Where do I find a LPN job at??

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 6, 2004

i live in south carolina. i just finished school for lpn and became licensed 2 months ago. i have applied to about 20 places of employment, called back, and went back to most of these, and still no interview. i do not understand why this is happening to me?? some of these places want experience, but tell me how you will get it if you don't go to work first?? i thought i was going into a great profession that i loved and i knew there were shortages for nurses everywhere? but this is ridiculous!

if you're looking for acute care or 'hospital' employment, then i think your options will be limited. however, if you're willing to look at rehab, sub-acute, home health, or ltc, then i believe you'll have more options.

it was difficult for me to get my first lpn job out of school. at that time ('1995), there was a surplus of rn/lpn graduates & hospitals had their pick of rn nurses. many hospitals in the philadelphia, south jersey area even started to change lpns' titles from nurse to techs...citing the schooling is about the same in terms of time (lpn school being anywhere from ten to 18 months...many tech school requirements are six months to a year). i don't understand how the lpns went along with this. some didn't & stayed on as lpns until retirement...but once that position was vacated, then it was dissolved.

now that we're in a 'nursing shortage'...i've noticed more ads in nursing journals requesting lpns in acute care hospitals again. it seems to be all about the supply & demand i guess.

what you'll probably have to do is apply to the home health, sub-acute, rehab, & ltc facilities...you'll have a better chance with them. work there for at least a year or two so that you'll gain the much needed experience. perhaps by then, acute care facilities may start rehiring lpns again where you're licensed.

anyhoo, good luck & keep the faith.

cheers,

moe

nurseangel78 · Nov 6, 2004

I have applied at LTC and with home health, and I wouldn't really mind taking one of these positions. Here in SC, it use to be you could get a job in any nursing home, but now for some reason that isn't the case. The home health agency requires 12 month exp here and I am still waiting to hear from an assisted living place. Do you suggest that I kept bugging these places that I have applied too or just sit back and wait and PRAY that I get a job somewhere :) ??:)

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 6, 2004

i have applied at ltc and with home health, and i wouldn't really mind taking one of these positions. here in sc, it use to be you could get a job in any nursing home, but now for some reason that isn't the case. the home health agency requires 12 month exp here and i am still waiting to hear from an assisted living place. do you suggest that i kept bugging these places that i have applied too or just sit back and wait and pray that i get a job somewhere :) ??:)

follow-up with human resources. you could do this a few different ways...1) write a introduction or cover letter & attach it to your resume (which btw should only be one typed page)...also write a thank you letter (as in...thank you for taking my application into consideration) & address it to a specific person that works in h.r. 2) do some research....find-out things about the facilities that you can take advantage of...things i.e. like the history of the place, the people's names whom are in charge of h.r., the ceo, & the don. perhaps if you can talk to some employees or ask to shadow someone at the place. somehow incorporate what you've learned about the facilities & work it in your cover letter (which should be addressed to each individual facility you're applying too). in other words....if you're applying to say six facilities, each cover letter should have that facility's h.r. nursing representative's name, that facility's address & phone/e-mail on it. sell yourself in your cover letter...impress them with your knowledge (both with their history & your nursing knowledge)...stress how you'd be an asset to their facility. it'll show that you're really interested in them. 3) you could always either call or stop-by in person to follow-up. perhaps you'll develop a good report with someone in h.r. with your enthusiasm & personal charm.

when you do start hearing from them, i would go to the interview dress very conservatively. i'd wear a classic dark/navy blue suit (pant or dress...doesn't matter). wear very little jewerly....especially earrings, rings, & bracelets. wear your hair conservatively as well....if long...pulll it back in a knot...if short...keep it neat. wear very little...if not...no purfume...make sure your breath is good (don't drink coffee before any interview). always arrive 15 minutes early to an interview & have something to read. don't show-up beyond 15 minutes & by all means....don't show-up late! if you should get into some sort of traffic delay that's beyond your control...then i would have their number handy & call them to either inform them of the situation or re-schedule. have all necessary documents at the ready! have two copies of your resume so that if your interviewer should "mis-place" their copy, you have a back-up one. this also helps you to go through your resume during your interview. also, go with your written questions specifically designed for each facility. ask them about their nurse : patient ratios, staff availability, mandatory issues, etc. try to reserve your questions about salary & benefits to the end of the interview. if you feel that the person's interviewing you have a lot to offer...you'll also have to consider what type of place this is if they seem to not care about you having no experience but is willing to offer large sign-on bonuses. places offering huge sign-on bonuses often have problems with keeping staff on....i would be very leery with them. of course, always start out with a firm handshake. always be attentive....it helps to jot down tib-bits of info during your interview that you can throw back at them later (like in that follow-up thank you letter) so that they know you were listening. pay particular attention to the name to the person interviewing you. when they introduce themselves...immediately repeat their names as in "please to meet you mr./ms/mrs. so-in-so." should they give you permission to call them by their first name...then by all means...say: "o.k. jane/harry." if you think you'd be too nervous to remember their names...always ask them for their business card!

i hope this can be of some help to you ~ cheers!

moe