Just graduated from nursing school? Now find a job…

Finding a job in nursing is different from most of the other job hunts out there. As a new grad, you are just excited to get out there are get working (after you pass your boards of course). Just keep in mind these few things when looking for a job in this expansive field.

If they are offering huge bonuses and large amounts of money for you to work for them, there is a reason. Not to say that you might find a job that pays more than another, but if they are offering $10,000 sign on bonus for a 2 year commitment, be wary. I was offered that much to go work for a  local hospital fairly recently after I graduated. I did some more research and it turns out they have a very high turnover rate. You don’t want to be stuck in a place for years, unhappy and itching to get out, just because the front end offer was too good to be true. It is really hard and costly to break those contracts and it is just better not to get involved to begin with, unless you know what you are stepping into.

In most cases, you are only trying to impress the employer you are trying to get a job with. At this stage, with nurses being in high demand, they should be trying to impress you as well. Prepare some of the big questions you have on your mind prior to your interview and make sure they get answered. What is the patient to nurse ratio? Are they rotating shifts? Pay and benefits? How is the schedule made? Anything that is a big deal to you, get the answers up front and to your satisfaction. Don’t ever think that you have to take the job and the pay they offer you or you won’t find anything else. That isn’t true and don’t let them make you think that. As a side note, as a new grad you may not be able to dictate or negotiate your starting pay as easily as a veteran, but if it is really low in comparison to other jobs, you may be able to at least get a comparable wage.

Always remember that most employees don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. If you interview with a manager and the two of you don’t see eye to eye or there isn’t at least a cordial bond, it may not be the right fit for you. People are different and some people you can get a long with and communicate easily with and others may turn you off. You can also ask some of the current employees if they are happy where they work and if they think he/she is a fair manager. You can tell a lot by the atmosphere on the floor of how it is run and how happy the employees are. Which leads me to my next point.

Ask if you can follow a staff RN around for at least a couple of hours. You can see and hear a lot on the floor during a shift. If people are complaining the whole time or it is chaos and there isn’t enough support, that is a tough environment to be in, especially as a new grad. You can also get a feel for how the staff works together. Is it a team environment or is it every man for himself? As a new grad, you want all the help you can get. Even after a few hours, you will be able to tell if it is the place for you. If you bond with the staff and you can’t wait to get back, then it is a fit. If you can’t wait to get out and never come back, then move on.

Find out if the facility offers a new grad program. This is something that is becoming more common at the hospitals and I think it is invaluable. I wish I had the chance to enroll in a new grad program. Not only does it give you a built in support system, but it helps with ongoing education as well. As a new grad, you really cannot get enough support and resources to help you grow into the professional nurse from a nursing student. It is a hard transition and anything your employer can do to help make that transition easier is important. Take advantage of it.

If you keep in mind the tips for finding a job in the nursing field, you should hopefully find a job that fits your needs and can help you grow into a happy, confident, competent nurse. Please don’t just take the first offer if it doesn’t feel right to you. There are plenty of jobs out there; you need to find the right one for you.