When is a good time to start applying for RN jobs?

Right now!!! I am finishing my last semester and the local hospitals are visiting us by bringing lunch or breakfasts. They are encouraging us to start applying to the GN positions and we have even interviewed. I landed a sweet ICU position where there were only 2 available. I am stoked. Go out there and hit it hard. One of the major hospitals is not hiring this semester either so the earlier the better!

Are you working in a hospital now? That would be a major help.

YES....start researching and calling hospitals you are interested in. In fact, you might even be able to schedule a unit tour through the Nurse Recruiters. Some hospitals start their application process months in advance. In my case, I started calling hospitals during the summer. I graduate in December 2008. One hospital started taking applications in August for their Winter 2009 New Grad Program. I started interview process in September and still going...Go out there and attend open houses. Eventhough there is a nursing shortage, I feel that it has been very competitive. One hospital interview process appear similar to "speed dating". There are tables set up where each manager is interviewing applicants. I say start looking, researching, attending open houses and applying NOW!

The earlier the better!

I graduate in Dec and start working in Jan. I accepted a position back in July. You definitiely want to start early. Find out what you want to do, be it ICU, med/surg, L&D etc. Do some shadowing to get a feel for the areas where you may want to work.

Don't worry about making a decision that you have to live with the rest of your life (ICU? ER? MedSurg?). You will have opportunities to transfer in years to come, so just get in somewhere that you think would be interesting for now. You will learn so much that first year no matter where you end up. Be willing to take CNA or Nurse Extern or even Unit sec. roles for now as they can be prn and you need to flex your time for school commitments.

January, 09 is a great time to start applying. all the most wanted positions will be filled by April...before you even graduate so get on it asap! i also graduate in May and i did my summer externship in the NICU and have put a request for a leaderhship in the NICU in my final semester...but i will be applying for a NICU spot at the beginning of january, like January 1st ;-) Cause let's face it...the NICU is a popular place for new grads to apply. So really, i started "applying" for a NICU spot back in March of my junior year when i started applying for my externship.

Mex

I graduated this past May and started looking around in November. I had my resume, cover letter, references completed by December and started aggressively applying for jobs and interviewing in January. Though there is a "nursing shortage" in most areas across the country, the hiring process can be very, very lengthy. Best of luck!

OMG! I've been so busy with my last 2 quarters that I haven't even started applying and I graduate this month. =(