[AprilW3]

How long did it take you from graduation day until your first day on the job as an LPN? I would like to know how much longer I have to look forward to being dead broke :\

[Nursegena]

it seemed like forever! I graduated dec. 7th, 07, and was working by Feb. 18th, 08!

[luvyourself]

I got my license on March 26th and I got hired April 24,2008. I felt like I would never find a job. Have you guys heard any recruiter say there is a need for nursing but then there also isn't a need right now?

[midcom]

I think it all depends on what type of nursing job you want. Here in NE Iowa, if you want LTC, you could probably go to work the day after graduation but probably as an aid until you pass NCLEX. Getting hired at a hospital or clinic is harder & takes longer.

I graduated in late Sept 2007 & got hired mid January. However in the meantime, I had surgery twice & a cancer diagnosis. I was actually called to see if I was interested in an interview as I was checking out of the hospital after my mastectomy! Obviously, I wasn't pursuing a job very hard at the time. My job is in a clinic & it was worth the wait.
Dixie

[sonja77]

I graduated mid may 2006 and most people in my class had jobs before graduation. There are 2 hospitals in the town where I lived, one hospital started their new grad program about one week after graduation, the other hospital started theirs on June 6th.

I had job offers at both hospitals and one of the reasons I chose the second hospital was because of the time off between school and job.
I really needed some time off!

[kythe]

I was hired at a LTC facility where I had clinical rotation. I had a job lined up before graduation and started the day a license number appeared by my name on the online state board verification site. It was not the best facility (I now work elsewhere), but it was a good place to start since I gained valuable experience there. I doubt first jobs are usually dream jobs, but you've got to get your foot in the door somewhere.

I know what you mean about being "dead broke" though. I lived on financial aid during school and didn't have enough left over to pay for the NCLEX. I ended up borrowing money from my parents to pay for the test and application for a license, and I worked elsewhere while waiting for my license. It is hard starting a new career, and it can take a while to get on your feet financially. It pays off in the long run.

[Brownms46]

I was offered my choice of two positions prior to graduation at a county hospital in Texas, where I did my clinical training. I was offered a temp position in L&D, or NICU. I chose NICU along with another classmate, and started the day after my last makeup class.

The temp L&D position was d/t a nurse wanting to back to school to finish her degree. But she took back her request for time off, when she heard I had been offered the temp position.

Good luck!

[princessmommie78]

i had secured a job before i took boards.. it was a conditional hire based on passing, i was officially hired about 3 days later (after taking boards) when my name showed up on the Board registry as licensed and i was on the job site in less then a week.

[BCCnurse]

I Graduated July 26th 1998 and started my job October 3rd 1998.LTC 11-7 shift on lock down unit! Thank God I survived..

[Trophywife81]

I was offered a job prior to graduating from NS. I have been out of school for about 2 weeks now, and will start my job next Tuesday. So, that makes it about three weeks between graduation and beginning work.