whats a LPN to do?

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So its pretty sad out there so far for the job search. Hospitals only hire a few LPN'S. Doctors office...well they want at least one year experience. The nursing homes are full. I just put a resume in at a cardio office because it said, "new grads welcome" and my sister who does work in a doctors office told me that all the girls in her office said to stay clear of that place. They said they go through LPN's like crazy because they abuse their LPN's in a verbal way. They said they will call you stupid right to your face..YIKES...I would not think that was legal. Now if they call I don't know what to do?????I have a few more places to try but I had no idea it would be this hard. My age does not help either..I am 18. I am not giving up and of course I hope someone will take a chance on me but it does get frustrating :o

Jean

What Ive found out was to send my resume to almost everyplace I came across. I lot of the job offers or at least interview offers I got was for places whose websites didnt saying hiring. I called them to ask for the human resource office and HR told me to go ahead and fax a resume. I cant tell you how many places told me that who didnt even have a hiring position on their website. Just make sure your cover letter is good and personal to that place and highlight the skills that will draw their eye.

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I know that many hospitals are NOT hiring LPN's. What I suggest is don't stay an LPN; move up the ladder. Or alternatively, try to find a job in a nursing home.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

you should def. call the cardio's office to follow-up. DId they get your resume? You are really interested in the position. Can you make an appt. to come by? etc. be proactive. you have to show them you are willing to work. Get their attention! Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Post OP.

i live in louisiana and wow out here we are hired just as much as the rns.

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The cardio job is all ready filled :uhoh21: but there was a message left for me from a family practice that I sent a resume out to. They want me to call Monday morning at 8:00 AM. I would love to get that job, its only like 5 minutes from where I live. I am going to call first thing in the morning. My only worry is I have caught an awful cold. I am coughing and hacking up a storm and sound terrible. I know I will find a job and there are nursing homes that I have not tried yet but I guess I wanted to try for the jobs I would really love to work at first. Sometimes its hard to show up at the offices because there are several locations or they use a P.O. Box or fax number only. I will let you know what happens but I am not getting my hopes up to much. They do know I am a new grad because it was my Mom that took the message and the nurse manager asked her if I had worked as a nurse before. Will see what happens. Do you think its possible my age does hurt me?

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.

A few words of advice. Do not reveal your age. Age discrimination in employment is illegal. If you have it posted in your resume, delete it. It is none of their business. Try to get an interview before filling out an employment application. Sometimes this is hard, because that is how some employers get away with knowing personal stuff.

Of course, if you have to fill out an application before interviewing, sometimes you have to fill this information out.

Secondly, dress professionally and use adult clothes. Not trying to disguise yourself, but if they see a mature 18 year old dressed in conservative clothes, they may prefer it to a 25 year old who is not...

Wayunderpaid

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Thanks..most times I have been asked to fill out an application which includes my d.0.b. I dress pretty conservative but don't own a women's suit. If I have gone in to the place with my resume they have asked me to sit down and fill out an application but when I answer adds from the paper I just mail in my resume. I will be calling back on this job tomorrow and will see what happens. My grandmother has been job hunting for 6 months(not as a nurse but just looking for pt time work) and she could not get hired because she was to old. And I can't get a job because I am to young..crazy world we live in. I am not worried yet I know someone will take a chance on me. When I did clinical in a doctors office they taught me how to draw blood. They told me that I wasn't suppose to tell anyone because they never do that for student nurses but they really liked me and thought I was a going to be a good nurse so I just have to keep the positive thinking going on and wait for God to open the right door.

Jean

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Specializes in Biomedical, Hospice, LTC, Office.

Wow. Advice on a first job, I feel kinda pressured, I wanna try and steer you guys the right way :p

I really hated working at physician's offices, I have to admit that I felt like a glorified maid. I did well there, the money was adequate, and the benefits were great, I just didn't like the job. That's not to say that you won't like the job, so I would say full steam ahead! Everyone likes different things, so you might really love this! At that time in my life I was really wanting to do something more active. There's lots of advantages in office positions, so go for it and if you don't enjoy it a year later you magically have experience.

Hospice and Homecare are also good places to start, they generally have good training and mentoring programs. There's always someone available for you to call if you don't know what you're looking at, and they can usually help you over the phone. If they can't, my experience is that they'll come out and take a look for you.

Another place to look is at the city/borough/state jail/prison. I had a great time working there, and there's something to be said for being able to tell people that are simply rude and causing a disturbance to get out. If they don't want to go, there's always a nice officer there to help them find their way home. In addition to that, working there is really like a minor emergency clinic, you see a lot of doctor's office complaints, a lot of injuries, and occasionally the biggie. Hubbies are usually against this job due to the 'danger' and I suppose that it is dangerous, but I never felt like it was. One thing if you do choose this, though, is that inmates are cons, and they'll try to con their way into your lives. There's nothing in the prison uniform that's worth losing your life, career, money...and you really don't want to be charged with anything for getting involved with one.

I would never never advise a brand new nurse to take a job in LTC. My LTC experiences have been horrible, waking up daily to try and decide if I wanted to call in sick (I never did), and getting more and more frustrated daily until I finally simply couldn't take it anymore. Some people do really well in that environment, but I didn't.

Anyway, best of luck, and let us know what happens!

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What is a LTC?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.
What is a LTC?

Long Term Care

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Well I called about the Famly Practice job and they asked me if I could be there in 30 minutes. There was no way that it was possible. I could not be ready in just 20 minutes. I had just gotten up and needed a shower and had worked all weekend with a bad head cold and just felt awful. I did offer to be there in 45 minutes. The women was very nice and said that she understood and she was just taking a shot. I do have an interview on Wed at 9:00 AM. They want me there earlier so I can fill out an application which of course will show my age.:o I am feeling so discouraged! Maybe I should have pushed myself to get ready but my eyes were all puffy and I would not have looked my best. It would have taken 10 minutes to warm up the car, we have snow and cold here. Did I blow it? :uhoh21: Also I put in an app and resume at a VA Hospital about a week ago, would it be a good idea to make a follow up phone call now and what should I say?

Jean

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Specializes in Biomedical, Hospice, LTC, Office.

Don't worry about it. They were asking if you could come in most likely because the doc would have had a few minutes to meet you before (s)he started seeing patients for the day. If you couldn't make it in half an hour, it's best to say you can't, because at least you're being honest.

So far as your age on the application goes, while you're there looking at them they're most likely going to figure out that you're young, so I would say present a conservative-appearing package. No facial piercings, tie your hair up if it's long enough for ties, and wear either tasteful scrubs (ready to go to work right now, yes!) or a dark colored dress with low heels, and makeup if you wear it.

Also, you can use the power of positive thinking to get things on your side. (A little metaphysical help) Start thinking about this job as if it was already yours. Repeat things like "I'm starting my new job Wednesday at 9:00." "I love my new job at the pediatrics office." That will give you confidence (really!) when you walk in the door on Wednesday morning, and that shows in your interview.

Very best of luck to you! (although you won't need it :D)

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