How fast did you land a job?

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I have a question. After graduating, how long until you got your very first nursing job?

I know you have to take the NCLEX and stuff, but from the date of graduation, how long did it take you?

Specializes in Emergency.

Had my offer in writing 3 months prior to graduating. Hiring was contingent on passing the boards (which i did).

I got my job offer a month before graduating, had it in writing the day after my pinning ceremony. You can work as a graduate nurse on permit, in my state at least

Specializes in Tele/Med Surg/Psych.

I got a job in a nurse residency program at the hospital my parents work at close to my house. I interviewed with them 2 days before graduation and was offered the job 10 days after graduation. I agree with ICUman, you need to apply early. I graduated in December and applied for the program in late Nov.

I, and many of my friends, had accepted jobs prior to graduation. Hiring was contingent on passing the boards and passing a background check.

Most of my graduating class (43 of us? I think?) had jobs secured with a contingency on passing NCLEX. Our program has a tremendous reputation in the area, though. I know others from other programs who struggled a bit.

Specializes in Oncology, critical care.

When I finished my BScN (2007), I had a job before I finished program and wrote exam (in Canada it was different back then, we had the CRNE instead of NCLEX but it was pretty much the same thing, Canada now uses NCLEX). My BON issued temp-RN registration if you had a job offer until you pass your exam so you can work the short time between graduation and exam. I was making a regular entry-level RN hospital wage (unionized so it was good!). I passed my exam so I didn't have to worry -- they issue you a regular RN registration after you pass. A few people in our class failed and had to notify the employer and leave their new jobs (sad). I kept in touch with one of those people and he re-wrote 6 months later and was hired right away in a similar field.

At the time I graduated there was a "New Grad Initiative" program for new nurses to help them get jobs. They were temporary contracts (8 months of full-time work) but it was a good way for new nurses to get their foot in the door and most people stayed at the places they were placed (and yes, you had a choice where you wanted to go but it wasn't 100%). The organizations taking in the new grads had the wages (& benefits) paid by the government so it was a win for them as well (employers participating in this program are expected to find full-time positions for the new grad by the end of the contract period unless there is a suitability issue). I moved on to a job in another city at a more desirable hospital after my 8 months was up but I'm glad it was offered to me! I just looked and they are still offering this program. Too bad it wasn't everywhere!

Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

I had a job offer in the NICU as an RN two months before I graduated. My state utilizes graduate permits that let you work for a limited time before you take the NCLEX although I ended up taking the NCLEX before I started.

kinda surprsing people are landing jobs right out of school on units in the hopsital. i think it depends on the location, because west coast will not be that way.

Specializes in Pre-hospital Critical Care.
kinda surprsing people are landing jobs right out of school on units in the hopsital. i think it depends on the location, because west coast will not be that way.

Exactly. It depends where you are located. Unless you are accepted into a new grad residency program, on the West Coast landing a job prior to graduation or at all...sadly, is extremely rare if not non-existent unless you have some serious connections. I had two job offers (ED and CVICU, the only places I applied) 3 months prior to graduation in the Louisville area (where I went to school). Obviously contingent on graduating, and they gave alot of time to take the boards as Kentucky issues a provisional license that lasts for 6 months after graduation. I took my boards immediately after graduation though because I saw no reason to procrastinate. Most people in my program also had jobs (in their preferred area) prior to graduating due to the high level of respect for our program in the area and local shortage. Because I was from California, and wanted to go back home, I also applied to hospitals before and after graduation in the LA/San Bernardino area, I got alot of rejections stating they didnt hire new grads, 1 year was needed, and some laughs that I even thought I had a chance before completing NCLEX as I was told I wouldn't even if I had.

kinda surprsing people are landing jobs right out of school on units in the hopsital. i think it depends on the location, because west coast will not be that way.

As a native Californian myself, I agree with this. I graduated in SoCal for my undergrad, and it took a year to find my first full time RN job. I went to grad school in the east coast for FNP, and got a job offer in writing three months before graduation.

Specializes in Emergency Department.
I have a question. After graduating, how long until you got your very first nursing job?

I know you have to take the NCLEX and stuff, but from the date of graduation, how long did it take you?

I had a verbal offer about 8 months after graduation and started 6 weeks after that. I think all-told, it took 8 months from NCLEX/RN License to my first job. This was after applying to basically every local hospital for pretty much everything from Med-Surg to ICU to ED. About 6 months into my first job I was interviewed for a single position that opened up locally and was their 2nd choice.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I had a job offer 20 days after graduation, contingent on passing the NCLEX. Graduated in May, licensed toward the end of July. Started work literally the same day my license went active.

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