Job Search post graduation!

[meliza1]

Hello, I am a Nursing student who will be graduating with my BSN at the end of June. I am very interested in getting a job in a NICU or L&D unit as my long term goal is to become a neonatal nurse practitioner.

I have a BS in Health Sciences and throughout my second degree option nursing program I have worked really hard to add resume building activities/committees/honors and shadowed in several different NICUs (including the one that I am interested in working in). I feel confident given my resume and dedication that I can get a job (eventually) in my field of interest.

SO, I have two questions for any nurse managers or RNs who are very familiar with the hiring and job search process post graduation. First, when is the best time to start contacting people and/or applying for positions? Secondly, I have been asked to be in five different weddings this fall and summer and so I am very worried that if I am up front about scheduling conflicts, it will stop me from getting a job right away. Not to mention, I think taking so many weekends (that I would potentially be scheduled to work) right after being hired really doesn't sit well with me on a professionalism level. Thoughts? I know that a lot of RN jobs (especially for new grads) are every other weekend or every third.

[llg, PhD, RN]

1. Start now -- for most regions in the country -- though your local hospitals may feel differently. Where I live, the most popular specialties (e.g. peds, NICU, L&D, ICU, and ED) get filled quickly, often with official (or semi-official) committments made before graduation.

2. Yes, asking for that many weekends off will cause problems. Talk to the brides, tell them that until you get a job, you will not know whether or not you will be fully available for their wedding or not. Any bride who can't understand that isn't really thinking of you or your needs. Perhaps pick 1 or 2 who are closest to you (e.g. sister, best friend) and commit to those. But five within the first few months of employment is a lot.

The truth isn't always pretty -- or otherwise what you want it to be. You will be in competition for the types of positions you want. Your competition will be available to work those weekends. Requesting 1 or 2 specific weekends off is not unusual and probably won't hurt you ... but if you asking for significantly more than your competition requests, it could hurt you. (Though you never know for sure.)

Good luck.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome!

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