LPN Student Looking for work before graduating

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Hello Guys,

I am new here and I hope somebody will be able to answer my questions. I am an LPN student here in Cleveland, Ohio. I will finish the program this coming August and planning to start applying for work after this semester.

1. What position did you put when you applied? Do you have to visit nursing homes or hospitals and apply personally?

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Specializes in Just the basics.

Hey, congratulations on almost completing the LPN program. I am currently a cna and I am not happy with the my current job. I wanted to do skilled nursing however, I am just a home health aid. Although, the money is waaay better than what a non-experienced cna would make in a facility. Long story short, I had 2 interviews the same day. One in a facility for $8.00 an hour and the other as a HHa for $ 11.00. You tell me which you would have picked... Anyway, I am not happy. If I wanted to clean houses, I would have become a maid. Because I am surely beeing treated like one. My question to you is, is the LPN class as hard as they say? Ive heard its way more difficult than the RN. I have to maintain a FT job, so I won't be able to handle the RN program. For a girl with a 3.0 g.p.a. would I be OK? and what are all the pre reqs you have to have? Biology, math, Pharmacology, and Chemistry? Please help. Im ready to sign up for class, but I don't want to humiliate my self, If it's that difficult.. Thanks for any advice you may have for me....

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Hello,

I understand how you feel, I used to work as a nursing assistant too and it is a hard job, esp physically. I resigned because I couldn't not handle school and working at the same time. With regards to your question, personally LPN program is hard, I don't know about how hard it is compared to RN though. Also, the prerequisites, I think it depends on the school but here, you have to have math, anatomy & physiology, chemistry, psychology done before getting into the program. I am sure you'll be fine. Goodluck.

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My advice is if your not working in a facilty start now if you can if you can be cna do it. Get your foot in the door before you graduate. Apply in person if you can and bring as much with you your last physical/license/last ppd/cpr certification/take drug test that day/etc make hiring you easy!

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Specializes in Just the basics.

Awsome guys, thank you. Yes, I have made my decision (with a little help). I have decided NOT to worry about the LPN program right now. Because like you said, I need experience IN A FACILITY. It won't be any good being an LPN, without facility experience. Also, depending on where I work, I may be able to bridge over to the LPN program. So, again, thanks for the advice.:up:

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

I am a new LPN here in Florida. I think that it would be best to start applying once you have your GPN letter (Graduate Practical Nurse), just to get a feel for looking. I don't know about the job search for LPNs in Clevland, but here in Central Florida, most LTC and Home Health Care agencies want nurses with experience (1 year is the least amount I have seen), and they usually will not consider clinicals as experience (which I cannot understand why). I started my search before I got my GPN letter up until I became a LPN (about 4 months of looking). I found and was hired at a home health agency just last month but unfortunately I haven't had any assignments so far (it's only been about 2 weeks though, so I am patiently waiting and looking for LTC positions , just in case). Home health is the best alternative if you want to be "self-employed", it just has a waiting game. If you want a more guaranteed income, look into LTC along with a home health care position on the side. One good piece of advice I found right here on this website is how to pursue a job search online. You will find the post under Nursing Career Advice>Nursing Job Search Assistance > Article: How I got my dream job! I hope this helps!!

D.Coney, LPN

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I have always known I never wanted to work at an ECF or LTC. I applied online to several hospitals and scored quite a few interviews right out of nursing school. Sadly, I had very little healthcare work experience so the hospitals never called back. I finally scored a position at a state prison. It was horrible work but the experience was invaluable and after 9-10 months I finally scored a coveted LPN ER position. I was making $18.50 at the prison and downgraded to $14.30 but the extra benefits like shift diffs and critical bonus are way awesome with all the overtime u could ever hope for.

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hi! I live in cleveland, oh also, do you mind telling me what lpn program you're in? I'm taking gen ed. Courses at tri c, but I hope to get into their lpn program next year.

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Thank you D. Coney. I read the article and was so glad you included it in your response to my post. I will do the same thing. I will be done after this summer and then will be applying for work.

Thanks again.

Lucy

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Hello hopefullyfuturenurse, I am in my last semester this summer which will start on Monday. I also am taking it at tri-c. I also hope you'll be able to get in next year. If ever, study really, really hard bec it is not an easy program. Goodluck and thanks for your reply.

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Hello hopefullyfuturenurse, I am in my last semester this summer which will start on Monday. I also am taking it at tri-c. I also hope you'll be able to get in next year. If ever, study really, really hard bec it is not an easy program. Goodluck and thanks for your reply.
Can you tell me what clinicals are like? Do they have a pinning ceremony? Congrats on almost being done :) and goodluck on your job search.
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