What was your first LPN job? Was it difficult to find after grad?

NancyJo · Oct 12, 2004

hi all!
i hope that this topic hasn't been beaten to death... i did a search and couldn't find anything, so i'm throwing my questions out there.
what area of nursing do you do now, and what did you start out doing?
was it difficult for you to find work?
i'm a bit more than half-way through school, and have been watching the papers for lpn jobs and i'm getting pretty discouraged that there aren't many jobs out there at all. perhaps my area is different than most? i'm in green bay, wisconsin. also, i'm wondering kind of on a side note, if any of you are in charge of hiring, what you look for in a new nurse, and what is your facilities policy on hiring newly graduated nurses?
okay, this got long. sorry! thanks for your responses!
michelle
(who's nervous about finding a job to pay back her hefty student loans!)
my first lpn job was @ a va medical cneter. i started on a nhcu and wound up on a locked alzheimers unit. while i loved the work and love seniors, i decided after 12 years i needed a change. i went to work at a snf unit and it was the best job i ever had. i loved seeing people go home, something i rarely saw at the va, but then as luck would have after only 2 years budget problems arose and we closed. i then decided to give acute care a try. i had always had a fear of acute care because i spent so many years in ltc.
i was like a new student at first. i had no experience with iv's, couldn't even program a pump, knew very little about lab values, and was amazed at the number of things i could do as an lpn. my advice to you would be to find something where you have opportunities to practice and learn all the skills you have now while your still fresh from school. check with other nurses to find out what your responsibilities will be. the va i worked at had rn's working under one contract and lpn's with cna's on another, so basically i was working as a cna who could pass meds and function as team leader. my time on ltc had it's advantages and i did master skills there also. on my med-surg floor i am the go to person for foleys, questions about tube feedings, wound care and external caths. i just think i would have been better to start in acute care. i've been here for five years and wonder what took me so long to get here in the first place. good luck in your search.

NancyJo · Oct 12, 2004

hi all!
i hope that this topic hasn't been beaten to death... i did a search and couldn't find anything, so i'm throwing my questions out there.
what area of nursing do you do now, and what did you start out doing?
was it difficult for you to find work?
i'm a bit more than half-way through school, and have been watching the papers for lpn jobs and i'm getting pretty discouraged that there aren't many jobs out there at all. perhaps my area is different than most? i'm in green bay, wisconsin. also, i'm wondering kind of on a side note, if any of you are in charge of hiring, what you look for in a new nurse, and what is your facilities policy on hiring newly graduated nurses?
okay, this got long. sorry! thanks for your responses!
michelle
(who's nervous about finding a job to pay back her hefty student loans!)
my first lpn job was @ a va medical cneter. i started on a nhcu and wound up on a locked alzheimers unit. while i loved the work and love seniors, i decided after 12 years i needed a change. i went to work at a snf unit and it was the best job i ever had. i loved seeing people go home, something i rarely saw at the va, but then as luck would have after only 2 years budget problems arose and we closed. i then decided to give acute care a try. i had always had a fear of acute care because i spent so many years in ltc.
i was like a new student at first. i had no experience with iv's, couldn't even program a pump, knew very little about lab values, and was amazed at the number of things i could do as an lpn. my advice to you would be to find something where you have opportunities to practice and learn all the skills you have now while your still fresh from school. check with other nurses to find out what your responsibilities will be. the va i worked at had rn's working under one contract and lpn's with cna's on another, so basically i was working as a cna who could pass meds and function as team leader. my time on ltc had it's advantages and i did master skills there also. on my med-surg floor i am the go to person for foleys, questions about tube feedings, wound care and external caths. i just think i would have been better to start in acute care. i've been here for five years and wonder what took me so long to get here in the first place. good luck in your search.

no er holds · Oct 22, 2004

I clerked at a local hospital in the ER and expected to transfer to a med/surg floor when I graduated...little did I know I had two really awesome RNs looking out for me and a position was created for me and another graduate LVN in the ER. I've been working my tail off and after nearly a year am finally being shown some respect by senior RNs. There will always be RNs that have a problem with LVNs...just never be afraid to say you don't know something or are not familiar with it...you'll earn more respect that way. As far as pay goes, some of my classmates are making several dollars more per hour working LTC but can't start an IV, do splints, and spin in emergency cases because they've lost some of their skills...

RNorBust · Oct 22, 2004

I have been an LVN for 14 years. Prior to graduation, I began the job search. I immediately found the job I wanted. I went to work at a large pediactric hospital in a major medical center on the oncology ward. It was very rewarding but after 5 years I left. I began to be depressed about all of the death and dying. I was only 20 when I went to work there and I just couldn't handle it any more.

