calling ALL newly licensed NURSES.......[3yrs<]

[NURSESrMEAN]

this is a roll call just to compare stats..... helpful hints may come out of this...

but if you are a nurse licensed within the last 3 years:

please list your city or state & how long did it actually take (between licensure & day of work) to secure you 1st job? the area?

newly licensed job seekers: please list your city or state & how long (since licensure) have you been looking for your 1st job??? how many interviews (if any) have you had? area?

thank you ladies! :heartbeat:heartbeat

god bless!

[Work in Progress]

I graduated May 25th, 2010, was listed as licensed on the state website on June 17th, was hired on July 20th and Started on August 1st (due to the NEO schedule). I had started looking in March when new grad residency applications were due. I was hired on at the same hospital in which I worked as a Nurse intern. It took a lot of work to get an interview, even as an internal applicant. I had to call/email and drop in to several floors as well as go through the HR process. Luckily my previous boss let me keep working until it all worked out.

I live in Denver, CO and (though I may complain about it) I am extremely fortunate to have a job so quickly in this town. Most of my graduating class (from a respected program) still haven't even had interviews.

[PNnurse2]

I graduated march 2009, moved to anoth location, i never got to take the nclex till August , pass and applied to countless postings, still no interview as of yet. Applied to two agencies got a 2 day case with one in april 2010 and with another months later(july-october) got 1-3 days work. at one point nothing for a 5 weeks.This type is called per diem or prn jobs. Not sure when you will work is the norm, i am not use to this work style so i am going to work in another field for stable income. west Florida

[busygurrl]

ladyaschern if those are federal student loans i would suggest you consolidate them. this will give you up to 5 years forberance or you can do deferment if you qualify.

[LadyAscheRN]

Update for Nov 2nd:

I just sent out my 201st application this afternoon. To date - 4 interviews, no offers. Total turndown letters: 82.

I have relocated to Tucson, AZ, in hopes that the job market would be more forgiving..but still no luck. I did attempt to consolidate my loans, but was told I didn't qualify due to a poor credit score (of course it's poor, I'm out of work and living on credit!!).

In 13 days, I will have been out of school 6 months, and still no work as an RN in any capacity.

[DownSouthDiva]

I graduated May 14, 2010, but didn't take the NCLEX until mid-July. I got hired at the beginning of September the postpartum (mother/baby couplet care unit). I had been working as a nurse intern (kinda like a CNA) for about 18 months prior to my hire as an RN.

I live in the Lowcountry in South Carolina.

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

Former LPN graduated as an RN in April '09.

Passed NCLEX June '09

Started looking Sept '09 (was on maternity leave) and after 3 months I received less than 5 callbacks. In every situation either the employer decided that my LPN experience meant nothing and they didn't want a new grad or it was a shady agency recruiter who wanted a warm body to fill their quota for a job that I was NOT qualified for.

Finally around Thanksgiving I was scheduled for an interview for an Ortho position in an actual real live hospital but then my dreams were dashed a day later when they cancelled due to hiring of an internal candidate.

After that I started to ask nurses I knew about jobs and finally in late Dec '09 I was hired via a connection.

I live in the NYC metro area, the market is beyond tight, and I was looking before St. Vincent’s and North General closed. I shudder for the new grads...simply put despite the odd new grad getting lucky here and there NYC is not new grad friendly.

I'm not working in acute care and no one in acute care is interested in hiring me today because I lack acute care experience. I work for a hospital(off-site outpatient clinic) and I have almost 1 year experience as an RN and more than 2 as an LPN and I was also a CNA before that and still...nada. The only way I'm getting an acute care job is if I transfer and I will likely have to fight for it because no nurse manager wants to bother to train a new grad when there are thousands of experienced nurses hanging on the tree like ripe fruit.

[MsSocalRN]

Graduated June 2010

Passed NCLEX July 2010

Started RN job October 25, but had to relocate 3000 miles for this job, I was in Southern California but I am now in East Tennessee, working for a Magnet status hospital too, so my advice if you can relocate to the east or even to Texas do it, pay is lower but the cost of living is lower as well

[dseem13]

Graduated August 2010.

Applied for 2 jobs around graduation.

First job interview early September 2010.

Job offer from that interview mid month.

Passed NCLEX end of September.

Started working beginning of October.

I went to school in Nebraska and got a job in the same city. I feel very fortunate!

[dankimal]

I graduated nursing school 5/16/2010, began my first job on 6/21/2010

[AKAnurse4]

Update!!!

Graduated May 2010

Passed NCLEX July 2010

First interview Oct 2010

Job was offered today!!! I start on Nov 29th on the Progressive Care unit!!! I'm located in Atlanta,Ga!

[hecallsmeDuchess]

Graduated May 2010

Sat for and passed NCLEX in June

Got a job in July (not the unit I wanted but I accepted with it gratitude) and I'm still working there.

I live in VA.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Graduated in May 2010 with a BSN, passed the nclex early june was offered a job soon after and started the job in early july.

I live in Wisconsin, and i applied to a lot of jobs prior to getting the job i have.