Last semester... moving on with life

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Hi guys!

My first post here... I have lurked before, and have found some wonderful support and information by just following. I decided that I might as well introduce myself and ask a few questions while I am at it :)

I will be starting my last semester of nursing school on Monday - huge relief, this has been a long process with a few major bumps in the road. I don't have any idea of where my precetorship is going to be.. so I will probably be making another post about that when I find out :) Maybe a few things about me quick? I'm 24 years old, have three furry kids - my two kitties and a horse (named Willow, hence my name!)... love to travel, love anything involving gas and oil, and (so far) love nursing.

I do have some questions on applying and some nursing markets... I am thinking about moving down to Raleigh, NC and was wondering if anyone could speak to the nursing economy down there. If I am interested in working in one city or another - in my case, Raleigh or the Twin Cities - do I apply in both? Do I take my boards in one state over the other?

I have been working with my Career Development center at school to develop my resume... when is a good time to start applying? I graduate in May, would like to take my boards in June. And I know this might be a silly question - a lot of jobs I am finding say that they require experience. Do I apply to these anyway? Say one that requires 1 year of med/surg experience.

I have a zillion questions zipping through my head at the moment, it seems, but I will start with those :)

Thanks!

WillowNMe

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Congrats on getting to the end of the road! If I were you, I would start applying NOW. Even for the ones that say "experienced required/preferred" I would still apply anyway.

It's not a good market out there for new grads now. Good luck in your search!

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Thank you!

So I am assuming I would just put a start date of like like July 2011, right? But what are the chances of me getting hired, especially when I can't technically take the job for so many months?

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Thank you!

So I am assuming I would just put a start date of like like July 2011, right? But what are the chances of me getting hired, especially when I can't technically take the job for so many months?

Alot of hospitals know the new grads graduate in May. So, many of them start interviews early, then offer jobs starting after graduation. I interviewed in Feb of 2009 and I didnt graduate until May 2009. However, I didnt start actually working as an RN until August 2009. I had interviewed in June 2009 again and the next available opening was not until Aug 2009.

It never hurts to apply EARLY. You are gonna be competing against other new grads, so I would suggest getting your portfolio together, as well as reference letters from your instructors and try to set yourself apart from the competition. Read up on interview tactics, get your resume together, and learn how to write cover letters and thank you letters.

The sooner you apply, the better!

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Specializes in Ortho, OR.

Woo! Congrats. :D

I agree, apply early. However, I would call the hospitals that you're interested in and ask when they take new grad applications and how to apply. Each hospital does it differently. We were told to wait till about 3 months out from graduation.

For the jobs I applied for, there was a special new grad application to fill out. We had 3 forms for our references to fill out (no letters) and we had to get our transcripts together as well. You chose your 3 favorite units and they tried to get you interviews there.

Here, more emphasis by far is put on your recommendations from instructors and grades than your resume, from what I understand.

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Stopping by to wish you well on your last semester.

Good luck with your job search, hope you find your dream specialty in

great city/town to start your nursing career!:balloons:

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I work in a big hospital in Raleigh and most of the new grads getting jobs know someone. There are so many nursing schools in the area, so I advise that you start applying soon and start speaking with nurse managers. Good Luck!

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Thanks everyone! My resume is almost complete, I have another meeting with my career development center on Monday. Another silly question, what type of things are included in a portfolio? My care plans and stuff?

Thanks for the heads up, NC Girl RN - I am coming back down in March to shadow some nurses, I hope that will at least make a few connections!

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