Now, I work in a small rural hospital as a floor nurse. Most of the time it is routine care of the same people with the same problems. You really get to know the patients and their whole families. I also am currantly enrolled in Excelsior. I have only one nursing exam left and 2 prereqs. I'm very excited about my new adventure.

Remember that where ever you decide to work, it is up to you to make the difference in your patients... also every where you go, no matter how big or how small, there will always be someone there that can teach you something new and also new skills to learn with every job. Good luck!!!

Denise

erdave · Oct 26, 2004

look at my profile..been doing this since Genesis. Used to be proud of nursing as an LPN but i have seen the changes over the last (5) years. We are second class citizens now. The fault isnt the RN's or us; its the system. Supply and demand. I started (3) years ago at the Univ. of Tn to obtain a BSN and then while taking required courses, my grades were good and i soon realized, i no longer had to be a nurse. At my age of 50, i soon entered a pre-law cirriculum and soon to be in law school. I have no regrets as far as being a nurse for all these years. I recommend it for most all, but not as an LPN. You either are going to be content with being a second class citizen or realize you will always be at the mercy of a cruel job market.

Go back to school and have your dream of becoming a real nurse. I know its hard going to school but you can do it. Heck if i can anyone can.

enjoy your day dave

RNorBust · Oct 27, 2004

look at my profile..been doing this since Genesis. Used to be proud of nursing as an LPN but i have seen the changes over the last (5) years. We are second class citizens now. The fault isnt the RN's or us; its the system. Supply and demand. I started (3) years ago at the Univ. of Tn to obtain a BSN and then while taking required courses, my grades were good and i soon realized, i no longer had to be a nurse. At my age of 50, i soon entered a pre-law cirriculum and soon to be in law school. I have no regrets as far as being a nurse for all these years. I recommend it for most all, but not as an LPN. You either are going to be content with being a second class citizen or realize you will always be at the mercy of a cruel job market.
Go back to school and have your dream of becoming a real nurse. I know its hard going to school but you can do it. Heck if i can anyone can.
enjoy your day dave

Kudos to you... I personally have gone back to school and am almost the real nurse that I want to be

Denise

RNorBust · Oct 27, 2004

look at my profile..been doing this since Genesis. Used to be proud of nursing as an LPN but i have seen the changes over the last (5) years. We are second class citizens now. The fault isnt the RN's or us; its the system. Supply and demand. I started (3) years ago at the Univ. of Tn to obtain a BSN and then while taking required courses, my grades were good and i soon realized, i no longer had to be a nurse. At my age of 50, i soon entered a pre-law cirriculum and soon to be in law school. I have no regrets as far as being a nurse for all these years. I recommend it for most all, but not as an LPN. You either are going to be content with being a second class citizen or realize you will always be at the mercy of a cruel job market.
Go back to school and have your dream of becoming a real nurse. I know its hard going to school but you can do it. Heck if i can anyone can.
enjoy your day dave

Kudos to you... I personally have gone back to school and am almost the real nurse that I want to be

Denise

marimar12 · Oct 27, 2004

I was already working at a children's hospital in the registration dept, so I was hired quickly in the ER. About half of the students from my class now work at tlc facilities, I don't down them for working there, but they don't really have a tremendous amount of exposure to different things like starting IVs or things of that sort. They are making good money though, so kudos to them.

marimar12 · Oct 27, 2004

I was already working at a children's hospital in the registration dept, so I was hired quickly in the ER. About half of the students from my class now work at tlc facilities, I don't down them for working there, but they don't really have a tremendous amount of exposure to different things like starting IVs or things of that sort. They are making good money though, so kudos to them.

CHATSDALE · Oct 27, 2004

i worked on a cardiac floor but would get pulled from there to mde-surg to pedi to oncology etc...you get good experience in a hospital and it will be invaluable to you in RN clinicals .. jobs are plentiful in central Louisiana...i know people in east Texas and they do not seem to have any problem finding work...

CHATSDALE · Oct 27, 2004

i worked on a cardiac floor but would get pulled from there to mde-surg to pedi to oncology etc...you get good experience in a hospital and it will be invaluable to you in RN clinicals .. jobs are plentiful in central Louisiana...i know people in east Texas and they do not seem to have any problem finding work...

no er holds · Oct 27, 2004

LPNs are real nurses...just a different scope...now I'll get off my soapbox. I currently work in an ER and am grateful for the experience it is giving me. It's worth it when senior RNs ask the LPNs to start IVs or do procedures the RNs have tried and have been unsuccesful at. Earning the respect of your colleagues is worth it (the struggle). I love my job and it's very rewarding when a patient or family thanks you for your hard work.