what are jobs a new lvn can get at los angeles?

sillywilly · Feb 13, 2012

i just got my license and i need help deciding which nursing path is most suited for me..
what kind of jobs lvn can get? i read in my nursing book lvn can work in a veterinary hospital, arent vet tech the "nurse" here? im kinda confused.
are lvn hired to work in the surgical room? are there lvn jobs that mostly work with computers or records?? im most interested in knowing about unconventional jobs lvn can take.
im not really good at dealing with people so i feel like i made a horrable mistake for taking lvn, maybe i shouldnt have been swayed in the first place

I worked as a Vet Tech for years before getting my LVN license. If you don't want to deal with people, that is probably not a good career choice for you. As a Vet tech you are going to be dealing with people all day long. You put owners and their pets in exam rooms and will get the patient history and vital signs in front of the owners. You will have to explain estimates, plans of care, answer questions, and get consent forms signed. The worried pet owners need to be taught how to care for their sick animals, and they usually have lots of questions.

Having your LVN license is not necessarily going to get you a job as a Vet Tech. The medical side is mostly the same, but there is a whole skill set you need to have as a Vet tech, which you don't learn as a LVN. Vet Techs/Vet assistants do not need to take any classes or any tests, they are usually trained on the job. RVT's (Registered Vet Tech) go to school for 2 years, and take a test to get licensed.

In the Animal world there are:

Kennel assistants which are sort of like CNA's.

Vet Tech/Vet Assistants which are sort of like LVN's or MA's.

RVT's which are sort of like RN's.

If you are interested in working with animals you can try to find a place that will train you as a Vet tech, you might get lucky. Usually animal hospitals require that vet tech's have experience and already know how to restrain animals, take blood, run lab tests, place IV and urinary catheters, run fecals, do ear cleanings, perform dentals, take X rays, set up surgery, ect...

You should be able to find a job as a kennel assistant with no experience. Usually after working as a kennel assistant for awhile you will slowly learn how to do new things here and there, and eventually will become a tech. I LOVED working as a vet tech.

Good luck finding a career that makes you happy.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2012

i just got my license and i need help deciding which nursing path is most suited for me..

If you have not heard by now, the job market for LVNs in the greater Los Angeles area is absolutely horrid at the present time due to the sluggish economy, so you cannot be too picky. If you wish to employed as a LVN, you must take what you can get. You do not have many chips on which you can bargain as a new grad with no experience.

Unfortunately, the LVN role is people-oriented in most settings. If you are not good at dealing with people or do not particularly like people, you may wish to retrain as a medical records technician, medical transcriptionist, or some other position that does not involve much face-to-face contact.

caliotter3 · Feb 14, 2012

The job market in the Los Angeles area is not great, whether or not you are attempting to get a job in health care. You will have to decide how badly you need to work and stick with your job search until you get a job, otherwise, you are going to be very disappointed, and jobless.