When to Apply For Your Nursing Job
Applying several months before you graduate from nursing school can be important in landing your dream job. If you want to work in a specialty unit such as ICU, NICU, ER, or Labor and Delivery then you should start there! The problem is that because those are the ideal jobs for most graduate students, those positions fill quickly. Without experience as a Registered Nurse, specialty units might not hire you until you receive the needed clinical experience. Some hospitals might have a great nurse residency program where you start off immediately in those positions. So, applying early can help improve your chances of finding your dream job and taking the position before other new graduates do. Read below to learn when to apply for your nursing job.
Nurse Residency Programs
If you plan on getting into a specialty nursing unit I would suggest looking at several different nurse residency programs in your state. Nurse residency programs take about a year to complete. Typically, the programs give you additional education in your nursing specialty and have extra classes. Once you are finished with the nurse residency program you are a full-fledged non-new grad rn in your specialty choice. Residency programs are great for getting long orientations, access to the resources you need, and help you get additional certifications you need for your job.
If you are graduating in May, you need to be applying for these in February and March of that year. Otherwise, they can fill all the residency program positions by April and May.
How Soon Can I Apply for My Nursing Job?
Applying two to three months in advance, or before graduating is the most ideal time to apply for jobs in specialty units. Nurse residency program typically close their application program two to three months before most graduation dates. This timeline is crucial for students wanting to streamline their job process, or they could wait until they graduate and pass the NCLEX.
If you graduate in May, then March and April will be the prime time for applications. If your graduate in December, then October and November will be the ideal dates for applying.
Nurse residency programs at nice hospitals can be rigorous and competitive to get into. That is why thinking about jobs early, interview practice and resume updates are important for getting your dream nurse position.
Can I Apply For My Nursing Job After I Pass the NCLEX?
If you are worried about the pressure of a new job on your shoulders while you are trying to study for the NCLEX, then evaluate whether or not you can handle that stress. Some jobs might pressure you to take the exam earlier than you wanted or might threaten to lose your position if you fail the exam. So if you wait until after your NCLEX to apply for job positions then that is okay. Just know that new graduate residency programs in highly desired specialty units might be taken. With a nurse shortage though, there is not a job shortage and you will find a job before and after you graduate. I promise.
