ats1983

Hello again! I finally got a job, and I was curious if there are others out there doing what I do! I just got signed on as a clinical research coordinator for a clinical trials company in L.A. From what I know, usually LVN's don't typically go into research, but the doctor who runs the facility doesn't have any RN's working for her (which scares me in some ways!). Anyways, the work is completely different from what I learned in nursing school, but I am enjoying it somewhat. The thought of being on the cutting edge is rather cool. There are a few things that I'm concerned about though, so any comments/questions/etc is most appreciated! Overall, the process is different, but I like the fact that I get more time to work with patients, which I like. I'm already missing nonstop patient care, but that's due to my training I think. I've been working there for about a month now, and some things are...strange. For one, there is no RN. There's the main doctor, a PA, then me, an LVN. The rest of the staff is comprised of college grads, phlebotomists, and MA's. Nothing against any of them at all, but is it supposed to be like that at these places? I have a friend who does research (she's an RN) and she works exclusively with a staff that is either doctors or RN's. Since I've been there, I've been a glorified phlebotomist...I get called in to do blood draws on almost every patient, since the phlebs and the MA's "just go grab the nurse, let him do it." I've also been helping on infusions...I had to spell out in detail to my boss (doctor) that I can't push meds IV as an LVN. She got mad that she had to press the start button, but since there's no RN on site, this is the way it has to be. At this point, I'm pretty much juggling infusions and blood draws all day. I get my first official study this week, which is exciting, but I'm still nervous about all of this. The other thing that is REALLY bugging me is the pay. I don't want to sound greedy, but the starting pay is nowhere near what a typical CRC makes in California. My first 3 months are considered "training pay", and the doctor promises to increase my pay after said training, but she refuses to put anything in writing. Naturally, alarms are going off in my mind. Mainly, I'm worried that she's getting an LVN at an extremely discounted rate, and I'm going to get screwed on the financial end. I'm doing patient teaching, all the blood draws for the office, and doing infusions, monitoring clients, etc. I actually enjoy the experience factor of the job, and I need experience more than anything. Does the situation sound fishy here or is it just me? Since I've been there, I've seen half the staff replaced. The average shelf life of a staff member there is under 6 months. As a rational person, I'm very skeptical, but my view on this could be skewed since this is my first official nursing job and research is a brand new thing to me. At the moment I'm just using this to get my feet wet, earn some money, and get some of that coveted experience. I may be overthinking/stressing this job since I tend to be a perfectionist, but there's just a wierd feeling I have about this place. At the worst, it's a paycheck and experience, but I don't want to get used as a cheap LVN doing a lot of higher end LVN work. What say you?

Thanks for the reply! I assume any major area is over saturated with LVN's/LPN's, but that's the world we live in . I wouldn't mind working outside of a hospital setting. To be honest, I don't even expect to work a hospital until I get my RN, but I got to work first before I can go for it. I wouldn't mind working SNF's, LTC's, etc. Out here, even those places aren't hiring. The people who I know are working those places say it is ridiculous. These companies aren't hiring, and they're overstretching the workload of the few nurses they have. It's all about saving a dollar, and I get that (even if it is sad...I can only imagine the lowered quality of care for the patients when there's not enough nurses to attend to them > Quick question for you, TheCommuter! When you relocated out there, did any companies help with relocation or anything of the sort? I only ask because I've never moved out of state for a job before, but that was before I became a nurse. Fortunately I'm not moving a family or anything, so I don't know if that comes into account in relocation or whatnot. I'd love to be able to work where I am right now, I won't lie, but at this stage in the game I'll take a job anywhere I can walk/drive/fly/swim to at this point. Thanks for your response, you always have some great insight! (I think you've commented on some of my posts before, all of which have been helpful, even if I'm always blowing my stack on this site lol. I'm trying to stay positive as best as I can, and I'm excited to jumpstart this career in nursing. One way or another, it's going to happen!)

