Request local CA LVN job/pay info:

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

I work in the greater LA area as an on call at 3 different ltc facilities. My pay is $18, $20, and $22 per hour at each place. I have my IV cert but no one really cares about that as an lvn in ltc. It hasn't been a factor in getting hired. The rn supervisor does all the ivs since they're usually antibiotics and lvns can't do piggybacks.

Jobs are extremely hard. What matters most is experience. Once you get your foot in the door, however, job hunting gets a lot easier. I got my first job bc of connections, I got my other 2 bc I already had some experience.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

My pay is $18, $20, and $22 per hour at each place.

Those pay rates are rather low for a metro area with a high cost of living. It appears as if employers are taking advantage of a local employment market that is crowded with too many LVNs and not enough jobs to go around for everyone who wants to work.

I graduated from an LVN program in the greater Los Angeles area back in 2005, when the average new grad LVN pay rate was $19 to $22 hourly. It seems like LA area wages have deflated in the 6 years that have elapsed since I completed the LVN program.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

Those pay rates are rather low for a metro area with a high cost of living. It appears as if employers are taking advantage of a local employment market that is crowded with too many LVNs and not enough jobs to go around for everyone who wants to work.
I graduated from an LVN program in the greater Los Angeles area back in 2005, when the average new grad LVN pay rate was $19 to $22 hourly. It seems like LA area wages have deflated in the 6 years that have elapsed since I completed the LVN program.

They havent decreased per se, but they have remained stagnant despite inflation. I am a new grad, I'll have my first full year in December, so my wages are pretty average. Since the economy went sour some places have even imposed pay cuts. I make more than some lvns i know with 10+ yrs experience who are now actively seeking 2nd jobs, which further limits opportunities for other new grads.

LVNinCali · Aug 30, 2011

I work at a LTC facility in the Bay Area & make $25/hr (this isn't in the city either, they probably make more in SF).

Jobs are hard to find here. Most places want experienced nurses. I found this place by compiling a list of all the LTC facilities within a certain range & called each one individually to find out if they were hiring. Out of 90+ places I called, only 3 were hiring. I applied in person, got interviews, & accepted the one I work at because it is only a 10 min. drive from my home. I am also IV certified but it wasn't required for my facility.

Karl Farmer · Aug 30, 2011

Thank you for this information. It seems that IV certfication in CA is much ado about nothing due to its limited scope, much like it is in AZ. And you have to be VERY careful to fully know the nurse practice act re: IV use, which makes it all the more ridiculous. These BONs are creating nonsensical situations with all of these IV rules and regs for LPNs, possibly to trip people up and be able to revoke more licenses. It is unsafe to have such a wild variation and such confusing regulations in an area of nursing that can cause immeduate harm to a patient. They need to get their acts together. Case in point is that CA doesn't recognize any other state's LPN IV program, even though FL, as an example, has a program that it ten times as comprehensive, and makes the total scope of IV use a daily routine task for LPNs.