Finding A Job As A Nursing School Graduate

Start your job search before you graduate. Nursing pays well at every degree level and demand is steady, but the market still rewards candidates who plan ahead. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for registered nurses through 2034. In May 2024, RNs earned a median of $93,600, with the top 10% making more than $135,320.

Prepare while you are still in school

Apply early. Your school's career office can fine-tune your resume and connect you with hospitals and health systems, and faculty and practicum supervisors can write your recommendation letters. Use them.

Clinical rotations are your best networking tool. You are working alongside the people who hire, so treat every rotation like an extended interview. Students who stand out get mentioned to the manager.

When to look

Start in your senior year. If you want a specific specialty, track how many openings exist in that area and which hospitals post them. That intel can also guide where you choose your practicum site, since landing a clinical placement at a hospital that hires into your specialty puts you in the room early.

Clinical instructors often help last-semester students find entry-level positions, and recruiters from hospitals, hospices, home health agencies, and surgery centers visit campuses to talk with students. Most schools also run in-person and virtual career fairs throughout the year.

Where to look

Campus career fairs and faculty connections are the obvious starting points. Beyond that, search hospital websites directly, since many health systems now build feeder internships with nursing schools to develop candidates early. Recruiters can also place graduates who have no paid nursing experience yet.

Keep your LinkedIn profile current with your graduation date, stay active in your program's online groups, and talk to staff beyond the managers. Other employees know about openings before they post.

Entry-level options

You can land entry-level roles with upward mobility at any education level. Nursing assistants and orderlies are projected to grow 2% through 2034, with the top 10% earning more than $50,140. Home health and personal care aides are growing 17% through 2034 at a median of $34,900. Medical assistants earn a median of $44,200 and are projected to grow 12% through 2034.

The shortage and the market

An aging population keeps demand high across hospitals and long-term care, but high demand does not mean the market is uncompetitive. Candidates who specialize in areas like gerontology, or who hold at least a BSN, have the widest range of options.

Common questions

You do not need a license to apply. Some states let graduates work for a grace period while they pursue licensure and sit the NCLEX. Every RN must graduate from an approved program with a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree.

Employers may hire you before you pass the NCLEX, but expect a deadline to take it. Most graduates test about six weeks after finishing school, and each state sets the earliest date you can sit the exam.

Getting hired at the hospital where you did clinicals is possible but not common. Make a strong impression anyway, demonstrate a solid work ethic, and leave your resume with your clinical supervisors.

You can build experience while still in school by joining groups like the National Student Nurses Association, volunteering, and sharpening your tech skills through campus resources.