When should I apply?

[Aly123]

Hello everyone,

I'm graduating in December with my ADN, and will hopefully be taking the NCLEX in January. I'm wondering when I should start applying for jobs. I'll start applying for residency programs soon but it seems a little early to apply for positions in facilities that don't have residency programs. Am I wrong?

*I apologize if this is a common question. I'm new to this site. Feel free to send me to another thread.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Ask the facilities. There is a lot of variation from one place to another, so there is not a "one-size-fits-all" answer. Some places may want you to wait until after you have passed the NCLEX. In other places, the best jobs are locked in weeks before graduation.

The best course is to ask each facility what its preferred timetable is.