What am I doing wrong?application

[u/Training-Cake-7727]

Hello everyone so I’ve been in this community for some time but decided to post today, so I need help guys. For context, I’m a new grad LPN I passed my boards back in December 2025 and since then things have been a bit rocky for me.

Around April this year I got my first impatient job in the ER as a new grad. I was super excited and so ready to start working as a new grad in the hospital setting, which is what I wanted. I loved it at first everything was going well at my first job, the environment was OK and people there were nice for the most part and willing to help train me, but as I went through my orientation I noticed a few things that were unsafe. They have something called ESI that’s how they categorize patients based off their acuity level on how sick they are. The protocol was that LPN’s were not supposed to be given levels 1 and 2 which were the highest acuity in the ED but we were able to handle levels 3, 4, and 5’s.

With that being said during the end of my orientation, I noticed the environment becoming suddenly more busy and charge nurses assigning LPN’s, including me-levels 1 and 2’s, while I was on orientation. Of course I spoke up about this to management several times, but they brushed me off and this continued for months. Eventually I was reported by 2 of my preceptors for making 2 mistakes: none of which caused patient harm but rather unsafe situations, I won’t go into detail about them but i ended up just getting a verbal warning and some papers to sign about being on a corrective action plan that was supposed to last for 3 additional months- and was also being “slow” and need to work on my time management and critical thinking- eventually I resigned before the action plan ended, the paperwork just said it would last until the end of employment.

Honestly I think I just got burned out. It was too fast paced for me and I couldn’t take any breaks because I was on orientation the whole 5 months, management and I kept on extending it because we were noticing my confidence needed improvement and time management.

So now I have 5 months of ER experience, possibly a verbal warning in my record, I’ve applied for 6 Jobs so far and got rejected from all 6. I had 1 interview since I left and they told me it was a good fit for me but later rejected my application.. what do I do now? I’m thinking about removing the ER experience all together but I’m afraid there’s going to be a huge employment gap. Before the ER I was just working in fast food, no prior healthcare experience, and my manager was encouraging me to use her as a reference but what if she’s telling them stuff I’m not aware of like my flaws. I’ve tried applying outpatient to primary care, impatient, and now I’m starting with assisted living facilities. I’m just disappointed in myself and I’m willing to go back to school and just start All over again if I have to😢.

What should I do? Go back to school? Or keep applying? I’ve been without a job for 3 weeks now nearly a month. I’ve Got to help my parents financially somehow.

[u/Emergency_Repeat_495]

I’m a new grad lpn too I’m in Chicago and it doesn’t seem to be any problems getting hired at skilled facilities and long term care . Most just want your license active .One thing I have learned in health care as a CNA is not all jobs are the same and you just have to move around a bit til you find what’s for you. I think the hospital is a bit to much for someone who hasn’t worked health care it takes adjusting .
As for the resume leave that job off if it it’s no system where they can check that unless it’s under the same company here’s a reply u can say
(After graduating and obtaining my LPN license, I took some time to determine what type of nursing environment would be the best long-term fit for me. I’m now actively looking for an LPN position where I can continue developing my clinical skills and grow with the organization)

[u/Fuzzy-Criticism-2450]

I wouldn't remove your ER experience, but don't add your manager as a reference. There is a good chance that he/she is the reason your didn't get a job offer.

Idk where you live, but you could try LTC or doctors offices. I honeslty think you'll get burnt out in LTC or SNF too. It's fast paced. You can definitely learn time management skills there.

The ER is hard for anybody. You did the right thing by speaking up. You're not going to have good time management skills for a while. It's a learned skill, nursing school doesn't teach it.

[u/Pookie2018]

It’s a tough job market right now for everyone, even nurses. 3 weeks of job searching is too early to give up. Keep the ED experience on your resume but don’t use your old manager as a reference. Just keep applying to as many positions as possible. Eventually you will get an offer.

[u/Training-Cake-7727 → u/Pookie2018]

You know what, thank you. It’s so easy to feel alone in this situation, I will keep applying. If you don’t mind me asking, What specialties do you recommend for new grads?

[u/Legitimate_Try_3765]

Where do you live? They train LPN’s to work in the nursing home environment. They just need a body on duty. The hospital is not the right setting for everyone. Get in where you fit in.

[u/Training-Cake-7727 → u/Legitimate_Try_3765]

Interesting take.. I’m in In the Midwest, now none of my clinicals took place in the nursing home, therefore we were rather exposed to the hospital setting for clinicals… they pushed us to go into medsurg but then when I graduated there were mo medsurg jobs willing to take new grads near where I live soo that’s how I started in the ER. My other colleagues started in neuro, ER or peds.