It seems that lately every student I speak with is very concerned about what they will do for a new job when they graduate. I even have classmates who graduated with me in December that have still not landed a job. So what is there to do? Panic? Change career plans—again? Not at all.
There are many great ways to ensure getting a job as a nurse right out of nursing school. Recently the National Student Nurses’ Association posted some great information on the current job market for new graduate nurses. You can find the information on their website at http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/RealitiesOfTheCurrentJobMarket.pdf. They also list some wonderful tips on how to land your first job out of nursing school. Some of the highlights include working as a CNA while in nursing school, joining professional organizations, and networking with nurses and healthcare workers that you know, to name a few. I think that the key during this temporary slump is to not give up. Start preparing for that future job now, at whatever stage you’re at in your nursing education. Don’t procrastinate until after you have graduated and taken your nursing boards because by that time you may have missed multiple opportunities to stay ahead of the pack and make yourself marketable.
Also, start connecting with other nursing students around the country. There are many great social networking sites that may be used to get in-touch with other students and discover the current state of nursing careers around the country. It’s also a great tool to hear about upcoming job fairs and opportunities that may not be advertised directly at your school. Your school’s faculty and staff are also an under-utilized tool. Feel comfortable asking them questions about alumni and their strategies for landing their first job as a nurse.
Above all else, do not give up hope. You chose this career for a reason and there is a job waiting for you somewhere when you graduate.
2 comments:
I did all the things that were on the web page. I had a job as a CNA while in nursing school (which ended when I passed the NCLEX in December of 2009). I did a summer student nurse internship the summer of my Junior year. I networked like crazy. I helped out in my schools student nurse association organizing events like the career fair, speaking events with local nurses, and our senior classes trip to Lobby Day in Albany NY. My independent study while in school was tutoring junior nursing students to help ease the attrition rate in nursing classes. On top of this I have traveled abroad to another country to survey how nursing is carried out in other countries. And even now I work with autistic children, not in a nursing role, but by helping to teach them yoga and babysitting.
I have given back to the nursing community whole heartedly, and have comeback with no job. I have applied all over the country, not just in my state. I have looked into nursing agencies locally as well as travel nursing opportunities. Looking for a RN job is a daily exercise that I now preform. What am I to do?? I worked very hard for this career and am becoming disenchanted with my prospects of ever finding a job. What if I never find a job?
Genial post and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.
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