When I became a newly licensed practical nurse in New Jersey, I struggled to find an employer willing to give me experience. Eventually, I moved to North Carolina and found a nursing job on my second day there.

I still remember that frustration: how do you get experience when employers want you to already have it?

One thing I would encourage nursing students to do is start preparing for the first-job search before graduation.

That doesn’t mean applying before you’re eligible. It means finding out early what employers require and when they accept applications.

Some nurse residency programs recruit months before their start dates. Waiting until after graduation or NCLEX to investigate could mean missing an application window.

A few things you can do while still in school:

• Make a list of employers and new-grad programs you would realistically consider.

• Check their official career pages for application dates, graduation eligibility, license requirements, and expected start dates. Ask the recruiter if anything is unclear.

• Track required documents. If a program needs faculty recommendations, give your instructors enough notice.

• Prepare your résumé and examples from clinicals, work, volunteering, or leadership that you can discuss in an interview.

• Keep a first choice and some realistic alternatives. Consider the orientation and support available alongside the specialty, location, and pay.

• If applications aren’t producing interviews, ask someone to review your résumé and check your eligibility and timing before continuing with the same approach.

And when an offer comes, ask about orientation, preceptor support, scheduling, workload expectations, and any repayment obligations attached to bonuses or training.

Getting an offer matters. Understanding what you’re accepting matters too.

If you’ve already graduated and are still searching, this isn’t a criticism—you can start these steps wherever you are now.

For students approaching graduation: have you checked when your preferred employers open their new-grad applications? What part of the process has been hardest to figure out?

Hello. So I’m 5 months into my accelerated BSN program and it’s been tough this semester. I feel very burnt out and anxious. I prayed to get accepted into this program btw and have had some very good days. Also some bad days (like all people). Some days I’m okay and good and joyful but these days I’ve just been anxious. Have you experienced this? I feel like in my cohort not many talk about anxiety. Mine has become worse. I had a panic attack the other day during class. Then I was okay. I just feel like we have homework all the time and clinicals and exams each week. I am def burnt out. And I fainted the other time watching my first live birth and it made me just so embarrassed. I just want tips on how you regulated burnout. I keep thinking of all the exams I have ahead and assignments and it just makes me dizzy thinking about it and my train of thoughts spiral! Help. Please.

Hey, I'm second year nursing student and I've just started the clinical semester a few days ago. The thing is i feel so lost between my subjects and studying, we've started school two weeks ago and I still didn't study something so big to be considered as an achievement. I have Pathophysiology, Adult Health 1(clinical + theory), physical assessment (Lab + theory) and another subject.

I can study the theory ones but it needs more time than the first year subjects, and with the practicing sessions we take at hospital I feel lost between them.

I don't know how to start studying the clinical and lab ones, Pathophysiology too but it needs much time. So please have someone been there too? How do you manage to get good grades and knowledge from these subjects?

I have a high GPA so I wanna keep it up.

Hi everyone! It's been my dream to be a nurse since freshman year of high school. College hit me like a truck though, and I struggled majorly in my first few science pre requisites. It was impossible for me to retain or understand information/ pay attention and my brain fog was absolutely horrible. I had a million thoughts at once while still not being able to think (iykyk). This led me to get a psychiatric evaluation and I was immediately diagnosed with adhd and put on stimulants. These have helped MAJORLY and I started doing so much better in school! I had gotten a C in chem and a C in anatomy & physio, but was able to finish micro with an A since that was the only class I was on meds for.
My grades are still not good though and I know I'm nowhere near competitive enough to get a spot in a cc nursing program (California, not looking to relocate) and my school only allows one science retake. Should I just go private? Any other routes I should know of??? Any other ADHD nurses have similar experiences and advice?

I was offered two capstone placements in labor and delivery. One I would be a one-to-one student, the only student that they chose. However, the hospital does not have the best reputation. The other one is a group model, but it is still considered preceptor based. However, I don’t know if that means that I will be sharing a preceptor. The hospital has a better reputation in his part of a larger network, so would probably offer me more opportunities in the future. Overall, I want the best learning experience and want the best experience for my résumé as well. I am super torn and I have to choose today. If anybody has any insight, I would really appreciate.

What do most people do in medsurg clinical?

This is kind of a rant but if anyone else on here also has felt this any input or additional ranting is welcome.