Hello all! I'm an LVN in California, and I have a question for you LPN's/LVN's in Texas. How is the job market out there? I've heard there are positions open in Texas, and I'm curious to hear your opinion about how true it is. I've been licensed since August 09 out here in California, but other than a few months doing H1N1 vaccinations, there are literally no jobs out here. I've been scouring the entire state, and no luck whatsoever. Anyways, I'm not opposed to going out of state to get a job (which seems like the only option given the current state of things), and several people keep telling me to check out Texas. So how is it out there? Is it ridiculously tough out there too? Are there actually employers willing to actually -gasp- hire LVN's? I have some family in Keller, and have been in the state a few times, so I'm not completely in the dark about Texas in some regards, but I'm just interested in the situation over there (what areas are good, how is the cost of living, anything!). If any of you who have traveled to Texas from out of state, I'd love to hear your opinions! Thanks in advance for the info!

Personally, I would think training a new grad would be beneficial to a company for many reasons. They can train us to be exactly what they want, and we cost the least. Unfortunately, that's not the case. This is my opinion, but I believe most of the companies/agencies/hospitals/etc are just flat out LAZY. They don't want to take the time to train anyone (which I DO understand), but they don't want to change the system. They're happy keeping the same nurses overworked and keeping their locations understaffed, because for them, it still works. At the end of the day, it all comes down to money spent versus money earned. If they can work one person to the bone instead of having to pay for 3 people to do the same job, it makes more sense (or is it cents? ) for the company to just ride it out. It hurts us newer nurses who genuinely want to work, but ultimately it's hurting their clients. It's always about the money in the end for these people, not the quality of care, which should be the first priority no matter what the cost. Don't get me wrong...a good experienced nurse is always a good thing, and without them, us newer nurses would be in trouble! I have nothing against the experienced nurses. In some situations, I understand why new grads cannot get jobs anywhere. Some positions require experience, and that is a good thing. But lately, no one wants to take a chance for anything. There is NO nursing shortage, only a shortage of employers who are unwilling to hire nurses. This is all my opinion, I just call it as it appears to me and what I see everyday in my quest to actually get hired!

I agree with the poster above me. The true reality shock is the lack of jobs available after you graduate. I was fortunate enough to get on board with the H1N1 flu shot rollout, but that only lasted for about 3 months or so. I graduated in January of 09, took the NCLEX-PN in July, got my results back in August and passed (1st try!), and ever since I have been constantly trying to find any kind of full time LVN job. It's been over a year since I've been out of school, and summer's right around the bend to make it my first year as a licensed nurse. No one wants a new grad, and new grads cannot get experience. It's a HUGE catch 22, one that they don't prepare you for in school. I blame myself for not checking this out before I signed on for school, I'm man enough to admit that. Even still, it's embarassing, annoying, and troubling that I have no chance to get a full time nursing job anywhere. I've applied out of county and state too, with no luck. I love nursing and all I want to do in my life right now is get working as one, but there is little to no opportunity to do so. My biggest fear is losing the knowledge I just learned, and also the fact that I'm becoming more disenfranchised with the field of nursing everyday, even though I love this field. Good luck to you, OP, I hope your experience is far better than mine! (Do yourself a favor and don't work in California...there are no jobs here >

I'm not up to speed on Michigan, but in California Everest is starting to set up bridge programs in some of their locations. If they're starting that over here, I would suspect they would be starting something similar up in that area as well sometime soon. I know that's not the exact answer you're looking for, but hopefully it helps somewhat :)

