No jobs for LPN graduates anymore?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

When I started attending an LVN program in October 2004, I was fully aware that LVNs were being phased out of the hospitals. I did the research prior to entering the program and still decided to go for it, knowing that I would probably end up working in a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospice agency, outpatient clinic, dialysis center, psychiatric wing, or home health. Most of my classmates were in denial; in fact, many were insistent upon working in the hospital E.R. or labor & delivery unit upon graduation. That was merely wishful thinking on their parts.

I completed the LVN program in late 2005 and have absolutely no regrets for my decision to go ahead and proceed with the coursework. I have 2 jobs. My 'real' job involves weekend double shifts at a ritzy nursing home located in an upscale part of town, and my second job involves being a medication nurse at a psychiatric hospital.

The problem with some new LPN/LVN graduates is that they are highly resistant to working somewhere other than a hospital. There's much to learn at the myriad of other non-hospital facilities that openly welcome LPNs/LVNs.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

By the way, I have never had any problems attempting to find employment with my LVN license. :)

SweetMelissa · Jul 5, 2006

I know exactly what you are talking about. There are roughly 82 of us in our 1st term of LPN school. Most of them talk about going to work in labor/delivery, or do travel nursing right away. I am kind of "wishful thinking" as far as working in a hospital. I have been working as a nursing assistant at a local hospital for 4years next month. I was told by my nurse manager that if the job was available when I graduate, it was mine. I looked last week for LPN job postings across the network consisting of 4 hospitals and 1 ECF and was disappointed to only find 3 positions available, all at the ECF for night shift. I'm not too discouraged because I live in the middle of Dayton and Cincinnati and I have 9 months before I graduate. Anyone in a similar boat??

wasted-enough-time · Jul 5, 2006

TheCommuter....Thanks for sharing that!!,..

Oddly enough, for me,..I would much rather NOT begin my LPN journey ( as a New Grad)..working in a hospital setting! Plus here ( NC) the pay is well..not all that great..at least where I'm located...

LTC, Home health, assissted living, Clinics, Hospice,...and so on...All sound good to me!!

Bala Shark · Jul 5, 2006

But in California, like some people told me that they cannot find a LPN job, any type...I know two people who passed the boards two months ago, and still no job..

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

But in California, like some people told me that they cannot find a LPN job, any type...I know two people who passed the boards two months ago, and still no job..

I completed a Southern California LVN program in October 2005. During our last week of school prior to graduation, there were numerous nurse managers and recruiters at the school ready to hire us. Only two of the area hospitals attended this career fair for recruitment purposes, but a tremendous amount of people from home health agencies, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, rehab facilities, hospice, and other disciplines were ready to hire the new grads on the spot.

I am a lifelong resident of Southern California who moved to Texas at the end of last year because Texas unbelievably pays better LVN wages and has a reasonable cost of living. There are LVN jobs in Southern California, but you cannot be picky or a 'wishful thinker', believing you will be hired at a hospital.

PhoenixGirl · Jul 6, 2006

Where I live (phx, az) there are many LPN jobs out there. Just check out any sunday paper. Mostly nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities. I got lucky and got into an acute care facility (small hospital that deals with lots of disease processes, not a nursing home). But getting into a hospital is harder, and when you do, the pay sucks.

But the good thing about LPN is that you *are* a bit closer to RN. I start in Aug. Just 2 semesters of schooling. not bad, imo.

Rebecca

nursesaideBen · Jul 6, 2006

I've nine months left in the LPN program I'm in andI'll admit I would like to work in a hospital setting and the hospitals around here in VA do hire a lot of LPNs but I am interested in other settings as well. I work at a skilled nursing facility as a CNA and enjoy it there so who knows where the wind will blow me. There SO many opprutunities for LPNs!!

Bala Shark · Jul 6, 2006

Oh, thanks all for the encouragement..I guess it must be regionally then..I noticed that a lot of LPN private schools are opening up in the great state of California and maybe that is the reason why it is difficult looking for a job

Or maybe, I just have a wrong view and maybe there are jobs out there?

DONN · Jul 7, 2006

.I was hired 2 years ago and am in the acute care setting on a very demanding floor. There are few of us LPN's there but IMO that is only because the LPN practice acts are old and worn out. I'll give you an example: If I have someone who needs blood I can: verify the blood with another nurse, spike the bag, prime the tubing, get the 0.9NS up and primed, monitor the pt during the transfusion, dispose of all the crap when Im done running it, BUT I cannot make the final connection to a peripheral line and start the transfusion. Does this make any sense? NO! But that is the way things are currently written here in Pa.. If some of the nurse practice acts were modified then I think that LPN's WOULD have a greater role in a hospital setting. I feel lucky to be where Im at but I'll agree with everyone else: the pay sucks. When new GN grads start at $ 7.00/hr more than I make I just cringe, but staying there is my choice and no one is holding a gun to my head to stay there.....

nursesaideBen · Jul 7, 2006

.I was hired 2 years ago and am in the acute care setting on a very demanding floor. There are few of us LPN's there but IMO that is only because the LPN practice acts are old and worn out. I'll give you an example: If I have someone who needs blood I can: verify the blood with another nurse, spike the bag, prime the tubing, get the 0.9NS up and primed, monitor the pt during the transfusion, dispose of all the crap when Im done running it, BUT I cannot make the final connection to a peripheral line and start the transfusion. Does this make any sense? NO! But that is the way things are currently written here in Pa.. If some of the nurse practice acts were modified then I think that LPN's WOULD have a greater role in a hospital setting. I feel lucky to be where Im at but I'll agree with everyone else: the pay sucks. When new GN grads start at $ 7.00/hr more than I make I just cringe, but staying there is my choice and no one is holding a gun to my head to stay there.....

That's a very good point, if the nurse practice acts were reformed than maybe more positions for LPNs in acute care would become more available