Experienced ICU RN Planning to Relocate - How Early to Apply?

[OurMateFromTheStates, BSN]

Hi all,

I'm a RN, BSN, CCRN with 5+ years of ICU experience in MICU/SICU/CVICU currently employed at a large tertiary/academic CVICU as a staff nurse/ECMO specialist. My fiancé and I are looking to relocate back to my home town early next year (February-ish). For some financial/logistical reasons, I'll need to obtain a job offer as soon as possible...

Which brings me to my question: How early is too early to throw out apps for jobs? There's tons of openings at centers and units that I'd be interested in, but I'm wondering when would be most appropriate to start applying to those jobs. I know that openings and availability vary wildly throughout the year, but I also know that experienced nurses can be hard to come by, so some units may be interested in 'banking' a candidate for a later start date. I also know that computerized HR/hiring systems can make the application process slow to begin with...meaning an application submitted today might not receive any return contact, let alone an interview, for well over a month anyways.

I guess I'm wondering if I apply early in the fall (September-November range) if that would be too early if I hope for a February start date? Are units generally somewhat flexible with start dates for the right candidate?

Any advice and guidance would be appreciated!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

It just depends on the facility to be honest. Some are looking to fill a position immediately. Others can take up to four months. It all just depends on how efficient, organized and motivated they are.

You might consider having a plan to go earlier than February if the dream job comes along. It gives you flexibility while letting you look for the ideal start date of February in the meantime. I would personally start applying around November.

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

I have applied to jobs and gotten calls the next day, and I've applied and not heard back for months. Because of this, when I planned to relocate out of state, I started applying 3 months in advance. For the job that I accepted, I got a call the next day, interviewed a couple days later and had a job offer by the end of the week. They sounded surprised when I said that I couldn't start for a couple months, but they hired me anyway, and even gave me 2 different orientation start dates to choose from in the month that I requested. I think you'd probably be fine applying in November, not sure if I'd apply sooner than that though.

[OurMateFromTheStates, BSN]

@NICUismylife and @not.done.yet - Thank you both so much for taking the time to reply. I think you're probably spot on with November; that's likely late enough that an early February start date wouldn't be too unrealistic, especially with the holidays and New Year thrown in there. As you say, it's so hard to predict since each application be so different, so a bit of flexibility on my end is likely needed.

Thanks so much again for the advice. Much appreciated!

[ekat09]

Depending on where home is, see if you can get a travel job at home or near home. Then you could have a job right away, possible travel/ move expenses paid, more time to find a permanent position, or the travel job could turn into a permanent job.