Need some advice / help

[Rick(SoCal)]

Greetings,

I am new to the forum and am hoping that someone can give me some advice on which direction to travel getting employment in Southern California.

I am an LVN in California and have been looking for work for almost a year now. My problem is that I took a position as a Quality Assurance Specialist right out of school and passing the NCLEX. I did not get the much needed / desired medical experience that is wanted by all the employers that I have applied and interviewed with. It is always the same story, they want 6 months or more experience working as a nurse. Most of the companies will not take working in a SNF as the required experience.

I have over 20 years of Emergency Management experience and am an instructor for a local Law Enforcement agency. I have all my certifications and even have my ACLS per a request from a potential employer that never called back after I got that certification.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? nd if so, what did you do to resolve it? I really need some help and hope someone can

Have a great day........Rick

[cali510]

Welcome to the site. I, too, am having job trouble in SoCal. I just got hired by two new home health employers, and neither has work for me. So I am going to another tomorrow. That will make five home health agencies, if they hire me. I've got experience in long term care but do not care to go back to that area of nursing. One of the home health agencies asked me if I planned to renew my expired ACLS card, and I told the interviewer that was on my agenda when I get the money to do it. I am starting a program of calling my agencies to let them know I'm still out here. Sooner or later there has to be some work. The best advice I can give you is to keep on trying. Why aren't you staying with the QA job? That could not have been a bad job. Unfortunately, the way things are now, if one has a job, they should think about keeping it to avoid long periods of no work. Hope you get something soon.

[Rick(SoCal)]

Thanks for the reply. I cannot even get the Home Health Agencies to look at me without the 1 year min experience. As far as the QA position, the company was sold and was moving all the Regulatory Affairs positions to the east coast. I could'nt just pack up the family and go. Company was not going to pay for relocation costs and it would have just been a nightmare.

[cali510]

I don't know where you are in SoCal, but you might want to try this agency: American Private Duty in Studio City. They make a point of hiring new grads so I don't see you having a problem. The pay ain't anything to write home about, but it is better than nothing. Good luck.