I have recently begun to apply for out of state positions, which as of late I spend more time doing out of state applications more than anything within the state. As for TheCommuter, man you hit it right on the head. I graduated in good ol' Southern California, where we do have boatloads of LVN programs. Within a 10 mile radius of the school I went to, I believe there were also 7 other LVN training programs going on. I more than believe the area is oversaturated with nurses, it's just a shame since no one else believes that (talking about people outside of nursing). I spent the first month applying to places locally, then in the following months I began applying well outside my county (I'm in Orange County, which I think is probably the worst area for new grads outside of major metropolitan areas like LA, SF, etc). I ultimately do have plans to move out of state, it just seems I might be forced to now out of necessity as opposed to out of pure choice. I would definitely start on my RN schooling, but financially it just isn't in the works. My original plan was to get my LVN until I had enough to cover living costs during RN schooling (loans doing the rest), work as an LVN and get my last remaining pre-reqs done, then do RN, then finally CRNA(not too ambitious, I hope!). I know my rant on here isn't anything close to positive, it's just very frustrating, and no one in my family or my inner circle seems to understand. Everyone was happy when I got my license, now they all think something's wrong with me and refuse to believe it is this hard for a new grad nurse. I honestly thought some facilities would be receptive to new grads since 1) we cost less than a seasoned nurse 2) we have no prior nursing baggage 3) we can be molded into exactly what they need us to be, rather then someone who is so set in their ways that they refuse to adapt. I'll admit I should've researched the job market before going into school, but that's a mistake I have come to terms with. Just out of curiosity, which state did you end up working in? I think it would be quite fun to work out of state, and other than family and a select handful of friends (who also are planning to move out of California in the next 3-4 years) I would leave on the next plane flight to wherever if I could get a freakin' job! I keep in touch with most of my classmates, and out of roughly 25 graduates from my class, 18 have gotten licensed, and only 2 are working (one lives in Riverside county, the other moved to Arizona and got a job there). I know I'm ranting it up here, and if I have a solution I could offer, I would in a heartbeat. I truly love nursing, and I think my frustration with the job finding aspect has severely jaded me as of late, but ultimately I know it'll work out. Anyways, good luck to all of you guys too, it's not easy out there. Stay frosty!

I'm so glad that I decided to become an LVN. It took a lot of hard work, time, and so much more. I learned so much that I can use to take better care of myself, my family, and my fellow man. I feel like a whole new person. I have a whole new outlook on life that allows me to see things for what they really are. A lot of sacrifices had to be made to become what I am today. I lost almost all my friends, my girlfriend broke up with me, I became broke and in debt, all for the sake of learning. I was told I would never be any good as an LVN, so that made me want to strive even harder to get my license. I was so proud the day I got my license. It validated everything that I had gone through in the last year. Cut to several months later. I'm a full fledged LVN. I am IV certified. I am unemployed. I thought becoming an LVN would be a good thing. Instead, it was one big joke. There are no jobs for new grads. No facility wants to take a chance on a new grad, period. I've even tried for volunteer work, and I still don't have enough experience to be qualified to work for free. An LVN license is nice to show off to your friends for a few weeks, until you realize it means nothing. No one understands that you need years of experience to even get a job as an LVN. I look like one big huge failure since I can't get a job anywhere. It's even worse when people keep telling me "so and so said they're hiring nurses because there's a nursing shortage, so how come you can't get a job?" It seems to amaze me how many people who have nothing to do with nursing magically think nursing jobs are falling off trees. No one takes the time to ask exactly why new grads can't get a job. Once you explain it to them, they don't believe you. Instead, you're one big idiot who thought they would get a decent career started after schooling and licensure. Well, I guess the joke's on me. I honestly thought this would be a good springboard into a new career. I wish I was smart enough to never even sign up for school, since I just wasted a year of my life and $30,000. I want to go for my RN soon, but I still need to finish my pre-reqs before I even can apply. Even after that, it's still a 2 year waiting period at most schools to begin the RN program. I'm starting to think this is all one big scam. I love nursing, and I want nothing more than to start my career. I should have done more research before going in to school. If I knew then that I'd be broke and unemployed even after working my ass off in school and getting licensed, I would never have signed on the dotted line at all. I know there's a recession going on, and I know the job market is very tough, but this is absolutely ridiculous. I've put out close to 300 resumes and applications, and have only gotten 2 interviews. Both of those interviews were a waste of time, since the moment I walked in the door, I wasn't "what they wanted". Apparently I need to speak more than just English and French to even get a job in this backward state, regardless of whether I am more qualified or not. I have received more letters saying to stop applying more than anything else. Most HR people I call will either not talk to me directly or even return my phone calls. At this point, I don't even want to tell people I'm an LVN. It's embarrassing when you spent time to do a job and then not have a single job available for you to do. When people ask me if they should go into nursing, I sadly tell them "no". There are no jobs whatsoever. Becoming a nurse is one big scam, and to those who profit off of idiots like myself, my hat is off to you. May you enjoy the thousands of dollars you're making off of people who won't get a chance to use anything of what they have learned outside of their own home. Everyday I stare my new scrubs and Littman stethoscope and wonder, "Can I still return these? They haven't been used!" My opinion is jaded for sure, but this is not uncommon amongst new grads. Being a new LVN right now is another way for saying "I'm unemployed". If you're in school for your LVN right now, see if you can still back out and get a refund. Run, don't walk, away from this license since it will get you nothing. You won't get a job because you're not an RN, and you have no experience, which means you have no chance in this field. So I'm glad I became an LVN. I finally realized how stupid I was all along. Becoming an LVN has become almost pointless. In the end, I'm the idiot who decided this was a good idea. At least I'm an idiot with a state-printed card for a job that I'll never get to do.

