Newgrad RN Positions

[rjbronder]

Hi all! I have been a long time allnurses viewer and love reading the threads posted! This is my first thread posted myself, so bear with me.

A little background... I will graduate this May with my BSN. I am starting my job hunt and it is becoming more difficult than I imagined. Here's my dilemma... my heart is in the ICU. I fell in love with the unit when we began clinical there my junior year. Since then, I have completed a a summer critical care elective and will be completing a preceptorship in the med-surg ICU at the end of this semester. My end goal is to obtain a position on any of the ICUs within my hospital. However, there are no positions open at this time.

Recently, a position in the ER has opened up. Please note, as mentioned above, my heart is in the ICU. My love is caring for the critically ill over a prolonged duration of time, opposed to the ER where the patient is stabilized and sent elsewhere. However, part of me is considering applying for this ER position as I am hesitant a position in the ICU will not open up prior to my graduation. The ER is appealing to me due to it still being within the critical care speciality, which is what I love.

So my question... do I apply for the open ER position now or do I wait for a potential opening in the ICU?

Thank you SO much in advance for any advice and insight you are willing to offer me. As you all know, this is an extremely stressful time working to prepare for NCLEX, land a job, and prepare for graduation, any help you can offer is so appreciated.

[mrsboots87]

Depending on your state, getting your NCLEX schedule could take a month or longer. Applying for jobs now, unless they are new grad residencies, may be useless. Many positions posted need to be filled within the month or two from posting. You have a minimum of 4-5 months before your would be licensed and that's a long time to have en empty position held for.

[cleback]

Depends on your job market. When I graduated, nursing jobs were scarce. Everyone applied to anything posted and were just happy if it was acute care (if they wanted the hospital). So you kinda have to gauge for yourself how easy or hard it will be to find an ICU position.

Also, I would say it isn't necessary to have your license in hand to job search. Nurse residency programs can fill their positions up to a year ahead of graduation. I did not have a residency but I did secure my first position by early April. Still, it may be a bit early yet... again, it may be a regional thing when employers are willing to consider new grads.

GL!