Apply before or after being given reciprocity?

Published

Specializes in Cardiac.

So I will be moving to a new state soon, and I'm curious if it would be better to apply to positions before, or after moving there?

Benefits to applying before:

  • If I get hired then I will have a job as soon as I get there

Drawbacks to applying before:

  • Some places may throw the application away immediately when seeing it is from out of state?
  • There's no way for me to do an in person interview until I get there

Ideally of course, I'd like a job waiting for me when I get there, but I'd rather not waste applications with facilities that won't give me a second look until I'm actually there.

Benefits to applying after:

  • My reciprocity will likely be processed and I will be eligible to work
  • Facilities will look at my application with a local address

Drawbacks to applying after:

  • The hiring process is slow and tedious, I don't want to stay unemployed for long in a new city
  • Might have missed some job opportunities by applying later
  • Will not find a job until later

This is of course, all assuming that I will describe my situation in my cover letter, but I'm still not sure what is the best course of action. The facility I get hired in I intend to stay with throughout Nursing school and then perhaps even after I get my RN. I know the situation is a little bit different for RNs considering their demand, but what should I do as a CNA?

Any acute care managerial staff or someone who has been through this process have any comments?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Ortho.

Sorry for the long post.

Well I'm hopefully finishing this same situation. I moved from Florida to NJ. I applied for jobs at the same time that I started the reciprocity process(1 week before moving).

In my resume I put my FL license number along with the date I started the process. I also made sure to state it in my cover letter. I started the process on the second week of Nov and I still haven't gotten the final approval. I did the fingerprinting and passed the background. I'm just waiting for the final approval from the State.

I applied to every job that came up. In Jan, I got hired to a nursing home. They accepted me as a nurse's aid not a CNA($2 less).

Take whatever you want from my situation. I'd say start applying.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ok i live in Texas does any one know how to get another copy of my License (CNA)...what do i need to do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion