Should I take a caregiving job?

[esteshLVN]

I am a brand new graduate LVN with no paid job experience in any field, and I'm desperately trying to find a job in the Bay Area. I've done some pretty extensive volunteer work in the past 6 years in hospitals and community health but again, I've never had any kind of paid job. I've been offered a job as a caregiver with two different companies but both postions pay around 14.50-15.00/hr, and they are both non-medical. I really need to get a foot in the door, but I'm wondering if this will count as experience when I try to apply for jobs after a year or so. Should I take these jobs, or try to hold out for an actual nursing position? I really don't know what to do. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

[Sensoria17]

Personally, I would take it if you are currently unemployed. I don't think it would count as paid LVN experience, though.

[caliotter3]

That rate of pay is offered for some LVN positions down "south", not good for the Bay area, but income nonetheless. If you need work, not a bad idea to take the position. While not LVN experience, in a job interview, you can speak to the fact that you chose to work, rather than stay home, and stayed in the health care field, providing patient care. After all, in extended care home health, the nurse provides the ADL care as well as the strict licensed nurse functions, so not entirely out of the job description.

[Wdstocknurse]

What I did right out of school was work as a medical assistant for a few months in a Family Practice Center, I was currently a working Home Health Aide in a Homecare agency but nobody will hire any LPN here in NY without 1 yr exp. in Med/Surge. I had to leave my job to get my experience so I could go back to Homecare as an LPN. How do you get that without working as an LPN? I went and applied at every Family Practice office I could think of! Pretty quickly I was offered the opportunity to start in a multi Physician office as an "honorary" medical assistant, then they promoted me after a few months of working the floor to LPN status. I worked there a year and a half and got lots of experience under my belt..especially Pediatrics, and Geriatrics with a little Podiatry, Gastroenterology and General Urgent Care along with OB/Gyn. It's a great way to gain experience right out of school. Regarding taking a non medical job, if you're desperate for work and that's all you get offered or can find, my advice is to take it..You will have many opportunties in life to get the job you want if you are persistent and lucky! Good Luck!

[stephanie2012]

Hello, if there is no better choice, just take it, and try to learn something when you are in this work, and it would helps definitely .

it there is some job related to nurse, i suggest you may take that, if no, take this one.

I am a brand new graduate LVN with no paid job experience in any field, and I'm desperately trying to find a job in the Bay Area. I've done some pretty extensive volunteer work in the past 6 years in hospitals and community health but again, I've never had any kind of paid job. I've been offered a job as a caregiver with two different companies but both postions pay around 14.50-15.00/hr, and they are both non-medical. I really need to get a foot in the door, but I'm wondering if this will count as experience when I try to apply for jobs after a year or so. Should I take these jobs, or try to hold out for an actual nursing position? I really don't know what to do. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

[ElizaW]

Take it and keep looking. How can it hurt to have a little money coming in?

[CaliBoy760]

Take a look at this:USAJOBS - Search Jobs. It's been my experience that the VA is not nearly as discriminatory as other places when it comes to hiring nurses with little or no experience. Check it out...Good luck!