Ensure You Love Your First Nursing Job — Choose Wisely!

Your nursing program was a journey with many steps along the way — receiving your degree, passing the NCLEX, and earning your RN license.

Congratulations! But the real journey — your first nursing job — is still ahead. If you're like most new graduate nurses, you worry about surviving the school-to-work transition you have heard so much about, and you have a lot of questions.

• Will I be good at my job?
• Will I fit in, do well, feel valued, and be successful?
• What if I make a mistake?

There's no doubt that getting your first nursing job is a big and important step that can set you on a great career path. Finding a job, however, is only the first of two big things you need to think about as you move through this once-in-a-career period between nursing school and work. 

The second thing is making sure the first nursing job you get is the right one. You've worked hard, earned good grades, and become an RN. It's time to get out into the job market and land that first job.

Narrow your job search for your first nursing job

The marketplace is waiting for you. If you haven't already gotten out there, it's time. An important question to answer is whether you really know what you need to know. If this is your first career and first job hunt, the answer is you need to know a lot. Begin your first nursing job hunt by doing some research.

• Bring yourself up to date on the nursing job market.
• Network with nurses you know from school.
• Talk with your past professors.
• Visit some online chat rooms with other new nurse grads.
• Study what's trending with jobs in your area and ones in areas you would consider relocating to for your first nursing job.
• Take a look at local professional nursing organizations and think about joining one.
• Make some decisions on where you want to work, what kind of role you want, and the salary and benefits you require.

After you've accomplished some of these preliminaries, get your thoughts together and make a who, what and where list of your questions, such as:

• Who was your best resource for information and advice?
• What kind of family and lifestyle needs fit best with your choice of specialty, shift, role or facility?
• Where are the best places for you to work and live, and have you narrowed your search down enough?

Each of you will have a different list because finding the right job is not a cookie-cutter exercise. Each one is personal and unique.

Think outside the hospital setting

Don't forget there are some great roles and interesting positions in areas outside the hospital setting. Some examples are nursing homes, community medical clinics, academic nurse writers, and case managers. 

This Nurse Journal article shares more ideas for alternative nursing jobs you might want to consider. Plus, the Cleveland Clinic refers to today's new graduate nurse recruitment and hiring market as "competitive," which means you can be selective about which jobs you decide to apply for and accept. There's no question you'll find surprises along the way to starting your first nursing job. 

Remember, there are many ways to approach your search, so stay versatile. And this is your career and your first nursing job. So, do it your way. "Deciding on the best nursing job is about assessing your personal goals and determining what you want from a nursing career," according to the blog LoveToKnow.

10 tips for finding your first nursing job

1. Find a mentor to help with your job hunt. You'll always remember this person as being key to your success.
2. Don't believe everything you hear about the job market or allow any of it to become a stumbling block.
3. Get noticed by joining a nursing organization, starting another degree, or earning a nurse certification.
4. Look for professional help with your resume and figure out what will make it (and you!) stand out from the crowd.
5. Listen carefully to what interviewers seek, and don't be afraid to ask what you can do to provide it.
6. Don't narrow your job possibilities to one role. Keep an open mind about different settings and specialties.
7. Be persistent, but patient. If hospitals near you aren't hiring new grads, expand your horizon beyond acute care.
8. Remember that during each interview, you're there because there's a position to fill — and you can be the one to fill it.
9. Be grateful for every interview you get, whether it ends in an offer or not. You'll learn something of value from each one.
10. Don't be hard on yourself. Everyone has doors closed on them before the best one opens.

Let us help you get started on your next educational journey in nursing. Visit our Higher Education Guide and comprehensive School Directory to learn more.