GPN-Man

Last week I answered a ad in the local paper for PT work. The DON, discussed what kind of hours I wanted to work and setup a interview. When I arrived at the interview I filled out the app and took a test. I passed the test and so forth. Then the interview came and started with busness talk. We discuseed schedule again, benefits and pay, based on partime work. And out of the blue, she stated we do not have openings. And maybe they can put me on their pool as last in line. Since I live close and would be handy in the winter time. I feel like a LAST RESORT. The whole thing is strange to me. Just chalk it up as another place that turned me down. This is the same place agency had to call to see if they would accept a male nurse. They had all kinds of needs for 11-7. When agency called me back, all the shifts were full. The bright side is, if they put me on the payroll, they can say they don't hire males. Not that they will call or use me much.

I was told at my first job, during the interview. You will not make it to first shift, no man ever as a LPN. The only male they had on first shift was a RN and they got on his back all the time. They seem sent out to make our (men) lives horrible. The sexual harrassment threats by the aides and so forth. The things I was accused of doing. It really turned me off to this field. I cannot believe how ruthless you have to be to survive in this field.

I am having the same problems. But I am a couple years removed from school. I work with a agency and I have to beg for shifts. While other employees get 32+ hours a week. I do not get any return calls from employers. Leaving nursing is my next option, for my family is going broke. It is either that or sell our home.

It took me 3 months to find a job after school. There was 7 men in my class, we all ended up in undesirable places (last on the list). After a year, I moved on to agency work. I regret this move, as I can't get hours. I am back looking for work and have had ZERO interest in me. No phone calls, no return calls and no interviews. I have been told through the nursing network (grapvine) and by experience that most places do not want men. I have been even turned away by undesirable places. I called my first nursing job and they said I had to reapply and they would look at my application (ugh!). I can't find fulltime, partime or even PRN jobs. My choices at this point are try another agency or get out of nursing after 1.5 years. To think I quit my job and went to school. I am a very good nurse. I have many skills and experience gained from my first job. I cannot afford to make $0.00 or $120 bucks a week through agency anymore. I have a wife and 2 children, we are almost broke.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. So I shouldn't worry about the low scores?

I finished LPN school a couple of months ago. I am scheduled to take my NCLEX-PN on June 22nd. I have been doing 50+ questions a day using the Saunders Edition 2 CD and book. I also went over 300 NCLEX style questions in another book. Sometimes I score really well (over 75% right) and other times I am lucky to get half right. There is so many questions about things we never really discussed in school. A big boost for me is that ATI testing said I had a 93-98% chance of passing (scored over 63% correct out of 200+). Should I be worried about some of the low scores? Take the NCLEX or reschedule it?