When to start looking for a NP job?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 26, 2007

Hi and congratulations! My thoughts:

1. Subscribe to the Sunday paper in LA (or look at it online).

2. Contact some of the folks looking to fill NP positions and ask for some general information.

3. COntact the CA advanced practice nurses association or join the ANA chapter in order to get more information.

4. Network at student NP conferences.

Good luck with your move.

core0 · Mar 27, 2007

Hi and congratulations! My thoughts:
1. Subscribe to the Sunday paper in LA (or look at it online).
2. Contact some of the folks looking to fill NP positions and ask for some general information.
3. COntact the CA advanced practice nurses association or join the ANA chapter in order to get more information.
4. Network at student NP conferences.
Good luck with your move.

I will have to say that most NPP jobs are not advertised in the paper. Many are not advertised at all. Networking is the key here. As a new grad you are at a particular disadvantage. If I am reading the California law correctly (and I would defer to CA NP's) you need 520 hours of supervised practice before you can prescribe. This makes you less valuable to the practice. My advice for what it is worth (the same thing I tell PA students) is get a job. You have much better bargaining power with a year or two experience. Almost every job you see will ask for 1-2 years experience. Another place that you can find jobs is to look for PA positions and ask if they will consider a NP (PA students do the same thing so fair is fair).

David Carpenter, PA-C

lilboboxox · Mar 29, 2007

hello, i am a bit confused. when you say "get a job" do you mean get a job as a RN?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 29, 2007

No - he's saying get a job as an APN where you currently live and then move in a year or so to CA.

If CA requires 520 hours of supervised practice prior to being given prescriptive authority, he is right that you will have a hard time finding a job.

I live in IL (central part, not near Chicago) and I do find APN positions in the paper. However, coreO is right, the better jobs are found via networking. In IL we have the IL Society of Advanced Practice Nurses and they are a great resource.

Find out what is available in CA.

b-girl · Apr 2, 2007

I am also graduating in December and am very curious about responses as to when we should start actually applying for a job.

I've already begun networking somewhat, and plan to join the NP Organization for the area where I will be living. But when should I actually send my resume and apply for a job?