grads. It may not be the highest rated, the shift you want, or even too far a drive, but it will be a first job. Call ahead ask if they are accepting apps. Ask what shifts or PRN if they have available. PRN will get you in the door and tranined. Also check around at the big hospital groups, one near where I am (in NC) hires new grads to do PRN on call for their outpatient clinics. It gets you in the door.

[LPNKY2012]

Hey there, I am also a recent grad (April 2012), & I just got my first job. I get to choose my own schedule & if I can't find a schedule that fits well, I can switch over to working as a contractor & making my own hours. This is just for the summer, through December, & when my kids get back in school then I'll probably start applying & interviewing more seriously. If this kind of thing works for you, I'd definitely suggest you check it out. As long as you have a 'Walmart' in your area, I'd pretty much guarantee you could get a job with this company & they pay well!

Good luck!