i am a newly-licensed, completely inexperienced, very-frustrated, somewhat-desperate, lvn in southern california. i have been submitting applications and resumes for two months and have yet to be granted even oneinterview, let alone a job offer. i have received two notices that i am on a "list" of potential candidates which, so far, is my best hope for possible employment. it seems that every facility/agency i've been in contact with either wants "one or more years of experience" or is "not currently hiring lvn's."
i know that i have a good resume. i was valedictorian of my lvn graduating class, i have a 4.0 gpa in all completed pre-rn coursework, i have good references from nursing instructors and previous employers, i've been certified in iv therapy and blood withdrawal, and i have really good non-medical work experience as an office manager with the same company for 8 years. even so, i am getting nowhere...
it is getting to the point that i am simply desperate for a job... any job. and, since i have paid (er, wasted ) $30,000 on obtaining my lvn, it would be kind of nice to find a job somewhat related to what i have been trained to do. thus, i am wondering...
if an lvn can't work as an lvn, what else can an lvn do?
am i qualified to be a phlebotomist if i'm iv certified?
am i qualified to be a medical assistant?
am i qualified to work for a veterinarian (seriously)?
I don't know where exactly in Socal you are but when I finished Vn school 2007 in the San Diego area there were many opportunities. La jolla Nurses for one will train you right out of school for Home Health Nursing. I've had some great one to one jobs in home health.
Have you looked for jobs that combine the two positions (LVN and Office Manager)? It seems you could really get a job in an Medical Office with experience with Management. Well, what area was your management in? Also, I would go with a Temp Agency to get some experience. I know in Louisville, KY they are more apt to hire new nurses because they don't have to pay as much they would for a nurse with experience.
I am so sorry to hear that you have not found a job. Where are you applying? Here in Louisiana they are always hiring in a nursing homes. I would say hang in there. You will find something, I know it. :up:
I would love to do temp work with an agency to get some experience! Do you have the names of any in Orange County or Los Angeles County that don't require at least 6 months experience? Unfortunately, I haven't found any...
Thanks!
Have you tried agencies to get some experience for now. Dr offices, long term care, rehab centers, assisted living, camps in the summer, schools(public and private)-at least subbing for now(getting experience), VA hospitals..
Congratultions of such high grades and great refercnes etc! I'm sure you'll make and excell. Best of luck!
The market has changed significantly since 2007, unfortunately. I'm looking for work in Orange County and Los Angeles County. It's good to hear there are home care companies that are willing to hire and train new grads. Does anyone have the names of any in LA or Orange Counties?
I don't know where exactly in Socal you are but when I finished Vn school 2007 in the San Diego area there were many opportunities. La jolla Nurses for one will train you right out of school for Home Health Nursing. I've had some great one to one jobs in home health.
After we graduated, LVNs from our class found work in home health, doctor's offices, and nursing homes. I think you can do psych as a new LVN grad too. You might also try long term subacute/rehab facilities too. After you have 6 mos to a year experience, more doors will open up for you. I did hospice and I'm doing urgent care now.
Market yourself, just show up to LTC facility, tell them you are willing to do PRN, they have to train you for that too. Look good, sound good, be friendly, be in control of the interview, shake hands, compliment the facility. Tell them this is where you want to work and are willing to wait untill they can get you on full time. When I walk in (cold call) I shake hands with the Administrator, DON or whoever, and I say, "I have heard so many good things about the facility, I just wanted to come be a part of it, I know your turn over is low, but I want to be on the list when something comes open" Be prepared, if they say what have you heard, then have something ready, name drop if possible, My Dr, said this would be a great place, or his nurse suggested I try here. then be sure and let them know, your right, I don't have a lot of experience, so it will be easy for me to learn the way your company does things, your protocol, and I wouldn't be tempted to fall back on a previous employers wrong way of doing things. Your company will be able to train me right the first time. Turn your negative into a positive. PRN is your foot in the door, good work and and self promotion is the way you get both feet in. good luck
I am too an LVN, since 1993, and I've seen plenty of ebbs and flows in the industry. Currently, LVN's are being used less in hospital settings. We are still being used in home health, geriatrics, rehab centers, private agencies, and doctor's offices. Kaiser is a big company that uses LVN's at all of their satellite clinics. When I graduated, hospitals were laying off nurse, all nurses including RNs. You couldn't get hired without experience; like trying to get credit without credit and new grad programs were scrace. It was who I knew who would refer me that I got my first entry level job. Look at Craigslist. In my area (Ventura County) there is also agencies posting for LVN's and some that some saying they will take new grads. And if you paid $30,000, does the school not have a placement program for their grads? What a shame! Keep trying. It's always hard to get that first job, but once you're in, you're in. Hang tough. LVN's are still a viable resource in the nursing industry!
