Licensure by Endorsement...timing?

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I'm licensed in PA and have mostly been looking for work in PA. I want to include facilities across the river in NJ in my search as well. I was on the NJ BON website today to look in to the endorsement process, and it's a little expensive and involved, so I'm thinking I only want to pursue licensure if I get a job in NJ.

BUT, I'm worried that getting licensure by endorsement would potentially be a slow process. Does anyone know approximately long it takes to get endorsed through the NJ BON?

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The problem is you probably won't get considered for a job in NJ if you don't already have a NJ RN license. You may not make it through the auto sifter. Goes something like this:

RN? check!

Hours of availability? check!

X years of experience? check!

ACLS? TNCC? Etc.? check!

NJ license? no check!

Then your application gets dumped and you get an auto-message or just get filed away in an IBM corporate computer in the basement.

I hate online applications, but they all work like that nowadays. Also, the amount of time it will take you to get your license varies. What if you can't start on a specific start date because you don't have your license? NJ can take up to 8 weeks...or more.

I wish you the best of luck. Try to talk to recruiters and email them directly so you don't get lost in the digital blackhole. God bless.

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The problem is you probably won't get considered for a job in NJ if you don't already have a NJ RN license. You may not make it through the auto sifter.

Yeah, I'm a little afraid of that. The only interest I've had in my applications (to PA institutions) has come AFTER having PA licensure. And I do think about the "what if I can't start by the date they need" scenario.

It's hard to weigh whether it's worth it to go ahead and spend the money on the licensure on the off chance that one of those job applications would turn in to a job offer. And then wonder if it would make more sense to use that money towards ACLS or PALS certification to try to boost my applications in PA. It's not exactly cheap, and I'm not exactly rolling in riches ;)

I appreciate your reply- it's definitely something I need to think about. I'd been focusing my job search in PA largely for the licensure reasons, but then in the past few days have found out about new grad opportunities that I've been able to apply for in the tri-state area that I'd almost overlooked simply because they were outside PA.

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Yeah, I'm a little afraid of that. The only interest I've had in my applications (to PA institutions) has come AFTER having PA licensure. And I do think about the "what if I can't start by the date they need" scenario.

It's hard to weigh whether it's worth it to go ahead and spend the money on the licensure on the off chance that one of those job applications would turn in to a job offer. And then wonder if it would make more sense to use that money towards ACLS or PALS certification to try to boost my applications in PA. It's not exactly cheap, and I'm not exactly rolling in riches ;)

I appreciate your reply- it's definitely something I need to think about. I'd been focusing my job search in PA largely for the licensure reasons, but then in the past few days have found out about new grad opportunities that I've been able to apply for in the tri-state area that I'd almost overlooked simply because they were outside PA.

I feel you. I am in the same boat. We just have to do what we have to do to get that job. It does suck spending all that money to get the certifications and the endorsements, but honestly, if it helps expand that job search, then so be it. I wish you the very best and hope you get something soon.

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You definitely have to get endorsed first. I went through the same thing and most applications can't even be completed without endorsement. It took 6-8 weeks once the application was in at BON. It's involved, but no more so than other states. It's also better to be doing it now instead of in May when all the new grads are out. Lastly, the job market in Jersey is just as bad as PA right now....trust me(new grad since May 2009 working in LTC)

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Very interesting reading. I am a nures in the Navy, licensed in VA. Will be transferring to my last duty station in NJ, and want to work per diem. I will retire after this tour. I applied for a med/surg per diem and several others. I put on my application that my NJ license was pending and that I had a VA license. I guess I will not hear anything because of that.

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Theres no jobs in NJ besides per diem that require 2-3 yrs of exp... new grad in the process here :p

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