why is LVN jobs is hard to find?

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I completed my VN program Dec. 2009, but i didn't take my board exam till recently (May 19th '11) because I had to focus on my new family (I had a baby and got married). after my daughter turned 1, I gotten back on studying for the NCLEX, thankfully I passed the first time. just when i thought that the NCLEX is my hardest obstacle, now i'm coming to realize that finding a facility that would hire a new grad is even harder.

Before coming into the VN program i had no previous clinical experience, I work at a Billing company for a long time, i preferred it because of the flexibility of my schedule especially going to school.

Now i'm realizing maybe I should have gotten at least a CNA job just so I have some sort of "Medical Experience"

It's very frustrating.. I'm starting to think that i will never be able to achieve my ultimate goal which is to get my BSN.

The school that i went to had a LVN-RN bridge program, but one of the requirements is u must've at least worked/working as a LVN for a year.. Most of the jobs prefer applicants to have at least a year LVN work experience.

The recently job interview that i went to made me feel like i got it.. the nurse that interviewed me even introduced me to the administrator, and he even said while looking at my resume "this is what we need" then later finding out,

they can't offer me the job. I didn't ask why, maybe i should've..

I just feel like how am i suppose to get work experience if no one will take a chance..

Do u guys have any other suggestions.. should i just apply for a CNA job in a hospital at least i can get clinical experience.. (most LTF/SNF hire LVN) then go back and apply for a LVN position.. or just keep trying..

How long did u guys have to wait till u guys got a call from facilities u guys applied for...

thanks soo much!

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, Med/surg Pediactrics.

Apply for whatever you can Patient care tech, Patient sitter and Cna, and Network like crazy.

It's still hard to believe that California is allowing Cna's with 4000 hours of acute care experience to just take a pharmacology class and challenge the NCLEX to become a LVN with absolutely so ridiculous (don't get me started):mad: Prayers I hope you find something soon:)

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Make sure your resume is letter perfect and have two persnickety grammar Nazis proof read it for you. Try nursing homes and hospice care and try VA hospitals. It is easier to get first job if you can handle night work hours. Where are you at?

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Apply for whatever you can Patient care tech, Patient sitter and Cna, and Network like crazy.

It's still hard to believe that California is allowing Cna's with 4000 hours of acute care experience to just take a pharmacology class and challenge the NCLEX to become a LVN with absolutely so ridiculous (don't get me started):mad: Prayers I hope you find something soon:)

Do you have a source of that? That seems a bit ridiculous.

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Thanks so much for everyone that responded.. I'm from central cali, Bakersfield to be exact.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Do you have a source of that? That seems a bit ridiculous.
Click on the link below and scroll to method #3, which is located at the very bottom of the webpage. The link will take you to the California BVNPT website (Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians). Method #3 is a way for experienced CNAs to attain an LVN license without having ever attended an LVN program.

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/licensing/licensed_vocational_nurses.shtml

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Thanks so much for everyone that responded.. I'm from central cali, Bakersfield to be exact.

What a coincidence. I was in Bakersfield last month because my parents live there. While I hope to move back there, I must remain in Texas if I wish to stay employed. It is hard to get hired as an LVN in California due to multiple reasons...

1. CA has more than two hundred LVN programs. The vast majority of these are for-profit trade schools that accept new students all the time and churn out masses of new nurses into the local employment market when there are few, if any, jobs for new grads. Also, new LVN programs are opening up for business all the time, which is worsening the situation.

2. Displaced workers enroll in these for-profit nursing programs because they assume that an LVN license is an automatic ticket to a guaranteed job, good income, and enough cash to maintain their standards of living. Everyone in California (and their mama) has been enrolling in these programs because they actually think there's a nursing shortage.

3. The economy is still crappy. We see less patients during rough economies because there's more unemployed people than ever. Unemployed people are unlikely to have health insurance. People without health insurance are unlikely to visit the doctor, go to a hospital, or schedule an elective surgery unless it is an absolute emergency. If less patients are seeking healthcare, then healthcare facilities can operate with less nurses.

4. Healthcare facilities are running a tight budget with what they already have. The people who oversee hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, etc., would rather work their current employees to the bone (and sometimes overwork them) than hire new grads who cost valuable time and a plenitude of money to train.

5. Many facilities would rather hire experienced nurses. The truth is that an experienced nurse can be up and running with minimal orientation, whereas the new grad needs time to get trained, costs money to train, and often quits before the facility can recoup any return on their human investment. This is why you see requests for nurses with at least 1 year of experience.

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Apply for whatever you can Patient care tech, Patient sitter and Cna, and Network like crazy.

It's still hard to believe that California is allowing Cna's with 4000 hours of acute care experience to just take a pharmacology class and challenge the NCLEX to become a LVN with absolutely so ridiculous (don't get me started):mad: Prayers I hope you find something soon:)

I believe it, and its probably why Washington state doesn't recognize LVN's from California.

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That is true.. We have 3private colleges that offer lvn programs here.. Its hard to believe that when i applied to the program at my school.. We had to take the teas test, have taken prereqs.. Yet other students can go to a private college and get the same licensure without going thru all that. Not that i have anything against students who chose that route.

I'm just praying that someone.. Some place will take a chance.. Thats all we need..

Do u have any suggestion where to start??

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If your applications you submit reads like your thread title that could certainly be a reason.

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If your applications you submit reads like your thread title that could certainly be a reason.

I know that was a typo on my part.. I had noway to edit it.. But thanks for noticing.

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I know that was a typo on my part.. I had no way to edit it, wrote it at night! No need to be harsh.. But thanks for noticing!

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