Quick ques. for recent new grads...

[gaspasser2b]

A couple of posts have asked when people started applying for positions (during the last semester of school, after graduation, at time of licensure, etc...). For those nurses who applied during the start of their last semester of school, when did you start working? Did you start your employee orientation while still in school, precept as a NG, and then transistion to the floor independently sometime around passing NCLEX? I know it differs with each hospital. I'm just trying to get a general consensus. Thanks!

[MJB2010]

I started applying during my last semester and I was a MAY graduate. The New Grad residencies take apps super early. Most offer groups a few times a year, August/Sept and then Jan/Feb -ish. So I was applying to start work in August. I was surprised how many started in June, those would not have worked for me, since I still had to take the boards. If you wait until you graduate and you are a May graduate, you will most likely end up applying for the January start dates. I would research early the places you want to work and see when they are taking applications from new grads.

[LETRN]

I applied in March and graduated the second week of May. New employee orientation was the June 1st, and I was on the floor by the second week of June. I didn't take NCLEX until June 17th.

[hecallsmeDuchess]

I graduated this past May but started applying for the new grad residency programs in various hospitals as soon as the semester started in January. I didn't get any of the jobs I applied for even after I had my GN permit. Got a job though two weeks after my NCLEX in June.

On the other hand, quite a number of my classmates got jobs and interviews lined up by the time we graduated in May and those of them with jobs started working as GNs (some as soon as they graduated and others as soon as they had their GN permit).

[NoblePath]

Where I'm at, everyone had to apply by late January or early February if you were a May grad, and we heard if we were hired by mid March. We started orientation in mid May one week after graduation, and we were not licensed yet but working under the supervision of a nurse until we were licensed. Once licensed, we had a few weeks of orientation doing all the things we couldn't do before like taking orders, hanging blood, etc.

[JoyfulRN14, BSN, RN]

I graduated in May. I filled out a few applications during the semester in April/May, but one of the main hospital chains in my area had a preliminary question on the application "Are you currently licensed as an RN?"

I always had to put No, which stopped you from even being able to apply.

The job I am working now, the applications were due May 14, I graduated May 22, and the job started July 26th. I took my boards in the first week of June and had a nice 6 weeks off of summer vacation.

At the time I was applying for this residency, I also saw others in my state (California) available with applications due around May/June and program start dates around July/August.

Think it just depends on the hospital!

[cwhitebn]

I applied for my job at a hospital during last semester of school. Got hired and started my general orientation as soon as I finished school. Had a 8 week orientation and then started work as a Grad Nurse until I passed my RN exam just after finishing orientation.

[MelBellBSN]

I applied in March, got the job offer in mid May. I graduated May 23rd and had my NCLEX done within one month. I could NOT start until I passed my NCLEX and had a license issued. My hospital orients once a month so I did not start till the end of July. Hope this helps!

[gaspasser2b]

Thank you guys so much! This really helps. I just want to be prepared and ahead of the game. I'm looking forward to working as nurse. As I'm starting my last year, it seems like I'm counting down the days.