What is ecomony doing to first year LPN grads?

Published

Hello,

I am considering applying to LPN school for the Fall. I am wondering what the job prospects are for first year students with no experience, and if things have gotten worse (or better?) in this economy. Any one with insights? I would hate to go to school only to find a can't get a job upon graduation!

Also, where are LPNs generally working these days? Hospital, long term care, offices, home visits ...?

Thanks all!

Cathy :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here (central Ohio) LPNs do not work in hospitals nearly at all - it is very difficult for an LPN to work at a hospital, because they need RN's for the nursing work and just use CNA's for the cleanup and basic skills, so LPNs do not really have a place in hospitals any more.

The majority of LPN's here work in home health and long term care situations. There are a lot hiring LPNs here if that is your interest - my problem is that I did not want to work in long term care =] I do home health while going to school for my RN. It's a lot better than I thought it would be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello and thanks for your reply!

Can you elaborate on what home health is? Are you an LPN? How long have you been working in the field. I did a quick search on local hospitals here (I live in Mass.) and you are right - they are looking for RNs and CNAs :(... I am more interested in hospital work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I'm an LPN! I was interested in hospital work, too, so am going through with my RN schooling to get there. Home health is one way to get on with hospitals here, but I work through an agency.

Basically, my roster consists of about 7 to 10 patients for each day I work. Depending on your experience, you can do anything from removing stitches to wound vacs and more. My patients are almost always diabetics who cannot or will not take their blood sugar and give themselves their insulin. So I drive over to their home and do it for them.

The biggest difference is in this setting, we handle a lot of the paperwork ourselves since the insurance has to see that we went out and did what we said we did. It's not bad work at all, and is really flexible while I'm attending school. Your pay generally depends on how difficult of a job you did at the patients home (ie, wound vacs pay more hour than a blood sugar). Hope that helped!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That doesn't sound too bad ... they generally take new LPN grads? Can I ask what the hours and pay are like? I would love a flexible schedule too. How long does it take to get your RN after you are an LPN? I have seen as low as 18 months but don't know if that is realistic...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Its realistic! That's exactly how long mine will take - but I attended a step program school which is designed to get you your LPN and then your RN in sequence. My hours are currently I only work on Thursdays. I take a couple extra patients a day to get extra money. It is generally 20 to 30 dollars per hour, depending on what kind of activity you are doing.

My agency hired me as a new grad. For things I'm not experienced with (like wound vacs), I would have to shadow someone for at least a few days in order to be allowed to perform them on my own. I don't have the time to shadow right now, so I get the easier (and cheaper) assignments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just graduated a few months ago and it did take me a while to find a job- and it was in an area I would have never thought I wouldve wanted to work in. But I am loving it so far, the pay is awesome, awesome benefits and I like going to work. Well Ill say like, not love, to be honest if I didnt have to work I wouldnt lol but I have got bills to pay- its all about balance. The time is gonna come whether or not you go to school and atleast you will have accomplished something, and the job outlook maybe totally different by then~

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care.

It depends on where you are. Where I am in Florida there are few if any jobs for new LPN grads. I'm working doing H1N1 vaccinations as are a few of my former classmates.

You could go for CNA first to see if you like hospital work, then from there go for RN if that's what you really want to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Graduated in August, Passed NCLEX in Sept, went to work the following week LTC $15.p/h East TN area. Hospitals here do hire LPNs just the pay starts around $12.p/h Home health pays more but most agencies want at least 1 yr exp.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would like to know what the situation is for Michigan. I live in SE MI and thinking of applying to Lpn school this year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion