How many RN jobs did you apply to before someone actually gave you a chance and hired you right out of school ?

I submitted over 2,000* applications; went on over 75 interviews for a clinical position so that I could get the experience professors say is a must in order to grow in the profession. I’m the only nurse in New York State to go through nursing school using a wheelchair.
This probably won’t be your experience but remember it when you’re the hiring manager

one, I applied at the hospital where I did my clinical and was hired

I was hired immediately after graduation at a local hospital in NJ. However, times are changing and with a lack of jobs that promise a variety, many more young people are going to Nursing School. A Nurse can work anywhere, regardless of what state you live in and the pay is much better then when I graduated, so many parents are recommending that their children go to Nursing School for the promise of a good salary. Consequently, the competition for a job is much more severe then when I graduated back in 1978. After graduation it is extremely important that you get Hospital Experience before you venture into homecare, because to be in Homecare you must have a lot of experience and that can only be obtained in a Hospital setting. Book learning is good, but experience is better.

Depends on where you want to work. I currently live in California where it can be a real booger to get your foot in the door of an acute care facility. Other states it can be easier. If you are looking for a specific department, e.g., cardiac, obstetrics, critical care, emergency, I would recommend that you don't as that will narrow your options; besides, as a new graduate, you will hone your critical thinking skills in a medical-surgical unit. Don't be afraid to consider moving to another state and don't pass over smaller hospitals. Nursing is a wonderful profession, one that you can do almost anything you want! Best regards, Lucinda, MSN, RN (50+ years and still going)

Before graduation, before taking the NCLEX, I walked into a hospital. Someone was passing by and asked me if I needed help. I said, "I'm looking for a job in surgery." She immediately stopped and said she'd escort me to the department. On the elevator up I asked her, "I thought I would need to have experience to work surgery?" She said, "They will train you." That was that.

Well over 300. I think it was market timing. I graduated ADN at a time when hospitals were only looking at BSNs. I finally pinned down a recruiter at a job fair and refused to let him dodge the question. He told me that without a BSN my application/resume would not even be looked at. I then applied to one SNF and was hired. A year later hospital hired me as an "experienced" nurse. Covid changed the market though.

I knew what hospital I wanted to work at and knew I did not want Med Surg so I applied for a specialty position that wasn't really what I wanted but ended up falling in love with that specialty. I eventually left to persue the area I originally thought I wanted, and have recently gone back to the original specialty. Try something to get in the door even if you don't know how much you'll like it, and it may surprise you.

1. Hired at hospital I did clinicals at back when charting was done on stone tablets. Now I impress on my students during clinicals. This is a try it before you buy it. If you impress those on the floor while at clinical job seeking goes very easy.

It depends on what shift and where you are looking. I was able to get offers for evening shifts in psych and Nursing Homes. I took a long time to get job (several months) working days in field I like. Be persistent or take on a challange and accept a job working off shifts or in an area that isn't your first choice.

The nurse on the inpatient unit where had my clinical offered me a job directly after I graduated. I had worked there as a nurse intern over the summer as well. That was amazing because prior to sitting for the nclex, I obtained some awesome experience and used that opportunity for nclex review. The clinical environment (med/surg/tele) was amazing. Was able to fill a significant gap in theory, didactic information and clinical experience.

One. I knew which medical center I wanted to work at. I applied for a specialty that was not very exciting to new grads, but was a specialty that needed staff desperately. Once I got my foot in the door(after 2 years), I transferred to a department that I was passionate about.

I applied to one RN job, interviewed, and landed the job. I wanted to work in OB but was placed on the med-tele floor. The hospital that I applied to was a level 1 trauma and teaching hospital. My placement was absolutely perfect for me! I knew going into this job that my son was going to require open heart surgery at some point in the near future, and so did the person interviewing me, who later placed me in my position. Little did I know that me being placed in that position would help save my son’s life! I was prepared for my son’s surgery, and later the life threatening complications that arose from the surgery. My son is fine, he is 34yrs old now and a father himself to my beautiful granddaughter, Poppy! And his wife is now an RN!

I got the first job I applied for in the operating room. I spent my whole career in the OR first as an RN and then as CRNA.

One

One! At our nation’s oldest hospital… Pennsylvania Hospital at 8th and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I was so lucky to get into a new grad 12 week orientation program on the neurology neurosurgical floor, The Elliot Neurological Center. A fabulous training was provided by Gunhilda Hazler RN.

Job mkt was tough when I graduated, so went to a state psych hospital and was hired immediately, as turnover at state jobs is high, starting pay is low, but benefits are great and pay increases are pretty much regular. Cant beat a VA job for both.

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One or two. How about how many jobs did I apply for before I got an NP job?
I have applied for more than 30 jobs and still do not have one.

I had a job before I graduated.

Probably applied to about 8 different nursing residencies and got a spot the month before the cohort started because someone dropped out.

When I graduated from nursing school, I was also denied jobs because I had no experience. I took a job at a nursing home worked there for 6 months. Reapplied to hospitals (with my nursing home experience), they began to respond, the calls were overwhelming. I choose the Hospital job I wanted. Sometimes you may have to take a job just to get the experience, this will open doors and prepare you for the job you want.

Two and I was offered both. I worked hard to be in the top of my class. I would encourage multiple applications and interviewing as often as possible to keep yourself sharp. Interviews will provide the insight into what the current culture is. Think about the questions and create scenario questions of your own that mirror the behavioral interview questions you are asked.
In five years, what is the projected growth for this organization?
What are the current plans for expansion of services with the increase in population growth here?
How does this healthcare system sustain a positive and healthy work environment?
What do you attribute staff attrition to?
Tell me how you prevented burn out during the pandemic?
Do you have any references from staff that have been with the company over 5 years?

