Applying for jobs before graduation

[emgns]

Hello,

I am in my fourth semester of nursing school. Its actually only an associate's degree program. I am going to apply for the BSN program as soon as I'm done with this. I've actually been doing some research on how to start the process of applying for jobs. I have found some information indicating that people apply for RN positions prior to graduation. therefore I have a few questions:

1. How is it possible to apply for jobs prior to graduation?

2. What do I put on my resume other than the date of graduation, the intentions of me getting into a BSN program, my clinical hours and locations?

3. I plan on getting the ACLS, BLS, ekg and pharmacology, and PALS certification.what other certifications should I plan on getting in order to give me an edge in getting a job?

4. Is it possible to get these certifications prior to graduation?

5. It looks as though I won't be taking my NCLEX until late July or August. I will graduate in June with an ADN. when would be the optimal time to a start applying for jobs?

6. I have not volunteered yet. Is it necessary to volunteer? Does the fact that I have not volunteered hinder my possibilities of getting a job?

I know I'm asking a lot, I'd just like to get some clarification from someone that's actually done it or knows of it. I'm usually really good at figuring things out on my own however I'm having trouble with this one. Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

You can start applying now. It usually takes a few months to hear anything back anyway. Look for hospitals that have graduate nurse programs or jobs specifically for new graduate nurses. Good luck!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Under the education portion of your resume, you can put your school, your course of study and then "Graduate June 2015" for the dates. This clearly tells them you are finishing up nursing school. Because you are not a GN or an RN, do not reference yourself as such.

You should not list your clinical rotations on a resume. This is general knowledge, that you had clinicals during school. Clinicals do not "count" as experience. I would, however, list whatever jobs you have had prior to nursing school, focusing on the customer service/problem solving/critical thinking aspects of those for your bullet points (or if they were medical, ie: CNA, then focus on what you did as a CNA etc).

Volunteer work will not make or break you in most cases, though it can set you apart from the herd if you are wanting to go into a certain specialty and have volunteer time associated with that (ie: hospice volunteer, baby rocker in NICU, etc). You are probably too late in the game to make this happen at this point due to the time the screening process volunteering takes.

You can get ACLS, EKG, PALS prior to graduation. More advanced or specialized certifications require so many hours working as an RN before you are allowed to test for them (PCCN, CCRN, OCN, etc).

Whether it is time to apply now depends on your area of the country and what is customary. Some areas don't want to hear from you until you have passed NCLEX. Others, like where I live, are already at the end part of setting up interviews for new grads to start this summer after they graduate. Research what the norm is in your area. If yours is like mine, you need to get hopping on this now. I was hired in the October before I graduated (December 2011), passed NCLEX in early January and started my new grad position at the end of January. If I waited until I graduated to apply I would have missed the boat.

Best of luck.

[Jules A, MSN]

I usually recommend starting early especially if you have contacts from clinicals you can use to get your foot in the door however you are a long way away if not taking NCLEX until late July or August. FWIW I'd test within a couple of weeks of graduating. Stats show pass rates are better the sooner you test.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Yep, the sooner you test the better your odds. Taking time off to "study" for it has not shown to be helpful.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

"Only an associates degree"...?!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I had an offer in hand prior to graduation. I graduated in December 2002; I think I started applying in October or November. I started my job toward the end of January 2003 and took/passed my NCLEX a few weeks later. I just put a sticker with "GN" over the "RN" on my badge to accurately reflect my title.

I did not volunteer, and I don't know of any classmates who did. In my case, I had a new baby and a part-time job while in my 2nd year of nursing school, so I seriously had no time to even think of volunteering anywhere. I don't know how many nursing students do now in 2015, though.

Take your EKG class before ACLS or PALS. They expect you to know your rhythms prior to those classes. Years back when I first took ACLS, we had an EKG review. We didn't the past couple of times I took it. You can get them prior, although only you know if you can spare the time away from your schoolwork. Like not.done.yet said, you can't take nursing specialty certs without experience.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

I would, however, list whatever jobs you have had prior to nursing school, focusing on the customer service/problem solving/critical thinking aspects of those for your bullet points (or if they were medical, ie: CNA, then focus on what you did as a CNA etc).

This. I also wouldn't limit it to paying jobs; if you have experience that honed and highlights these skills, include it. I wrote about being a stage manager (leadership, delegation, critical thinking/problem solving) and president of my college's swing dance club (leadership again, teaching, team building) on my first resume out of nursing school.

[Coffeeislife31]

I'm late to the show but I love this comment. Never sell yourself short

[nolivas]

how did you apply to a new grad program before graduation? most of the applications for the new grad programs that i have seen require an active RN license, which I of course dont have yet, as I am 2 months from graduating and even further from taking the NCLEX