Jobs for New Grad LVN

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Hi everyone,

I am a new grad LVN (Passed the NCLEX-PN in march 2021). I had high hopes that I could get a job at hospitals helping with COVID vaccines or testing however, the required qualifications include "a minimum of six months acute care experience". I was a CNA in a SNF, and have no acute care experience. I applied anyway, but I haven't received an interview offer. 

My question is, what are the pathways you took as a new grad LVN to obtain a job in a hospital setting? Did you work in a SNF first to get experience and then apply to an acute care setting?

Also, besides SNF, do you have any suggestions for jobs as a new grad lvn? I recently received a job offer to work at a school health office as a school nurse. I read a few articles saying school nurse isn't a good option for a new grad because it is a very independent position, but will this be a good experience to put on my resume for the future?

I don't have many people I can ask for nursing advice so any advice will be much appreciated. 

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

Hi! I’m not an LVN but considering this path with job prospects in mind. 
Are you in CA or TX?

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

Congratulations on completing nursing school and passing the NCLEX!! 

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8 hours ago, futuremidwife said:

Hi! I’m not an LVN but considering this path with job prospects in mind. 
Are you in CA or TX?

Thank you so much ? I am currently in California! 

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

You’re welcome. OK, I will PM you.

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

Or maybe, you can try PMing me. It wouldn’t let me message you for some reason.

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1 hour ago, futuremidwife said:

Or maybe, you can try PMing me. It wouldn’t let me message you for some reason.

Aw ? Looks like we can't message one another unless we "have at least 15 quality posts before starting a private conversation."  

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

Yes, I just saw that LOL. If you don’t mind sharing here, are you in SoCal, Bay Area, etc.?

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Bay Area!

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

OK, great! That helps. Do you have a particular specialty of interest?

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, NICU.

KP is hiring in Oakland and San Francisco right now.

Another option is Children’s Hospital of Oakland or UCSF.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
On 4/20/2021 at 8:37 PM, Anonurse01 said:

Hi everyone,

I am a new grad LVN (Passed the NCLEX-PN in march 2021). I had high hopes that I could get a job at hospitals helping with COVID vaccines or testing however, the required qualifications include "a minimum of six months acute care experience". I was a CNA in a SNF, and have no acute care experience. I applied anyway, but I haven't received an interview offer. 

My question is, what are the pathways you took as a new grad LVN to obtain a job in a hospital setting? Did you work in a SNF first to get experience and then apply to an acute care setting?

Also, besides SNF, do you have any suggestions for jobs as a new grad lvn? I recently received a job offer to work at a school health office as a school nurse. I read a few articles saying school nurse isn't a good option for a new grad because it is a very independent position, but will this be a good experience to put on my resume for the future?

I don't have many people I can ask for nursing advice so any advice will be much appreciated. 

Thanks in advance!

It can be tough for new grad LVNs in CA to get jobs in acute care hospitals as most of them will hire RNs first. 

In fact, it can be difficult for any nurse who hasn't got recent (within 6mo to 1 year) experience in that environment to get hired.

It doesn't mean you should give up, though!  You may need to take a staged approach and start where you can. I'm thinking of SNF, maybe a clinic or doc office, or private duty nursing.  You can learn valuable things from any nursing job, often those skills or that experience will cross over and be helpful in a completely different specialty.

There are pages and pages on allnurses devoted to landing your first job and everything related to that. I would recommend browsing through them, as I'm sure at least a few will give you some ideas. 

Don't be afraid to try something you may not be sure is for you. An interview may change your mind, or at least practice the "selling yourself" interview skills you'll need to eventually get that job.

Best wishes to you and congrats on graduation and passing the NCLEX-PN!

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