Moving states after graduation

[Marine2ERNurse]

Hello everyone! I've been accepted to a BSN program in Alabama, but have little interest in living in the deep south indefinitely. I was trying to figure out if it's possible or even realistic to find a job fairly far away almost immediately after finishing a BSN program and (hopefully) passing the NCLEX is? Would employers consider hiring someone from another state with zero practical experience or is that more common in nursing? If it isn't realistic to find employment as a new graduate and I do stay in Alabama would travel nursing be the answer to potentially find long term employment at another location once the contract ends?

Also, could someone briefly explain how transferring your license between states works?

Thanks in advance!

[chare]

Yes, it is possible to be hired into a new graduate program in a state other than the one in which you attended school. Actually, the fact that you are willing to relocate will be helpful , as many new graduates are either unable or unwilling to relocate. If you are interested in a new graduate residency I would suggest you start looking 6 months prior to graduation. I can't speak to travel nursing leading to a permanent position, but you are going to need 1 to 2 years in a specialty.

As to "transferring" your license. If you are accepted into a new graduate residency you should have time to apply foe initial licensure in that state. If you haven't accepted a position prior to graduation, you can apply for licensure in any state, and the apply for licensure by endorsement in the state you will be working in if necessary. If you should need to do this, the board of nursing's website should provide detailed instruction on how to do this.

Semper Fi, and best wishes as you embark on your nursing career.

[Sour Lemon]

Hello everyone! I've been accepted to a BSN program in Alabama, but have little interest in living in the deep south indefinitely. I was trying to figure out if it's possible or even realistic to find a job fairly far away almost immediately after finishing a BSN program and (hopefully) passing the NCLEX is? Would employers consider hiring someone from another state with zero practical experience or is that more common in nursing? If it isn't realistic to find employment as a new graduate and I do stay in Alabama would travel nursing be the answer to potentially find long term employment at another location once the contract ends?

Also, could someone briefly explain how transferring your license between states works?

Thanks in advance!

It's definitely possible to move right after graduation, just do some research ahead of time. If you want to move to a saturated market like Los Angeles, New York City or Hawaii, you're up against a wall. If you want to move to a less saturated market, you're golden.

[Marine2ERNurse]

I have a few different states in mind, but I'm not sure that they any of them are too saturated. I've done a bit of research on I'm fairly certain there's a chance, but only time will tell.

[Dohardthings]

A friend of mine and I both got job offers before we graduated to a state we were moving to. It was a faster process to pursue licensure there rather than where we graduated from and having it transferred.

It's done all the time, btw.