First Job Search

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Hello fellow nursing students!

I am currently in my last semester of nursing school, and I have decided to start searching for my first nursing job. I am hoping to get into a mother/baby unit at a hospital, but I would also be content with working in a family medicine or pediatric office local to me (Southern NJ/Philadelphia area). I will be graduating with my ADN in May, and I also have my B.A. in Psychology. I have worked with children since I was 14 so pediatrics/NICU/nursery is my ideal area. Are there any places that would be worth looking at for jobs? I do not want to start in LTC, or in rehab nursing. I worked as a NA in rehab and I absolutely hated it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

while I'm still a student, I am from the area and I know it is next to impossible to get a job in any area hospitals without a BSN. Most are reaching for Magnet status, so they're only willing to hire BSN graduates. I'm not sure about physician's offices, though. I wouldn't be too picky in this market....SJ/Philly is a tough area to find a job, especially with an ADN and any experience is better than no experience.

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Specializes in Psych.

I'm with the other poster. This so-called "nursing shortage" is bull (from what I've heard, AND from a recent CNN article...http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/economy/2013/01/14/nursing-jobs-grads/2.html) so if I were you, I wouldn't be so picky, especially since you're graduating without a BSN. And I would be surprised if the NICU hired you straight out of school with no experience...doesn't an ICU typically want experience, or at least a recent preceptorship?

When I graduate in July (also with my ADN), I will be applying everywhere & anywhere....sometimes we need to swallow our pride & work somewhere even if it's not our "first pick"...I'm just looking forward to being done & finding a place where I can make a difference :nurse:

Good luck to you!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Hello fellow nursing students!

I am currently in my last semester of nursing school, and I have decided to start searching for my first nursing job. I am hoping to get into a mother/baby unit at a hospital, but I would also be content with working in a family medicine or pediatric office local to me (Southern NJ/Philadelphia area). I will be graduating with my ADN in May, and I also have my B.A. in Psychology. I have worked with children since I was 14 so pediatrics/NICU/nursery is my ideal area. Are there any places that would be worth looking at for jobs? I do not want to start in LTC, or in rehab nursing. I worked as a NA in rehab and I absolutely hated it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Ok...

Being that your are looking in the SJ/Philly area, It may take you a significant amount of time to land a job, especially with the ADN, heck, regardless of degree. I graduated last May, licensed in June, and I accepted a job in December and stated last month. A lot of facilities are not hiring new nurses, or any nurses at all and are looking at their budgets. When I entered nursing school, they told us to be prepared to look for a job 18-24 months.

Research the hospitals who are hiring ADNs and new grads who are ADNs. Cast that net wide; you may have a significant edge with your past experience, but also be prepared to go another route before your reach your desired destination. Good Luck!! :)

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Job searching is not easy now.

IT is an in demand area but you need at least a bachelors and at least 6 years experience in areas that college will not provide.

Friend with 12 years experience and bachelors took 8 months to find a new job.

I do agree with op though.

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