My take might be different, but so far everytime I tell a woman I'm a nurse, I automatically become "that guy". What I mean by that is I'm automatically lumped into the category with her gay friends who go shopping with her. It might be the area I'm in, I don't know. All I know is so far, every woman seems to assume I'm either gay right off the bat for being a nurse, or I'm an overly sensitive guy who will never amount to anything more than her friend. Yes, it's ridiculously stereotypical, but it seems to be the norm. I take pride in what I've chosen to do, and overall I'm happy with it. To me it's funny that my last girlfriend dumped me while I was in nursing school (she was worried that I would cheat on her since I was around so many women due to the profession), and ever since, every woman I talk to (teachers, artists, etc.) assumes this stereotype. The only people who don't think this way are female nurses, but I care too much about my career to start dating anyone in any facility I work in. I'll admit my outlook on this topic is very jaded, but to me it is very surprising that women responded to me more when I was a delivery driver moreso now than when I'm a nurse.

Thanks for the replies! I just hope I'm on the right track, I guess I'll find out once I get my results. I do agree with the living healthy aspect before going into the test. I've restructured my diet so it's healthy again, been getting rest, and doing exercises. School was hell mainly due to the clash of real life and nursing, so getting things back in order has helped. I just hope I'm not studying the wrong stuff before I take this thing. I think it's just my nerves, I just want to beat the NCLEX badly so I can get this career started. It's been quite a ride from the start of school until now. As for LVN jobs in So. Cali...let's just say I don't plan on living in this part of the state for too much longer, getting tired of it for the most part. The LVN jobs I've seen that are available around here aren't so new-grad friendly. I know I can find probably something if I look hard enough. Anyways, 9 days until testing, so here's hoping to a good test, and as always thank you guys for the advice and any other advice you guys have!

Hello all! I have a couple questions, if anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it! Well, I finished my LVN courses earlier this year, and I'm taking my NCLEX-PN at the end of this month. I've been reviewing with the Saunders NCLEX review book, and I've mainly focused on the test questions, taking them, reading over the rationales, etc. I'm consistently getting 75-85% on average on all the practice tests and quizzes. I probably do about 150-300 questions a day, occasionally a few more give or take. I'm feeling confident about going into the NCLEX, but anxiety is doing it's number on me! I'm just curious how others did on their review tests/quizzes and if they helped, didn't help, or whatnot. My other question is about after getting licensed (which is hopefully soon!). During clinicals, I really enjoyed wound care and ICU, and am interested in possibly specializing in these areas. I've had many people tell me I should do general nursing my first year before specializing. Has anyone gone straight into specializing? I'm just interested in what other people have done, how the transition was, all that. Also, if anyone has other specialties they may think would be fun as well (somewhat related to wound care/ICU), I'd love to hear them, especially from male nurses since I happen to be a male as well! I'm excited to start off my career as nurse! I plan on going for my RN within a few years, but after the fun that was nursing school, I need to work to regain my sanity and get back into the swing of things, so to speak. Any advice/opinions/encouragement is GREATLY appreciated! I hate pre-test jitters, just trying to hear some good words before experiencing the "fun" (as I've heard) that is the NCLEX. Thanks all!