Hi , Im A Newly Graduated / Licensed Vocational Nurse Located In Victorville CA .
I Graduated In February && Passed My Boards On The 5th Of July , My First Time :)
Woooohoooo .!
After 2 Years Of Brutal Schooling , ( 1 Year At Four D College - CLOSED DOWN && One Year At American Career College ) Ive Been Actively And Impatiently Searching Online For Any Job I Could Find , My Student Loans Are Due In August ( From Both Schools ) , && Ive Already Deferred Them Once . Im In Desperate Need Of A Job Regardless Of The Pay At This Point But It Seems Like Jobs Are So Scarce In My Area . Theres Multiple Places Hiring Where Im At But They All Seem To Want A Minimum 1 Year Experience . Which I Dont Have .! Only Clinical Experience . && If I Want To Apply For More Jobs Id Have To Choose Jobs That Require Me To Travel 30+ Minutes One Way Which Is What I Dreaded Doing To Go To School In The First Place. I Dont Regret Going To Nursing School , I Enjoy What Ive Studied But I Feel Like I Could Have Gotten A Simple Medical Assistant Degree With Half The Time && Work Almost Everywhere . Its Just So Sad . I Dont Know What To Do Anymore . I Need A Blessing . What Should I Do . What Do My Fellow Nurses Suggest .?
I totally feel your pain. I have been a LPN for almost 2 years and have had a ton of trouble finding jobs about 97% of my LPN class went to work for Kaiser (not sure if you have one out there in your area) but they take brand new nurses. The other 3% of us have not been able to find much work. I am working for 4 different companies to accumulate enough hours/pay. Even though I don't want to yet. I have decided I am going to have to go back to school to get a RN sooner then I thought in order to secure a better job
I believe CA will let you challenge the CNA exam if you are in nursing school or a 'graduate' if you are just looking for a job. Doesn't sound too appealing, but it is still work. If California has a med aide program, I would see if you can challenge that and see if you can get med administration experience if you have none. I know in TX they do, not sure abt the process is for CNA's.
Try different places for work. I am in Florida and it was hard finding my first job without experience. But I looked up drug and alcohol detox or rehab they hire LPNs and some will hire new grads. I have been working at detoxes for two years now, and the pay is so much more then LTC. Just google drug detox in your area and start calling, maybe start at a government funded one to get experience then they all will hire you. I have some friends who work at another detox making $27 an hour as an LPN and its over night. Just keep looking
I believe CA will let you challenge the CNA exam if you are in nursing school or a 'graduate' if you are just looking for a job. Doesn't sound too appealing, but it is still work. If California has a med aide program, I would see if you can challenge that and see if you can get med administration experience if you have none. I know in TX they do, not sure abt the process is for CNA's.
OP indicated that she is now a Licensed Vocational Nurse. CA does not allow licensed nurses to obtain, or retain, a CNA certificate.
Good luck in your job search.
BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN
3,520 Posts
You are making quite the impression here. Not a good one however.