New Graduate/ Job worries

[HeartJulz]

Im so relieved to be done with school ... even ecstatic, but Im torn with being and happy and depressed @ the same time. Here in CA I feel Im going to have a VERY hard time finding a job. Ive been applying to hospitals since May of this yr. as a MA and figured if I got hired on when I finished school and got my license then I could advance to a LVN position. Well, from the TON, and I mean TON of jobs I have applied for... no one really wants to hire me. I know I am a new grad. but I do have 5 yrs exp. as a CMA & Phleb. PLus on top of finishing nursing school I already did my IV course and have my AA degree. I have numerous references and my CPR-BLS and everything else in place. Im also an extremely hard working person and actually love to work. Im a perfectionist and very reliable. Anyone else in the same shoes? I dont plan to stay an LVN long... its just my stepping stone to get my RN. I just didnt feel the justice in sitting on a wait list for 4+ yrs. so I did this route and now I will only have my 3 science pre reqs to do and then the 8mths for my RN. But in the meantime, why do employers look down on LVNs so much? And why is is so darn hard to get a job?

[Chloe'sinNYNow]

Aw Julz,

I'm in nearly the same boat you are, but without your yrs of experience. I graduated in May 07, 2 days later I was the victim of a home invasion, so on benzo's and hidden miles away in my parents home I taught myself in 16 hours days to prep for NCLEX. I passed w/ 76 Q's on my first attempt in mid August.

End of Sept I took the one and only job offered after hearing that:

1- I should have applied months in advance of graduation

(unfortunately my school was more bent on us passing NCLEX)

2- I should have been already working as a PCT in a hospital so they'd look favorably on my resume and app

(this hosp was actually partner'd w/ my school!!)

3- I was just in an awkward time and the local hospitals werent' hiring any new grads

(yeah, my bad timing...)

So this one hospital happened to be hiring new grads and called me the moment my finger hit the "send" button to eletronically send my resume. How wonderful! They loved new grads!!

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reason they hire all teh time, and teh reason they love new grads, is...

Their orientation is short, chaotic, stressful, the other nurses actually HATE precepting, and they b**ch and complain that I should have learned more skills in nursing school. Well, I can only learn what I'm taught skillwise when my school was all about pushing us to critically think and go into advanced care nursing, not bedside. They said we'd learn the technical skills on the job.

My long winded point here Julz is, I've wished that I had your skills!!! I could have long since had work and been knee deep in a career by now. I quit that horrendous job that made me physically ill and pee'd and poop'd blood. And although it was the right thing to do, I have been wondering where all this nursing shortage is as well. I am a 39 yo 2nd degree'd woman w/ her RN-BSN, BA. And I have a few skills I was just becoming comfortable with in those 8-ish weeks on that unit. But the nursing shortage seems to apply only to the experienced. And I cannot get the experience if I'm not working.

Bad timing? Hun, you are NOT alone. :icon_hug:

Chloe