diana2moss

I am a recent LPN. Newly graduated. It is not a law to be an aide before becomming an LPN. However, ours and many school require you to have an STNA license to enter the PN program. Good Luck.

Thank you all for your comments. This employer was an acute care facility and my job was in the skilled unit. We were given 4 days of orientation. On my third day I started to panic because I had yet to see what those on my shift were doing. When I told them I was quitting, they did say that they could give me a few more days since I was a new grad. I would have 12-21 patients on skilled care by myself. It scared me out. I do regret quitting since I know in time things would have got better. But I watched seasoned nurses working at such a fast pace and still not getting off at their scheduled time, so I wondered if I would be able to hang. Now I'll never know. Nursing is tough for LPN's. Nursing homes are about the limit in my area. Hospitals (the few who use them) want at least a year's experience for an LPN position, as do most of the nursing homes.

I doubt it will keep you from getting a license, it didn't me. In our state it stays on your record for three years (as far as employers can see). However, I am a new LPN and every application I feel out asks if you have EVER been convicted of a crime and asks about traffic offenses. I can not lie about it so I list it. (It has been over 3 years ago). My question is this? Who is going to hire a profession with a record? I think it would have been different if I had already been working but I am a new grad. I worked night and day for my nursing diploma and graduated w/ honors. Spent every dollar in the bank for the school...only to go out and see traffic offenses on every application. It is pretty depressing. If anyone has listed a dui and got a job, I sure would like to see it posted here for support. Maybe a perspective from a DON? I am sure some are thinking "just lie" but not only can I not be an honest person, our state and other have them on the internet for anyone to see.

Hello Everyone. I am a recent grad from an LPN program in Ohio. I have no previous medical background. I felt fortunate to have landed a job in two weeks of graduation. I applied to several places and they all wanted at least one year experience. No one else called. So I happily took the job offer. After a few days of orientation, I started feeling that this place was not where I should be starting. Not sure why. The facility is two years old and beautiful. The pace was so extremely fast that I felt I was setting myself up for failure with med pass. Not sure how much was shock to the real world of LPN's or how much from "word on the street" that they have too many staffing issues. (Those I were working w/ were great nurses but had been there only 3 months). I was making excellent money and now I am jobless again. I feel like I failed the transition from school-to-work. My questions are this: How much orientation should a new grad expect? How can you land a job if everyone wants experience? Is there much work for non-patient care? I loved taking care of patients and med pass...but that was such a small part of the workload. This normal?