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Thanks so much for your opinions. I asked those questions at the LTC facility when I interviewed. There will be two LVN's, passing meds, and one treatment nurse. I will be responsible for 30 residents med pass. I think what im going to do is go to the hospital on Tuesday to get my last TB test. When I am there im going to talk to the ER director and find out what the possibility is that I go to full time and 12 hr shifts in the future. I guess I will decide after that. Im not even sure if there are full time LVN 12 hr shifters in the ER. Again, thanks for the comments! Holly

Hey everyone, I need some opinions, I am so frustrated I wanna scream. I am an LVn who just moved to California. I have two job offers on the table right now, and I just dont know what to do. One is LTC, I have never done this. It is in the same town I live in. The other is ER at a hospital about 35 min away. The hospital is two more dollars an hour, but, it is only part time. I would work three eight hour shifts with the opportunity to pick up extra in the ER or on MED/Surg. Med/surg is what I have always done, floating to other units PRN. I have a lot of experience, been on the code team, iv team, all of that. The LTC of course is full time, 3-11 shift. THis is the big issue. The end of July We will be moving again, to the ARMY post which is 30 min from the LTC and a little over an hour to the hospital. If it were three 12 hr shifts I wouldnt even be hesitating. I have drove further for less. I just dont know what to do. I know I wont be happy at the LTC, but is it more important for me to go local, or just suck it up and drive on in LTC? If anyone has any opinions or advice for me it would be greatly appreciated. I know the ER would be great experience for me, but is it worth it?

sdskimmer, DId you like it here? Im having such a time finding a job. Im an LVN and I am so frustrated. I have been offered jobs, but it is either LTC or part time 8 hr shifts in Victorville. I just want to scream. Do you have any advice for me??? LOL. Nice to meet you by the way!

Ditto what Suzanne said. Also, GPA doenst matter at a lot of them. They go off of lottery systems, which sucks. I have a 4.0 and it doesnt get me anywhere! Good luck to you!

Hey!! Im an LVN living in San Bernardino County!!! Living in Barstow, Fort Irwin area!

Hey! Thanks for all the info. Just an update, I got a job at a hospital in the ER. I am so excited to start, yet so nervous. I appreciate everyone who answered my questions.

Hey everyone, Just need a few questions answered. I am usually a med/surg nurse, and love to do that. I recently moved to a new state and I am having problems finding a job in a hospital. I have interviewed at a few other places, including LTC. What is the norm for number of patients to pass meds too? I would be working 3-11. I have never worked LTC and I am very nervous to do it. I dont know why, but I am. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. I am suppose to call them tomorrow and let them know if I want the position or not. I am still hoping that the hospital I applied at comes through, but, just in case I need a back up plan. Thanks again!!!!!

Hey there, I am also a military wife moving to Calif. I received my license about 4 mnths after applying so I would start the process now. I am also an LVN. It is a lot of paperwork, but it will be worth it to start now. Im not sure if you have that amount of time before you report to California, we did as I am coming from Germany. It is quite expensive compared to other states that I have applied in. Total, I think I paid around 350 dollars. They send you a packet if you request it with everything in it you need. It took longer for me im sure because I live overseas and mail is usually slow. One thing I did not know, is that your IV therapy will not automatically switch over if you are certified. I have to get paperwork and have a preceptor watch me do IV therapy before they will state that I am. Atleast I dont have to take the class though. Hope that helps. Check out there website provided above. Lots of great info. Take care!

When I spoke to the lady at the college in Victorville, she said two year wait with lottery. She said they may be changing that and I hope they do. I have a high GPA and think I would have a better chance. I am going to end up I think in LTC. Im not going to drive an hour and a half for five dollars less an hour. That is crazy. But I have no idea what to expect for pay there, so it might sound better to me, then I find out its not. Im use to lower wages with lower cost of living. I have heard different stories on rate of pay so I dont know what to expect. I guess ill interview and see what the best is. At this point, any job, whether it be LTC or M/S, and ill be happy. I have never done LTC so I dont know what to expect with that either. They may not even want me with no experience there. Thanks for all the great info!!!

Hey NickiLaughs, Thanks for your response. I have been so bumbed with this move. I am having problems finding the job I want in the area and a school. It is so frustrating. I will be close to Victorville. There is a community college there, and that is the one that currently does it by lottery. They say they are thinking of changing this though. SB isnt to far either so that is an option. I am stressing myself out with all this. I finally got my Cali license so that makes me happy. Now I just have to find a good job and school. I have always done Med/Surg, and none of the hospitals locally hire many. So my option is commuting to SB or going LTC. I have also looked into some agency, like interim. I dont know much about them, but have been kind of offered a job through them doing home health with Peds. I just dont know what to do since I LOVE MED/SURG. I dont want to commute an hour or so and get paid four dollars an hour less. Decisions decisions. Thank you again though for your advice. I will keep SB in mind when I get there. We only have a few more weeks and we will be there. Take care, Holly

Ok, so are they really two years?? I am moving there in a few weeks, to southern California, and keep seeing two year waiting list. What do they decide on? If you have a good GPA is your wait less, or do they do lotteries in Cali? I know of one college that does lotteries, is that all over there? I have a lot of the prereq's out of the way. Im debating on moving to Missouri for a year just to get my RN. I dont want to leave my hubby behind, but I dont know what else to do. Anyones opinions would be appreciated. Ow and I am an LVN right now. Not that that helps. LOL.

I move quite a bit, as we are military. I have never had any issues getting my license any where as of yet. We are now on our way to Cali. This has been the most expensive and quite a pain actually. But, still I did get it. My suggestion would be to start the process prior to leaving your current state. Do a search on line for your states BON and go from there. I have had a license in MO, LA, and now California with no issues at all. The IV therapy can be tricky depending on the state. For Cali my IV cert does not transfer I have to get appropriate paperwork and show I can do it, then that paperwork is sent to the board and I am certified there. I didnt even think about this until recently and I am glad I asked, as I figured it would transfer. Good luck to you!

Is Western Missouri Med Center not hiring LPN's anymore? I worked there straight out of school and loved it. I went to school in Burg too. Small world. I worked Med/Surg and floated all over! I really enjoyed it. Good luck to you!

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I dont plan on living in San Bernardino, but commuting from a smaller town on the outskirts. I have actually submitted my resume and applied for a few jobs and have several prospects. Thanks again for all the information!!!

Hey!! Thanks for your reply. I would absolutely love it if you did that!!! I appreciate the offer. I have been searching the yellow pages but there are so many different areas and places I dont know what is close. I usually have map quest open and the yellow pages. I sometimes want to pull my hair out! Again thank you for your offer, that was a very nice gesture. Your in school now? For your RN I take it? I am too, and hope to get into an actual program when I get to Cali. Right now just getting all the pre-reqs out of the way. Good luck to you!