LVN - how to transition from long term care - Hospital

[missdeevah, NP]

i graduated as an lvn last year august. since then i have been working at a nursing and rehab facility. i plan on transitioning to rn (my sciences are 5 years old, so anyone with tips on how to get past that, feel free to respond), and i would really love to work in a hospital. the only problem is that it seems that all the positions i see open at various hospitals want hospital experience, ranging from 3 months to a year. but how does one obtain this experience in the first place? i am now contemplating just calling the various departments directly and just trying to talk to whatever charge nurse is there, and hope that they will give me a chance. the hr department i tried to follow up with after applying simply had the attitude that "we have received your application, all of them are forwarded to the respective departments and they will contact whoever they deem to be the most qualified applicant." well, i have a feeling that with no hospital experience, and being a recent grad, i will not be that person! i just really need someone to give me a chance. my heart is in it, i am a hard worker and fast learner and a team player (not tooting my own horn). please give me advise...also what is the pay range for lvn positions in hospitals in the dfw area? i just want to know so i know what to put down on the applications. thanks everyone!

[missdeevah, NP]

someone please give me a suggestion...if i could quit my current job today, i would

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In DFW, the major acute care hospitals tend to pay LVNs horribly. I currently earn $21 hourly as an LVN at a nursing home, and my pay would significantly plummet if I were to work at one of the local hospitals.

Arlington Memorial was paying one of my former coworkers $13.50 hourly to work 12 hour day shifts. I know of another highly experienced LVN who was offered $12.50 to do med/surg at John Peter Smith hospital. I would say that the average starting pay rate for hospital LVNs in DFW is around $14 hourly. Of course, it will increase with shift differentials for working nights and weekends.

Rehabilitation hospitals (Healthsouth, Kindred, Lifecare) pay LVNs well. I was offered $22 hourly to work night shift at Healthsouth. An acquaintance is an LVN who earns $28 hourly at Kindred to work the night/weekend shifts (she's been there 8 years).