How do I get my foot in the door in a different state?

[cwest2148]

I'm a traditional BSN student in my junior year at a college in Nebraska. My dream has always been to move to Colorado to be near my family and finally be close to the mountains. The drive to Denver is about seven hours. I'm a junior, so I'm looking at about another year and a half counting precepting.

How can I start to network and build some connections?? I can't find anywhere to volunteer at because almost all of the hospitals and clinics require a weekly minimum of hours. I don't have the money or time to fly or drive back and forth every week (although I WISH!) What would you suggest I try to do for networking? Like I said, it's always been my dream and I'm willing to do almost anything to get this to work out for me. Any ideas would be great.

Thank you!

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Technology makes it easier to connect with people who are far away. Start reaching out to nurse recruiters, managers, and human resource offices. In today's job market, I personally don't think you can start making connections and getting your name heard too early. You can find general phone numbers on the hospital's websites and you might even find the e-mail addresses of nurse recruiters. Do you have a resume already made up with your achievements thus far? You might attach that to the e-mail. Tell them where you are in your nursing program and that you are interested in working with them upon graduation.

The early bird catches the worm. Best wishes.

P.S. Don't be afraid to make connections within the facilities you are attending clinical at now. You might have to work around the area you are in now for a bit if for some reason you are unable to find employment back home. You have to keep all doors and options open once you are a new graduate.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I think you would be better off to work a while in Nebraska to learn how to be a nurse, then transfer to CO when you have the opportunity. Employers will wonder look more favorably from an out-of-town nurse with experience than not. For one thing, I assume you learned about NE BON rules, and CO rules may differ. I transferred from my home state to another state after one year and it was not a hard transition nursing-wise.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Getting a year of RN experience under your belt makes you a more desirable job candidate than being a new grad in a new city.