One application. I had worked as a nurses aid for almost 4 years, the entire time I was in college, working towards my BS in nursing. First job, night charge nurse of a 57 bed unit at age 20. It was a long time ago, and things have changed.

At first i got job right away after graduating from a nursing school. But after 6.5 years of practice i have applied to many jobs in indeed

I only applied for a job after I finished with my national service and for that I applied twice and got the job on the second

One and done! Hired as a graduate nurse in a well-known teaching hospital in MI on a Med-Surg floor.

There are plenty of RN jobs you can get right out of school. I receive my license just as lockdown hit, and then went into COVID testing, for example. But as far as bedside nursing-the job people think of when you mention "nurse"-it took scores of applications over the course of more than a year before I was called for an interview and subsequently hired.

1. Was hired into a resident program in 3rd semester of school.

I applied to 3 positions and was offered a position at every one. I took the lowest paying one because it was operating room. I knew, at the time, it was rare to be hired as a new grad. I've been there 17 years now.

I accepted a position at the hospital where I did my clinicals even before I graduated. I don't know if those type of offers exist anymore. Hospitals/Medical Centers usually always need RNs. Even if that is not where you ultimately want to work, I advise you to start here. The experience you will obtain is invaluable for future positions. Good luck.

Three months then employed by a teaching hospital

I applied to 10+ jobs before getting the chance to be hired.

One.

I was offered a job in my junior year. The university I graduated from had their own hospital. I just had to maintain my GPA. I was fortunate. I've been employed there for 40 years.

One. It should only take one. Proof read your resume, polish your interview skills. Can’t understand why “finding a job” is such an issue. I am tripled right now with two fresh hearts and a CVICU overflow. WTH?

I'm not sure how my answer will help you, as I obtained my first job over ten years ago. The job climate was different then. There are also differences regarding geography. I may have applied for 3 or 4, for what it's worth. I was very fussy about where I applied too.

1 measure where I grew up.

3. Apply for graduate nurse role. They expect you not to have experience. It is a one year program.

Right after graduation (16 years ago) I called the nurse recruiter for the hospital I wanted to work at (I had had clinicals for blocks 3 and 4) and asked what the new grad positions were. I don't know if it that solution for everyone, but I found it helpful.

Because I was willing to work nights, 11-7, more specifically 11-7 on weekends only, I didn't have any trouble getting a job right out of school. After COVID now, there is a new shortage of nursing professionals. Remember to wear a nice suit (even if it's not required these days, it looks professional, and will be acknowledged by the hiring manager, especially if he/she is a bit older), be on time or 10 minutes early if possible, smile, speak only positive words about everyone and everything you talk about, bring several copies of your resume, have your resume done professionally the first time you do it - consider printing it on a high quality paper, have a list of references immediately available, lastly, ask if you might spend a few hours observing a nurse on the floor or at the facility where you'd like to work.

I got hired at the second job I applied to. But I got lucky. I had applied at the blood bank and then at the hospital where I did my externship, working directly under the director I had followed for leadership. She knew me and said hired.

Graduation on a Friday and employed by Monday for night charge nurse on a 30 bed acute surgical floor in the hospital i trained in. Invaluable experience. Worked as a CNA in a nursing home prior to starting school.

One, but I knew I wanted to do their new grad program. I got a 7500 sign on bonus with them, this has been quite a few years ago.

They called me honey . . . ride your see saw . . . as a nurse you can discover what caring and human relationships mean to you . . . not only will your care experiences make you a better nurse . . . those experiences will help you find a better you . . .

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I was a " Psychiatric Technician,"before & during nursing school at the same Psychiatric inpatient hospital. But we're I messed up from history, I took the safe route and my current hospital were I was a Technician. I never nor still have not branched out in Specialties. DO NOT TRAP YOUR SELF AND EXPLORE. And if your 1st few jobs don't work. Try try again Good luck

1– i also trained in a hospital w a nursing program so they assisted u in transition
But in recent years it’s taken months to get jobs in btwn
I’m at the top of most pay scales so - not many employers want to pay for experience (plumbers make more than we do- but hey- they’ve got value too!!)

My first job out of nursing school I worked for a flu clinic. I had to go to corporate offices in Manhattan and give 100’s of flu shots a day. Back then we did not have prefills. So I became really good at administering vaccines.

Only 2! But that was in 1978!

One.

I applied to 4 jobs and it was in the winter of my senior year. I was hired 2 weeks after I was approached and shadowed.

I was hired immediately after School. I was a diploma nurse then later got my BS. We were in demand due to our intense clinical experience.

A LOT😂 but I applied later than was expected for a lot of internships, and I had no interview skills when I graduated; weirdly enough, the first impression matters more than your qualifications.

5

Too numerous to count

3

I applied once and was hired the first time.

I applied to one job and was hired.

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It’s hard

I applied for 2-3 jobs and was offered all three of them.

I applied to 4 or 5 positions and got an offer to 2 of them. I graduated in December and was working by January- this was 2015, if that helps.

I applied to University of Colorado Hospital in thre ICU units, the MICU at Duke University Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in the MICU and UCLA in multiple ICUs. I was offered a new grad residency at every hospital to which I applied. I had two and a half years of experience in two ICU’s at University of Colorado Hospital while I was attending nursing school. I also graduated Summa in my Accelerated BSN program. I also had stellar references from my bosses, my professors and the Neurointensivist at UCH.

I was lucky enough to get hired for every job I applied for in New York State, and Illinois.

None

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35 still on it

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once

I knew I wanted SICU straight out of school, and got the job after 1 application/interview. I was also class president for my nursing program and 3.8 GPA