How long did it take you to find your first job as a new grad

cleback · Dec 30, 2017

A few months and 30+ applications. Got a job about a month before graduation 1.5 hrs away. Keep going. Meet with people in person instead of doing that online business.

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Dec 31, 2017

Do you have any experience (as an assistant) doing direct care for patients in the environments you are applying? Along with demand where you are applying this makes a big difference.

I passed the boards on a Tuesday and was offered a position that Friday. I also had a hospital internship and 2+ years experience in Nursing Home, Home health, and hospital as an NA.

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Sour Lemon · Dec 31, 2017

I applied for behavioral health (one job, first choice) and they wanted medical experience. I applied for med/surg (one job) and got hired right away. The hospital actually had a policy to call any RN who applied within three business hours to set up an interview, if I remember the number of hours correctly ...I could be off by an hour or two? They didn't want to stall and lose nurses to other employers who made quicker offers. It was not an "easy" job, though ...too many patients and too little staff.

Scottishtape · Dec 31, 2017

I started applying in my last semester. I put in one application with the hospital of my choice and was hired before I graduated. I've been working there ever since.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Dec 31, 2017

I'm in psych so it was quick for me (within a month).

Be patient. If you're willing to move anywhere in the US, I think you should be able to find something soon. Although no shortage, I actually think the RN job market is strong.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Dec 31, 2017

I don't mean this to be catty, but 1972, graduated11am and was charge nurse in CCU, of same hospital based diploma school...3-11 shift....(granted I had spent 9 weeks on same unit as charge nurse experience......). I don't think I even applied for that position, the nurse mgr. as me....

That is decades ago, where there was more clinical components in nursing education.....

If I was a nursing student today, I would really apply my clinical experience available.....

Today as. Nurse mgr., I look for the stellar students, and heavy recruitment of same after their graduation & nclex

Davey Do · Dec 31, 2017

I don't mean this to be catty, but 1972, graduated11am and was charge nurse in CCU, of same hospital based diploma school...3-11 shift

Diploma schools were great for that sort of thing- students spent so much time there, they knew the people and the ropes.

I spent a year in 1983 as an LPN student at the hospital that hired me after graduation as soon as they had an opening. I did so by making an impression on the head of security and he advised the DON to hire me for the new psych unit that was opening.

It's too bad more nursing programs aren't affiliated with a hospital.

K9lover, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2017

It was so easy in the 1990s, could walk into anywhere. As much as they keep chanting 'nursing shortage' I do not believe there is a shortage based upon new grads having such a tough time getting a job.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 31, 2017

I graduated the year after the nursing job market really went south. In 2007, we were being told we could write our own tickets; by graduation in 2009, no one wanted to look at us. Those who were working as CNAs/PCTs/LVNs during school were able to get hired pretty fast after graduation (the state I was in allowed for graduate nurses so one could start working before taking the NCLEX)...but even then, not all of them ended up with a job.

It took me two months to get hired. After many interviews and rejections, it came down to two positions to choose between: full-time PCU and per-diem psych. I went per-diem psych because we all know that 12 hour shifts are rarely only 12 hours, and I had a small child that I wanted to see more than three hours a day. So the job with the 8s was the better choice. I took that per-diem psych job, made myself available for full-time hours and got them, and made that per-diem job became a permanent position a year later.

nem90, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2017

I could be wrong, but I think it also depends on where you live. I live in NYC and went to school here. I have friends that moved out of state and got jobs fairly quickly. I was applying even before I graduated in May, and after i passed my boards the end of july, i was applying to 30+ jobs a day every day. I started working per diem at a skilled nursing facility in the mean time just to get some experience and make some money. Interviews started coming in around November, and I just got hired in December. I think NYC happens to very competitive unless you know someone. The people in my class that got jobs right away were people that worked as a CNA or volunteered at the hospital beforehand, or their parents/family friend etc. worked there and got their resume in front of a nurse manager. I applied online and got my job about 6-7 months after graduating. I also have good grades, good references, and ACLS/PALS certified. Unfortunately i've found through this whole process it's all about who you know, even though we work so hard to make our resumes amazing, it's more about who you know

verene, MSN · Dec 31, 2017

I just graduated this year and had two offers with in weeks of graduating, even before passing the NCLEX. Admittedly I was intentionally seeking pysch and additions jobs which are less competitive specialties. I started working about a month and a half after graduating.

Have you tried looking at smaller hospitals or non-hospital jobs? Many of these positions seem less sought after and may be less competitive than desirable hospital residencies in big-name big city hospitals. My class mates who moved to work in regional or community hospitals or community clinics had their pick of jobs, my class mates holding out for dream specialties or dream hospitals are definitely more challenged in their search.