i definitely know how you feel. i'm from southern california too. I graduated in november 2008... took and passed the nclex in january 2009. i'm waiting for my license to arrive in the mail right now. i've applied everywhere, nursing homes, LTC, SNF, subacute, etc!!! either they reject me right away for not having experience or call me for interviews, and never call me back. they want at least 1 yr experience... no one wants new grad LVNs anymore. if you search for job openings out there... hospitals and facilities only have hundreds of openings for RNs now. this sucks!
Since December 08, I've been working for a home health agency as a caregiver JUST to get a job... and I am getting paid crap ($9-11/hr)! with less than 16 hours a week, and sometimes even NO CASES at all! I used to be a medical assistant before I was an LVN and was earning $16/hr just being an MA! I'm so desperate for a full-time job right now... with all the job cuts here in los angeles, I don't think i'll ever find a job as an unexperienced LVN. such a waste of money. =(
I finally gave up on the job search as an LVN. I got too tired of looking for nothing. today, I just got home from an interview at cedars-sinai med grp and got hired as a front/back office medical assistant. i guess i'll be working there for now full-time and continue working at the home health place part-time to get experience until i get my RN prerequisites completed. hopefully i'll be able to apply for a position at cedars-sinai hospital in the future.
Asisted living or Long term care. Thats about it. Thats where they are utilized. Also Wound Care consultants.
WHAT??? Sorry, but LPNs are utilized in a lot more places than assisted living or LTC. You have schools, day care centers that have nurses on staff, Home Health, correctional institutions, Dr offices, hospitals (YES there are still hospitals out there that hire LPNs, even some large corporations and factories hire nurses due to the possibility of workers being injured. We live near a Kellog's and Tyson plants and they hire nurses to be on staff. Public health clinics, outpatient hospitals, day surgery centers, adult day care centers like those for people with alzheimers, mental health facilities. PLEASE don't ever let anyone tell you that the only place you will find emplyment is in LTC!!!
I am not an LVN but my mom is and she works in home health and LOVES it. She stays very busy and gets paid well. We are in TX and there is a huge demand for LVNs for home health agencies.. It is a great place to work with a lot of flexibility in your hours and what not... :)
for all the socal nurses (chula vista/san diego) keep trying!! i work at sharp chula vista ER, and we have something called 'bid shift' where you can bid for a shifts and i see tons of listings for urgent cares and sharp rees stealy all around southbay, so there should be some openings for LVNs. (bid shift is open to only sharp employees but the point i'm making is that with all the needs in those areas you should apply). for example i see listings for urgent cares at downtown san diego, mira mesa, rancho bernadro, la mesa, and even medsurg floors at sharp chula vista for LVNs. so don't given up good luckk. oh and starting pay around here is about 18-20, and night shift differential is 4 dollars and bidshift starts at 25!! goood luck =]
) $30,000 on obtaining my lvn, it would be kind of nice to find a job somewhat related to what i have been trained to do. thus, i am wondering... 
blameitonrio
11 Posts
I don't know where exactly in Socal you are but when I finished Vn school 2007 in the San Diego area there were many opportunities. La jolla Nurses for one will train you right out of school for Home Health Nursing. I've had some great one to one jobs in home health.