"Waiting" to apply for NP job after graduating?

[bete-noire]

Hey there. Apologies if this is the wrong sub to post in.

Some background for context - I’m currently in an FNP program and a few months ago I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to pursue a career as an NP anymore. I even considered changing tracks to NE but ended up staying in NP because I was already halfway to being done and thought about using my MSN to pursue other nursing careers.

Now though, being less than two semesters away from graduating and having more clinical experiences (currently in OB/GYN and this is the first time I’ve genuinely enjoyed clinical), it’s kind of revitalized my interest in pursing the NP route. However now I’m having some concerns about the job market for NPs, especially if I’m wanting to go into a specialty. I live in a smaller city but an urban/city area regardless. The nursing director for the job that I currently work at expressed that there is a “saturation” of new grad NPs and I’m really not kidding but every nurse I know is either trying to become an NP or currently in school for it.

I know there’s numerous posts here and on Reddit about people asking “how soon did you get a job” or “how soon did you start applying for jobs”. My question is a little bit different…

Basically, is it better to get a job as an NP as soon as possible after graduating, passing boards, getting your license etc. OR can you have room to be a little “picky”? Prior to NP school, I was in that “get ANY kind of NP job to get the experience and then move on” boat but again, having actually been in an FNP program I don’t necessarily feel that way anymore. If I want to pursue NP, I’d really want it to be somewhere I know I’m going to enjoy (I’m not in anyway expecting any job to be perfect or anything like that so in no way am I thinking applying to a supposed “dream job” is going to be the end-all; I could very much dislike it when I actually experience it, who knows).

I’ve been told by other people whom know NPs who haven’t worked a single NP job yet because they weren’t happy with their job offers etc or are waiting for the ‘perfect’ position. I just wanted to know if this was common? Has anyone ever waited 1-2 years or longer before landing an NP job that they purposefully wanted?

Thanks.

[MentalKlarity, BSN, NP]

I had a job soon after I graduated but I also waited and went through many offers before finding one I wanted. Even when I was a new graduate I was unwilling to sacrifice my values for a selfish employer. I require work-life balance both in PTO and hours per week, and I require a certain salary based on how much I knew I could bring in.

 

I'm glad I waited, and I never let being a new graduate interfere with my demands. I politely informed employers that unless they plan billing patients at a reduced rate for my services or limiting my scheduled to half as many patients per day, that I don't deserve to be paid less. I also refused to accept less than 5 weeks PTO. 

 

Never accept a poor job offer just because you're a new graduate it just perpetuates bad positions for everyone. If NO ONE accepts those crap offers then employers will have to offer more to get applicants. These 50 hour a week jobs paying a salary in the 80K range with 2 weeks PTO need to die out.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I graduated earlier this month and I haven't started applying for jobs yet. I don't have my ATT yet, so I probably won't take the exam until July. Then we have some family Summer plans so I'm going to target a new job for the fall. I have the relative luxury of being able to wait until just the right position comes since I'm currently employed in a job I enjoy. Good luck with your decisions!

[bete-noire]

On 5/19/2021 at 8:29 PM, MentalKlarity said:

Never accept a poor job offer just because you're a new graduate it just perpetuates bad positions for everyone. If NO ONE accepts those crap offers then employers will have to offer more to get applicants. These 50 hour a week jobs paying a salary in the 80K range with 2 weeks PTO need to die out.

I totally agree with this sentiment! But I think that's exactly my fear - if they're churning out jobs knowing that such new grads would readily accept just so they could get their foot in the door. I don't want to be in that position. I definitely want to wait to find a job that would be considered a good fit for me. Thank you for your response!

[bete-noire]

6 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

I graduated earlier this month and I haven't started applying for jobs yet. I don't have my ATT yet, so I probably won't take the exam until July. Then we have some family Summer plans so I'm going to target a new job for the fall. I have the relative luxury of being able to wait until just the right position comes since I'm currently employed in a job I enjoy. Good luck with your decisions!

Hi thank you for your response! I'm currently in a great job right now as an RN as well which is why I'm not in a huge hurry to get a job as an NP right out of graduation. I think I was just worried that if I "waited" too long and being out of NP school for too long would put me in a bad position.

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

On 5/31/2021 at 7:40 PM, JBMmom said:

I graduated earlier this month and I haven't started applying for jobs yet. I don't have my ATT yet, so I probably won't take the exam until July. Then we have some family Summer plans so I'm going to target a new job for the fall. I have the relative luxury of being able to wait until just the right position comes since I'm currently employed in a job I enjoy. Good luck with your decisions!

I hope you know that for  your APRN exam you don't wait for an ATT from the state like you do for the NCLEX.. In fact you can take the exam prior to ever submitting a state application. Some of the certification exams even allow candidates to sit the exam prior to their actual graduation (of course will not release the official certification until the final transcript is received.)

Best of luck on your upcoming exam and job search. 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

12 hours ago, 203bravo said:

I hope you know that for  your APRN exam you don't wait for an ATT from the state like you do for the NCLEX.. In fact you can take the exam prior to ever submitting a state application. Some of the certification exams even allow candidates to sit the exam prior to their actual graduation (of course will not release the official certification until the final transcript is received.)

Best of luck on your upcoming exam and job search. 

Thank you, I did know I could test before all of my paperwork is submitted, but since I'm in no rush to find a job I figured I would give myself more time to study and wait until everything is submitted and in order first. I appreciate your time and response!