KimPN

I finally got a job as an LPN. It's 11-7 shift and I'm nervous. To be honest... I don't know if I remember anything from school... I want to hear everyones opinion/experience about the first job. Please share!

So after 2 months of job search as a floor LPN, I've failed to find one and decided to pursue another certification. Many people told me that it's good to have MDS certification, but I honestly don't know much about it. So far I've found out that AANAC provides an online course but how does this work? how long is it? and what does it mean by "this course cannot be used as an elective for either RAC-CT or C-NE certification."??

Any luck finding a job? I'm in chicago, IL as well and I can't find a job anywhere.

Ok... this is ridiculous at this point. Seriously? 1 yr of experience is required in every damn places. How the hell do new grads find a job? I've been referred by two people in two different places and still no luck. So I know that network doesn't mean crap in this situation. Maybe nursing is a dying career? I'm seriously going to discourage people to become nurses. This frustrates me so much.

O.. cuz I heard that its good to email a thank you letter after the interview. But I do agree on the phone call part... I should have waited.. oh well... it seems like I wasn't good enough for them. What makes me disappointed is that they lied to me by saying they will make this happen and stuff. Why couldn't they be more honest and tell me that they won't hire a new grad... they have wasted my time and gave me a hope just to break it down. Anywho... thank you for an advice!!

Thank you for the info. Yeah... at this point I pretty much gave up. I'm trying to apply for a home health agency and work as a home health nurse... if everyone is looking for a nurse with at least one year of experience... new grads will never find a job... I think its ridiculous but what can I do? I just need to accept it.. o well thank you once again for an advice! Cheers!

So... last friday I had an interview with an administrator at a nursing home about the LPN job. He was very kind because I was actually referred by the person he knows. He pretty much interviewed me with some questions and discussed the rate of pay. I was extremely satisfied with the pay and he was very pleased that I was bilingual. Everything went very well that day except I wasn't able to meet with the DON because she was busy. He assured me that he'll make this happen and will let DON know what's going and give me a call for an interview with her. Two days later I'd sent him a thank you email and gave him a call right next day to see how things are going. He told me that he gave the DON my application and she will call me and also mentioned that he has recived my email. I was hoping... maybe today she'll call me, but no luck. So my question is... how long does the second interview usually take? Should I forget about it and move on? I am kind of disappointed, since it was my first interview. What do you think?

Thank you all for the answers. Yeah I found out that illinois license expires on 1/31/2013 like you guys said its every 2 years.

wow... and I only have 3 months left... kind of ridiculous...

I have received the LPN license on 10/29/2012, but the expiration date as of 01/31/2013 which is not even 4 month away. How do you renew the LPN license? Do you renew it after it expires? I'm so new to this and I don't know anything.

That's a good point! The reason why I didn't really consider them much is because throughout the whole healthcare experience, I've never had any of them. If I can get those benefits then it will be great.

Thank you and yes, that's what I thought about the CNA experience. At this point my priority is finding a job rather than how much I get paid.

I can't agree with you more, yet it also is part of my career and if I can make enough money to provide my family in the future will be whole lot better. Also I am looking forward to continue my education while working as an LPN, so I do stress the rate of pay.

Working for the State sounds great! Yeah It is kind of disappointing when I see lots of people not even getting close to 20. I actually have been working at ltc for almost 2 years as a CNA. Do you think that counts as nursing experience?

thank you for the info! Yeah I live in Chicago, but I don't want to work in Chicago area. I'm really moving up to suburbs. Chicago is just too crazy, lots of parking tickets, camera reinforcements, and someone tried to break-in to my apt not so long ago. As soon as I find the job, I'm moving the hell out of here.

yeah, I understand... It's all about time and money, but just fyi there's a PA program in Rush University I've heard of. If things work out, you can do some research on that. Good luck!:)

cdsmom, it's a long story... The school I went to was pretty disorganized and dragged the 101 to 102 process and because of that we all had to make up those off days and they said it was required by the LAW we couldn't just go with the previous schedule and we all needed to make up the amount of time the state gave us.

Congratulations!! I'm a new grad LPN too and really scared of getting out there and find a job haha did they offer you a good pay? for me that's one of the issue I'm worrying about. I've heard a lot of places pay LPNs really low.

BTW, I hope you know that I'm not trying to discourage you nor am I degrading Nursing. It's just that actual nursing was very different from what I was expecting.

You know these So call young girls aren't as stressed as you are because as you know they are YOUNG! but for you, you need to make money for the living so it definitely does affect you so much more than them. I just graduated last sep. it took 6 more months than I was expecting and imagine a hell 6 more month... I had the samething, I'm a guy btw 28 yo and I think I'm having joint pains and I gained 40 lbs throughout the program. Now I'm on my diet, eating boiled eggs and bell peppers.... ughh... Anyways what I'm trying to say is that I really understand your pain. How far do you have left? Is this school "private"? if so Why don't you try to get into a local comunity college RN program? or else try something new, like RT or PTA? If I ever go back to 1.6 years I will probably go for PTA. Before I started nursing, I thought it was a meaningful job with great opportunities. But I've learned that nursing is very stressful and risky. Too much lawsuits and etc. and keep in mind that I didn't even start working as an LPN!!!! If you have a bachelor's degree then why don't you apply for a PA program? I'm not 100% sure but I've heard that all you need is a bachelor's degree? You may want to research on that. Hope everything goes well.

where is this school located at? I'm in illinois as well. BTW this topic was 5 years old hahaha.

I guess the Pearson trick really works! Today I got my quick result and I passed!

WOw thanks for many information guys. So I'm guess it depends on where you live as well like cost of living and etc? I'm currently in Chicago, but looking forward to move up to north west suburbs. So those LPNs who made 25 an hour were really lucky I guess?

starting $30 sounds really good. In fact it's so much than a new grad LPN can expect. May I ask where you work?

So does anybody know the ideal starting pay for new grad LPN in Illinois? The reason why I had a high expectation was because where I used to work paid new grad LPNs $25 Of course there was no bonus, vacations, pto, health insurance, and no raise. But starting with $25 sounds good even though I don't get a raise. I worked as a CNA for over year and half if basic nursing is what I can refer to as a nursing experience. Oh and I am not gonna stop here as an LPN. I'm looking forward to continue my education, possibly up to master's degree. But my concern is that I'm getting married within a year and I really need to make money and save a lot for whatever I need when it comes to wedding, such as wedding ring, wedding hall, and etc. SOO much money I will have to spend but soo little I'll be making sounds just kind of depressing. I mean if it's what I have to go through then I won't complain, but seems like some people make more and some people make less depending on where they get the job regardless of their status/experience.