How fast did you land a job?

missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2016

I had 3 job offers from the same hospital one month before I graduated. I live in the Midwest, if that helps.

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of working as a nurse!

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Jun 2, 2016

It took me over a year to land a nursing job.

Leonardsmom,LPN · Jun 2, 2016

Took my nclex-PN last Thursday got my license number on Saturday and had a job offer this Tuesday.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 2, 2016

I had a job roughly one month prior to graduation. Our school was located near hospitals and I accepted a job offer very early compared to my classmates.

The majority, however, had jobs prior to graduation.

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Jun 6, 2016

Usually you get hired as a graduate nurse, then position changes to registered nurse when you pass the NCLEX.

This is only in some parts of the country, and is by no means universal! My state (and all of the surrounding states) have no such temporary license. You're either an RN, or you're not, regardless of whether or not you have the degree!

Where I am, it's not hugely common to have a job set before graduation. The market is saturated, and it's too much of a risk that someone won't pass boards when there's so many other candidates vyng for the same position. When I was applying, the specific instructions were NOT to submit until we had successfully passed NCLEX. The exception is some specific new grad residencies.

I lucked out. I precepted on nights for my final rotation on a med/surg/tele unit. Graduated in December 2015, got my ATT January 6th or so and tested January 27th. While I was waiting to test, the hospital I precepted at posted new grad friendly positions, with the caveat that you needed to have passed to apply. When I got my quick results on 1/29, I submitted applications to every single one of them (haha). I interviewed mid Feburary, got offered a spot on the unit I precepted on, and started on March 7th! Came off orientation a few weeks ago. Love it!

A few of my cohort - maybe 40%? - had spots on residency programs or through networking before graduation. Definitely not the majority though.

xtina15 · Jun 8, 2016

I work and live in Northern New Jersey and went to at a large and esteemed school in PA. I graduated in the month of June and had a job by September after applying to over 50 jobs. One, I repeat, ONE, job contacted me back for interview, so obviously I took it and am still there today. I had four years of prior nursing assistant experience in the float pool so I'd worked everything from ICU to psych, as well as raving letters of recommendation. The tri-state NY area is not friendly to new grads unfortunately.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jun 10, 2016

Wow all these immediate jobs are awesome to hear. In California you can get 6 - 12 months out when you finally land in acute care. Of course one can always walk into a SNF LTC and land a job quickly.

But if you pick the right SNF, you could be paid pretty decent. I did not know until recently.

One SNF offered me $30/hr once I obtain my RN license. I just graduated from RN school, so my license is forthcoming.

Then another offered me $37/hr. Not too shabby, me thinks!

Red398 · Jun 14, 2016

I have yet to take boards, but I was offered a position a little less than 2 weeks after graduation. Some of my classmates had jobs prior to graduation, but I waited. I applied on a Thursday and was offered a job the following Monday. Quite surprised how fast they made a decision. Now all I have to do is take boards :cool:

Missie Hannie · Jun 15, 2016

Graduated June 2015. Took the NCLEX in July 2015. Job offer in March 2016. Started job in May 2016. All totaled, 9 months and two days between graduation and job offer. Not for lack of trying, just... I don't know why. But it's been worth the wait.