New Grads: how long did it take you to find a job, or how long have you been ...

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Me:

Bay Area, CA

Graduated August '13

Passed NCLEX 1/25/14

Applied to over 120 jobs

Have ACLS, PALS, and NRP

STILL NO JOB!!!!

How about you??

Specializes in Wound Care.

Long Beach, CA

Graduated November 2013 (LVN)

Passed NCLEX 03/27/2014

Received License 04/16/2014 (went to Sacramento and picked it up)

Applied to over 280 jobs

Have BLS, IV Cert/Blood Withdrawal, ACLS, MAB

Got 1st job on June 18th working in Mental Health/Detox (referral from friend)

Started 2nd job July 10 working PRN in home health/wound care (Also referral from a friend)

Now with that said, prior to these referral I had sent out 218 resumes..landed 2 job interviews and received ZERO offers. The two jobs that I ended up getting I didn't even have to interview for...One I never even applied to they called me out of the blue and offered me a job.

I have learned as much as it sucks it not what you know but WHO YOU KNOW!. Network, Network, Network.

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Northern Central Valley, CA

Graduated May 2104 with my BSN

Passed NCLEX June 2014

Received two job offers two days apart in July 2014. One was for float pool on day shift at the hospital I did my senior preceptorship at, and the other was for cardiac step down ICU at a much larger hospital in their Versant RN Residency Program. I accepted the cardiac unit and start July 28th.

I applied to maybe 10 positions so I feel very fortunate to have received two offers so quickly.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Care.

Southern Ohio

Graduated May 2014

Passed NCLEX June 2014

Accepted a job in a local hospitals CVICU July 2014.

Had 8 years prehospital experience as a medic. ACLS, BCLS, PALS, AHA instructor for each.

PJ, RN, EMT-P

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Violetsmom, congrats on getting a job!! I'm in the same boat as you were, I'm in the Bay Area, CA, graduated May, Nclex June 9, applied for many jobs, but no bite yet. What's your secret? Do you have any advise to offer?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

SF Bay Area

Graduated in May, licensed 6/20/14. Had a job offer on the table in March where I precepted, but rescinded due to residency program that ONLY accepted post-licensure students due to BRN delay in CA.

Prior experience as hospital corpsman, phlebotomist, lactation specialist and first responder.

Applied to over 500 jobs thus far. Started applying in early March.

Accepted 2 agency positions, one doing health fairs (at half the going rate for nurses in the area, hired at the beginning of this month), just accepted a second as an infusion nurse.

Still applying elsewhere. These are not in the area in which I plan to spend my career, but they're something. And both are per diem with highly variable hours.

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Specializes in L&D, RNC-OB, now Circulating in the Main OR.

Western NC

Applied for new grad program May 12

Graduated May 16

Passed NCLEX June 16

Job offer for new grad program June 30

Start Orientation on July 28

Applied at 11 local hospitals, 30+ positions.

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I'm in Wyoming. I worked as a CNA in LTC before getting in to nursing school and while I was in nursing school. The put me on the floor as a nurse the day I had my GPN. Worked as a LPN through my RN program at the same nursing home. I swear working in the field helped me with pharmacology and cares and gave me more confidence than any classroom or clinical setting ever could. I did my preceptor at an acute care psych hospital and I loved it! They offered me a job before I was done with my preceptor for ten dollars an hour more than the LTC facility ad offered me relocation money. When I told them I didn't want to move they offered me a travel position that includes lodging and what I see as an amazing wage. I went to work 5 days after I took my finals....My contract offered hired me as a LPN with a pay raise at my GN status and another raise when I passed my RN. I took my nclex today and tomorrow I hit the floor at a higher wage than I ever dreamed straight out of nursing school.

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swoo5, i'm similar to you but in LA and have a CNA and still can't get a job. Have applied for 20+ jobs and nothin yet. I'm a nanny now so can pay the bills but thinking about doing a LPN or ADN. What do you think? Is the Nclex hard???

Is better to get jobs??

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Specializes in Oncology.

I got hired a month before I graduated and I applied in March, when I graduated in May. I had not taken my NCLEX yet, it was conditional to me passing. Thank goodness I passed, nothing like extra pressure :)

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Jban,

I would recommend going for at least your ADN if not your BSN to increase your chances of employment. And you should be open to relocating if possible. Nursing school prepared me for the NCLEX so although it was hard it was passable.

I have now applied for 100+ jobs in CA without any luck, so I looked out of state and just accepted a RN position in ND so I'm very excited about my new adventure where I'll gain valuable acute hospital experience.

Best of luck to you!

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Dallas, TX

graduated from a BSN program May 9th.

Took NCLEX June 17th, received my license June 19th

Sent out many applications to both Houston and Dallas area hospitals

Received call back for two interviews on June 24th (at the same hospital)

Offered two positions, chose one

Started work on July 7th!!!!

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Phoenix, AZ

Advice: If you are still in school get a job as a PCT/PCA in a hospital you would want to work in and stick it out...it will pay off. Many of my classmates are still looking for jobs and keep getting reject emails. I'm thankful but I also put in the time and hard work to help secure a job after school.

This is the reason why im thinking about renewing my CNA liscence to work at least part time while i go through the nursing program (BSN) to get promoted internally

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