Average nclex, license, first job timeline in Illinois

RN7757 · Jul 21, 2015

Graded with my BSN in April, passed the boards in first week of June, license was up 6 days after I received confirmation that I passed. 6 weeks and no job. I did get an offer from one nursing agency, but had to deny them due to a whole plethora of reasons that I will not get into.

The job market sucks, especially in Chicago for new grads. Settle down and work at a nursing home for 6 months, then start applying to LTACH and work there for 6 months - 1yr if you want to get a hospital job. The only other way to get a hospital job is through connections.

ginalove · Jul 28, 2015

I graduated end of may took my boards in July got my license a week or two afterwards then started working on a telemetry beginning of october. I started getting interviews for hospitals end of September.

RainMom · Jul 29, 2015

Grad 2011, southern IL; most of my class were licensed by the end of July & had jobs right away. Several had jobs before graduating. I didn't start applying for jobs until August (wanted summer with my kids) & had 3 job offers towards the end of Sept.

This area still has a need for nurses unlike more populated regions. My small hospital has multiple openings & has resorted to travelers to fill gaps (& has plans to soon use foreign trained nurses).