Searching for New Grad Jobs

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello:

I will graduate with a BSN this May. I am currently on winter break but would like to get everything ready so I can have a job set up by the time I graduate.

I keep hearing about the stories of people becoming discouraged from applying (but I also hear stories of people getting hired...), I would like to avoid that at all cost.

Does anyone know of pockets of areas where they are hiring? Should I start applying now? I am willing to move anywhere.

Thanks!!

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Frankly, it would be very difficult to accurately predict hiring patterns this far ahead. ACA is rolling out and the effects are just now beginning to be felt... hospitals may be drastically changing their labor budgets to deal with ongoing reimbursement changes by then. Be sure to contact all of the hospitals where you have had clinical rotations to see if they have any transition programs for new grads. These programs usually have tight deadlines for application & you want to get in on them if possible. This is your best bet.

Specializes in ER.

I started applying after a Cincinnati's Children's Hospital hiring manager said that we should start applying the first month of our final semester because he had already finished hiring those new graduates. Unfortunately, the hiring patterns were different in my part of the state and no one would consider us till November when we graduated in December. Depending on how many different hospital services you have in your area, each hospital service may have a different hiring pattern. One of them only hires through their residency and they have yet to interview anyone externally for their residency and just started internal interviews in January.

In all honesty, I would apply and stat noting which ones you're just being rejected without any consideration. Then hold off applying to those and continue applying elsewhere.

I would at least begin formatting your resume and asking for letters of reference. A lot of applications require those.

Hi Melissa: Agree with other posters. Start getting letters of reference from at least two clinical instructors now, while they'll still remember you. Any chance that you have clinical experience as a CNA (or whatever your area calls "nursing assistant")? Where are you located? I know you said you're willing to move anywhere (good attitude! that's what I had to do). I might be able to give you some leads. PM me for more info if you want. Happy to help if I can!

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