Job hunting for a 1st starter

[cebuana_nurse]

Hello all!

I've been reading a lot of posts here for a while when I was still getting ready to take my NCLEX. I just recently passed the test though I went thru VT BON since it was less hassle and less paperwork for international grads.

I did got my TPP from PA BON recently and was wondering if anybody could help me what to do during job hunting.

I'm a BSN-RN in the Philippines in 07 with only less than a year job experience in a labor and delivery hospital. Though I function more as ward nurse for Peds. I was looking for any job around my place and none of them seems to suit my experience. I'm at a small town here in PA called Hazleton though Wilkes-Barre is not that far away from me. It's been more than a year since I was unemployed. I just recently moved here last Feb and had been unemployed still while trying to pass my NCLEX. I hope you could answer my questions or advise me on what to do since everything is definitely new to me.

My concerns are:

-Is less than a year job experience enough for employers to hire me?

-Do they orient all incoming nurses when hired in a nursing facility? If yes, for how long? Do you get paid for that?

-What's a sign-on bonus? Is that a contract? If yes, for how long and what is a good sign-on bonus?

-What are usually the good benefits that comes when you a sign a contract?

-Is being hired thru an agency good than submitting applications to different hospitals?

-I have a tendency to be nervous during interviews, can you help me how to divert it?

-What papers need to be present with me when applying?

-Is a nursing home a good starting step since it's hard to get into a hospital?

-Is getting certified on CPR/AED important prior to applying?

I think these are all my questions. Sorry that my post came out this long. I would truly appreciate anybody that could give me insights on what to expect when working here. Thanks and Happy Holidays!