Maybe this career isn't for me

[notyetnurse]

Okay, sorry, venting and self-pitying a bit here. One year anniversary for LPN graduation is quickly approaching and still nothing. A stray interview here and there, but no call backs so to speak. And then, two weeks ago, a dear friend whom I went to school with (who also has zero experience) tells me she checked out this new facility that's hiring and how to go through the process. I went as did another of our classmates, also with zero experience. Flash forward, my friend got in and has been training for over a week. The other friend (whom I interviewed with on the same day) got called back already because they want him. I have heard nothing. No acceptance call, no rejection letter. Which leads me to think negatively and believe ultimately it will be the latter (but who wants to think that way)...

I don't mean to be down, I really don't. I'm (relatively) young and healthy and have a *very* part time job right now which at least pays bills. But I'm not working in my career field that I worked so hard in school to achieve. I know this is the case for a lot of people. It just really bums me out that I seem to have been overlooked yet the other two of my classmates somehow shined. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. But it really makes me wonder about throwing another $10K down the drain to go on for an RN when I haven't even been working as an LPN yet! That's just kind of embarrassing..

Tell me there are others out there feeling this way...

[HippyDippyLPN]

I became licensed November 2008, landed my first part time ltc job January 2010. Don't give up! I know how demoralizing it can be. I worked as a STNA off and on the whole time because I had to feed my baby and help my husband with the bills.

How are your interview skills? Are you nervous, stumbling over your answers when asked questions? I found I started getting second interviews when I started crafting my answers before the interview. I would print of mock questions and have my mom's work friends interview me (not mom herself so I wasn't as comfortable).

I also kept hitting the pavement. I had moments of pure pity of course after failed interview #55 but you gotta brush yourself off and go again. I just got to a point where I said hey I know I can be a good LPN and I am going to let that shine through. And one day I went to an interview, thought I was going to get the old " we have more interviews, we will call you either way" (they never call) and the DON looked at me, said she liked my answers, and she was going to give me a chance. The fact that I had not given up after over a year of rejection impressed her. So you WILL find your break! Vent your frustrations, do what you need to do to get it out but keep going because someone will give you a chance.