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If you are an unemployed LPN, the important thing to remember is that there are a number of fantastic options available to you. The nursing industry is one that is growing at a faster rate than most other industries, indicating that there is a high density of jobs available. Consequently you have better employment opportunities than other unemployed professionals.
Where LPNs Can Find Employment
There are a number of places which an unemployed LPN can consider when looking for a job. The more common options (hospitals and hospices) will come with greater completion in terms of getting employed, but it is important that you try all of the options.
Hospice
Hospice nurses work in one of two settings:
- A hospice facility where patients are cared for outside of their homes
- In a patient’s home
Your main duty as a hospice nurse is to provide care to patients who are dying. If you have a current nursing license you can advertise your skills privately and thereby increase your chances of home based hospice employ.
Hospitals
If you have been looking for a job you have probably already tried all of your local hospitals. Think of ways to improve your resume, such as by doing additional training courses and volunteering in health care facilities for additional experience, and then apply again,
Nursing Or Retirement Home
This involves work with the elderly. Usually you will care for the patient’s basic medical and hygiene needs as well as providing physical therapy. Again, with a current license, and unemployed LPN could advertise their services as a home carer for the elderly.
Private Doctor’s Office
As your role in a private doctor’s office will be largely administrative, you could do a basic course in administration to improve your chances of employment.
Other locations that you may not have looked for employment as an LPN in are:
- Blood labs
- Resorts
- Cruise ships
hese are also sectors and facilities that require experienced health care professionals on call, and consequently represent and alternative employment options for the unemployed LPN. The least you can do is find out what job openings there are in this regard and apply, even if you feel less than qualified for the position advertised.
National Statistics
As of May 2011 there were 729,140 available for LPNs. This estimate for detailed occupations does not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. In addition, this estimate does not include self-employed workers. What this means for you is that there are nearly 730,000 LPN jobs available for you to choose from and, in addition, you have the option of being self employed. This is a great way for an unemployed LPN to find employment. By advertising yourself in local papers and job websites as a professional nurse willing to offer home care services to those who need it, you are substantially increasing your employment opportunities. Nurses with higher levels of education also have more employment opportunities, so improving your education is another option.
Best Industries For An Unemployed LPN To Consider
To begin with it is worth considering those industries that have the highest levels of employment of LPNs. These are the industries that you could choose to focus on:
- Nursing Care Facilities employ about 215,270 nurses, making up about 12.90% of employed LPNs and pay about $20.72 an hour and $43,090 a year.
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ about 136,190 nurses, making up about 2.62% of employed LPNs and pay about $19.74 an hour and $41,060 a year.
- Offices of Physicians employ about 89,740 nurses, making up about 3.83% of employed LPNs and pay about $18.48 an hour and $38,440 a year.
- Home Health Care Services employ about 73,760 nurses, making up about 6.55% of employed LPNs and pay about $20.75 an hour and $43,160 a year.
- Community Care Facilities for the Elderly employ about 42,920 nurses, making up about 5.66% of employed LPNs and pay about $20.66 an hour and $42,960 a year.
Unfortunately the top paying industries are not necessarily good bets for unemployed LPNs because the number of jobs available is low. Grant making and giving services, for example, pays about $47,930 a year, but there are only about 100 jobs available. Likewise Junior Colleges pay well, but only have about 30 jobs available. However, the Employment Services sector, which pays around $45,670, has 41,010 jobs, making it a better option.
Best States For An Unemployed LPN To Consider
Certain states have better location quotients for LPN jobs than others. The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average. States with the highest concentration of LPN jobs and location quotients are:
- Louisiana = 22,150 jobs with a location quotient of 2.12
- Arkansas = 12,190 jobs with a location quotient of 1.88
- Mississippi = 10,620 jobs with a location quotient of 1.74
- Oklahoma = 13,610 jobs with a location quotient of 1.60
- West Virginia = 6,250 jobs with a location quotient of 1.57
Although not always a feasible option, unemployed LPNs desperate for work could consider relocating to one of the states mentioned in this list where there are many more LPN jobs are available. Licensing requirements between states vary, so ensure that, if you choose this option, you do what is necessary to transfer your LPN license from state to another.
Best Metropolitan Areas For An Unemployed LPN To Consider
If you already live in one of these states, or if you do not want to relocate it is important to remember that the concentration of jobs and location quotients can vary between different metropolitan areas. The best metropolitan areas for an unemployed LPN to look for work in are the following:
- Victoria, TX, where there are about 990 jobs and a location ration of 3.65
- Sherman-Denison, TX, where there are about 840 jobs and a location ration of 3.59
- Monroe, LA, where there are about 1,340 jobs and a location ration of 3.18
- Alexandria, LA, where there are about 1,080 jobs and a location ration of 3.04
- Rome, GA , where there are about 590 jobs and a location ration of 2.98
- Hot Springs, AR, where there are about 590 jobs and a location ration of 2.96
- Lima, OH, where there are about 750 jobs and a location ration of 2.71
- Sandusky, OH, where there are about 540 jobs and a location ration of 2.70
- Johnson City, TN, where there are about 1,140 jobs and a location ration of 2.61
- Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, where there are about 2,540 jobs and a location ration of 2.60
The areas that have the most jobs may not correspond with the areas that pay the most, but having a job is better than no job at all, no matter the salary. Most LPN jobs pay fairly well, however.
Best Non-Metropolitan Areas For An Unemployed LPN To Consider
There are also a number of nonmetropolitan areas with a good concentration of jobs and good location quotients for an unemployed LPN looking for better employment opportunities to consider:
- In the Winnsboro nonmetropolitan area there are about 1,550 jobs with a location quotient of 3.42
- In the North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area there are about 1,890 jobs with a location quotient of 2.95
- In the Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area there are about 2,130 jobs with a location quotient of 2.88
- In the East Georgia nonmetropolitan area there are about 1,220 jobs with a location quotient of 2.67
- In the Hammond nonmetropolitan area there are about 770 jobs with a location quotient of 2.65
Once again the nonmetropolitan areas that pay the highest salaries do not necessarily correspond with those that have the highest number of jobs. This is due to supply and demand – the fewer jobs there are the higher they pay. As an unemployed LPN you will need to weigh up the situation you are in and determine whether a high salary or a higher chance of employment are more important to you in your particular and current situation.
Finding a job may be easier said than done. Another option that you could consider in addition to the above is advancing your education. However this can be a costly method of finding a new job. If it is possible, it is recommended, but otherwise you could consider moving to one of the states mentioned above or focus your attention on those industries that pay the most and in which there is a higher density of job opportunities available. There are many options out there, and the trick is to not give up until you have exhausted them all.