When to start applying

Now. Start now. I started the search 6 months before graduation and had written job offer (pending passing boards) 3 months before graduation.

Where would you apply now to though? New grad programs? I graduate in December.

In my area, they had so many nurses to choose from that they told me not to bother applying until I had my license, EXCEPT the postings for nurse residency programs. Not all health systems have the same set up. I got a lot of information from representatives at a job fair I went to my first year in nursing school. If you can't tell by the human resources website, call them to find out. No point wasting time on pointless applications or missing opportunities by not making a phone call. Also, if you have connections, now is the time to start using them. Good luck!

I started applying in March, graduated in May, licensed in June. I had an offer where I precepted back in March, but it got rescinded due to hospital politics, so I'm glad I had kept searching elsewhere. I had an offer at a psych hospital before I was licensed, and now that I am licensed, I have a few agency positions that I'm working (several per diem jobs to make for full time work for now). I'm still searching like crazy, applying for new grad programs and hospital positions.

Start applying a few months before you graduate. It doesn't hurt to apply!