Nursing Jobs....?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2012

Where are you located/where do you want to work? I graduated 5 years ago, but I was definitely applying for jobs in January. I had my job secured by March of my senior year of college.

Jobs are few and far between but the job market for RNs seems to be a little better (at least in my area) than it's been in the last 3 years or so. When I was hired in 2007, there were jobs EVERYWHERE. Everyone I worked with had jobs before we graduated. 2008 was the last year we hired new grads... until this year. We were basically in a hiring freeze for a few years in there. Between 2008-2010 we hired one person and in that time, something like 10 people left. This year, we hired 2 new grads in July and we've hired 2 more to start in January. We have also, in that time, had six people leave, several more reduce their hours and several more who will be gone as soon as they get hired elsewhere.

You won't be able to be as picky as you could have been 5 years ago. You should apply to as many jobs as possible. Once you have RN experience, you are more marketable for the job that you really want.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2012

your professors focus on the nclex because if you have to pass it to work as an rn. who cares how many jobs there are (or are not) if you don't have a license.

"

so, this is my question....when should i start looking and applying for nursing jobs? and where??"

you should have started this process two years ago. hopefully you already have a job in direct patient care that will give you valuable experience when searching for an rn job after you graduate.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 3, 2012

NOW is a good time to start. Treat every single clinical day like it's a job interview. Make contacts at the hospitals where you have clinicals and give your resume out to nurse managers and HR departments. Ask nurses on the units how the system works at the hospital with regard to new nurse hire procedures, ask for their advice about the local job market. I'm not saying make a nuisance of yourself, but take advantage of any contacts that you make along the way.

Helematu7 · Sep 28, 2012

your professors focus on the nclex because if you have to pass it to work as an rn. who cares how many jobs there are (or are not) if you don't have a license.
"
so, this is my question....when should i start looking and applying for nursing jobs? and where??"
you should have started this process two years ago. hopefully you already have a job in direct patient care that will give you valuable experience when searching for an rn job after you graduate.

Just so you know, I PASSED the NCLEX my first time and have an interview in about 2 weeks. Guess what you "advised" was unnecessary.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2012

Just so you know, I PASSED the NCLEX my first time and have an interview in about 2 weeks. Guess what you "advised" was unnecessary.

Good luck with the interview.

amandaqdLPN13' · Sep 28, 2012

Maybe she just say the reply today! I know i do that sometimes forget about a thread i started!

Anyways OP CONGRATS!