Given the current job market, when should I start applying for jobs?

[RDH1, ADN, BSN, RN]

I've done a search on the topic, but most threads are from 2008. I graduate in May 2010, and anticipate taking NCLEX in July (that's the earliest we can take it). Would it be foolish to start applying in January (not having graduated yet and obviously with no license)? With the job market being so tight, I don't know if a hospital would hire an RN student who couldn't start work until July at the earliest. Since I am in an acclerated program, I never had an opportunity to do the nurse intern/extern/student nurse associate thing, so I don't have my foot in the door at any facilities.

I do have some travel planned for the summer, but I could cancel plans if I did find a position. (I would be really bummed though, but work is more important). I have enough money saved up from a previous non-nursing job to get me through until the fall without having any huge financial difficulty, but things would start to get rough for me if I didn't have a job by October. I don't think it would be wise to wait until the end of summer to start applying, but I would have my license by that time and could follow through with my travel plans and not have any interruptions.

On my resume, would I just put "expected graduation May 2010" or "expected NCLEX July 2010"?

Thank you!

[webmansx, ASN, RN]

Without a licence, they will not consider your resume.

However there are things you can do to "get your foot in the door". Get a CNA job, volunteer or shadow some nurse. The Idea is to get them familiar with your face (odd as that may sound). They are more likley to hire, "the sweet nursing student who used to volunteer here on weekends" than some stranger off the street who sent in his/her resume. For now kepp styuding hard :)

[iluvdetroit]

Just my $.02, but I think I would wait until I graduated to begin applying at hospitals. The thing is, even though it is highly unlikely, and I'm sure not going to happen in your case, something could happen between now and your graduation and the facility would have wasted their time hiring you in advance. That's just how I think that the facility might see it, again, not what I think would happen to you. For example, when I was in nursing school, there was a guy in my class who was awesome. He was the class president, worked really hard to get excellent grades, and was loved by everybody. Then, one semester before we were supposed to graduate, he had to leave school because he was behind on his tuition. None of us had any idea, and I still think it was rotten of them not to work something out with him, but I'm just giving an example to point out that, from a facility's point of view, you aren't a grad until you graduate. If you apply really early, as in January, I would be afraid that they would ignore your application or set it aside until you graduate, and then it might get lost in the shuffle.

The job market for nurses right now is the pits, so if you give it until you graduate, maybe, HOPEFULLY, things will have picked up a bit and you will be more likely to be considered.

I wish you all the best, and you certainly don't have to take my advice, but that is what I would do.

[roxxy3773, RN, APRN]

I would start finding out when the new graduate applications are due for the hospitals you are interested in. For example, when I graduated in May, we had a local hospital that required applications in something like February! I called around to all the hospitals with new grad programs and asked when I should apply. I would contact the hospitals to find out so you don't waste your time and energy unneccessarily, but you also don't miss out on a deadline.

[KungFuFtr]

I graduated last December 10th. I put my application out in the beginning of Oct. I was hired late November.

[RDH1, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your replies!

Question: If a hospital does not have a new grad "program", can I just apply to regular nursing jobs posted with them, and hope that a new grad would be considered? (I'm thinking general med-surg jobs, not ICU or anything that would require prior experience).

[MedSurgeMess]

with the current economy and new grad nurse situation, I would be sending out resumes ASAP. This may get a foot in the door

[Jules A, MSN]

We all lined up our jobs during winter break of our senior year. Many did the new grad orientation programs that started in June and others just started work either as a GN upon graduation or once they passed NCLEX. I don't remember anyone that didn't have an offer before we graduated. Definitely don't wait and good luck.