Lpn employment question

[VM85]

Just wondering if anyone happens to know- an instructor said we should begin to look for jobs if we plan on working as soon as we graduate or shortly afterwards. The problem is, we havent graduated, and wont graduate for 13 weeks(yes i count down the weeks as all my classmates no since i annoy them by reminding them :lol_hitti ) ...... So is this coomon to do, since jobs are not as abundent(as she put it) and it may take 6-9 months after grad if we wait- Ive been looking at jobs lately just to see whats out there, but should i apply license pending? AND pending graduation. God forbid, what happens if someone applies and doesnt make it to the end? Why would employers take such a risk when there are people that have all of these qualifications that are available now???just wondering any if anyone has any experience or knowledhe they can impart on me!!!! MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

[drmorton2b]

Scary as scary gets. This is my fear. What I would do is get a job as a CNA at some place. Your Fundamentals of nursing covers all of the CNA stuff, and makes you a CNA. Ask your instructors. That is my plan to get my foot in the door as a CNA while in LPN school and take it from there. Even in a good economy it takes about 2 months to get a job if one thinks about it. From the first interview until the first paycheck when your hired.

[Selene006, BSN, LPN]

I graduated from LPN school last year in June of 2008 and didn't land a job until November of 2008. I successfully passed the NCLEX in July, but after filling out application #23, I grew desperate and began applying to facilities that I knew that I would never send my worst enemy to, much less to work there!

Employers kept telling me that I needed more experience, but how does one "obtain experience" when one cannot obtain a job?! Ironically, some of the facilities that I had applied to last year (August--November 2008) began calling me this year in January. Had I known that it would have taken such a long time to obtain a position, I would have applied to facilities before I completed the LPN curriculum. Facilities in my area are not so new--grad friendly, and ultimately, I settled for a position in a facility that I am not thrilled with, but I am employed and I am thankful for it.

[caliotter3]

If you aren't working as a CNA now, I would get a job as a CNA to hold me over until I get my nursing license. Once you have the license in hand, then start looking for the nursing jobs. You know that it is going to be a long haul anyway, so you have the time to wait until the license is in hand. Meanwhile, working as a CNA gives you healthcare experience as well as a paycheck, although not much.