I have missed funerals because I had to go to class or study for an exam. I've had a miscarriage and had to go to clinical the next day and shove down any emotions related to it just to survive the clinical. A family member has had to put our family dog down and I couldn't be there to say goodbye because I was in clinical at the time. My heart is breaking with all the loss and yet I still have to study for the next exam. I'm so frustrated and beyond over all of this. I'm ready for it to be done. I'm sick of missing the usual stuff too but that wasn't like the worst. But not even really being able to grieve right now is just hitting me and I'm sick of it. I know I want to be a nurse but is this seriously the cost that the education alone takes? I know I was born to do this and I can't picture doing absolutely anything else but it just feels so extreme right now. I barely sleep, I've lost 20 pounds this semster alone because I frequently get wrapped up in studying and either forget to eat or don't have time to make food (honestly kind of happy about the weight loss I've been trying to lose weight off and on but haven't gotten far with it because of school stress so I'm definitely not underweight now but I know it's not healthy losing that much this quickly).

Anyway, thoughts, advice, personal rants anyone wants to add in are all welcome. Hope things are going better for other nursing students out there.

I eventually have to do a drug test to get into their LPN program, does anyone know if they stand and watch you pee

Hello! I’ll be starting PN at the Waterloo campus soon. Anyone who is in the program right now do you mind sharing your sem 1 timetable with me?

Hi!
I am currently a CNA, and looking to start an LPN program soon. But I am very conflicted between doing the night shift or morning, and I have this tiny thought about pm just for some type of pay difference.

I wanted to ask for advice for the nurses that went to nursing school while working, or working as a CNA, what did you do? Or would you recommend? Or wish you did to make it easier? Is night shift and school even possible???

I am more so interested in night shift because of the pay difference, but I don’t know how possible it is or I don’t know I am very conflicted.

Okay so I need to get my BSN asap because I want to try to graduate around the time my husband is stationed in Cali as he is transitioning into a marine.
I currently go to UTA for accelerated BSN program and have to apply by January. I have lots of pre reqs (only missing patho and 2 electives) so I don’t mind into something direct since I’ve already saved a lot of money by going to UTA and TCC. I wanted to stay at UTA but I want to finish sooner than 2029 and that’s if I even get in lol. Rn I’m expected to graduate late 2029 (if I get into the program next fall)
What programs with direct entry do you recommend? I’ve had many opinions but I’m still indecisive so if I can get some personal feedback that would be great; I’m seeking for something fast and at a reasonable price.
Tysmmmm

I am trying to find a community college in NC that offers an online Anatomy and Physiology II course. Has anyone taken one that doesn't require a proctor? Most charge a proctor fee.

For those of us who have to work while in school, where are you working? What flexible jobs are out there that allow you to work around your school schedule? Could be PT or FT

Hello!

I was thinking about topics to do for my nursing dissertation (UK) and was thinking about doing it on pharmacy education to patients and to increase pharmacy education to practicing nurses. I was wondering if this would be a good topic to do.

I have my meeting with my supervisor in two days but I also don't know what to expect when writing the topic I guess. A dissertation seems quite overwhelming. I have found scholarly articles on how nurses could improve with administering medication and how pharmacists can help nurses around pharmacy education but I was hoping to get an honest answer on what to expect and if there are other alternative topics I can do.

I did poorly on my past Adult Nursing exams. I have to pass with an average of 80% on all my exams. So for my next 3 exams, I can’t get more than 2 answers wrong.

I just have to study my ARSE OFF 😫

I finally found a studying tip that works for me. I upload all my materials to notebook lm and have it generate me a podcast I can listen to while I’m working out or sewing. It’s hard for me to read out of a text book so I also have it generate me NCLEX style questions and practice those all day everyday. I also upload a chapter to gizmo and have it teach me the chapter. That also seems to help but it doesn’t necessarily give out NCLEX style questions.

Ugh, any tip would help at this point.

I was recently accepted into both John Hopkins direct entry MSN and Creighton's (phoenix) ABSN. I received some money from John Hopkins so tuition to both schools would be fairly similar. I would also need to relocate for both programs. I am wondering if anyone has any information or insight they would like to share about either school. How do they prepare you for your career after starting? I am interested in possible becoming an NP at some point. Do I need to be worried about safety around the John Hopkins campus? really any advice or information would be greatly appreciated? even if it is just about the areas of both schools or direct MSN and ABSN programs in general.

I need help please I have my exit exam for last time I did two times and now is my last one 😩 I am stressed I cry a lot is ATI is crazy is comprehensi any tips and help please

I started my first med surg clinical today. I am also taking pharm this semester. I felt so lost with medications and their interactions with other medications along with lab values. I did my first report today in clinical and it wasn’t as detailed and good. I’m quite nervous now. Does it get better with learning all of this? will i eventually get it and get really good at skills and critical thinking as the program progresses and taking initiative action in clinicals?

Other than the price, what do people have to say about the SMU ABSN? The only thing I ever hear about is how expensive it is.

What are the clinicals like? What’s the job placement after graduation? How difficult is the instruction? Etc.

I just need to know everything that I can before committing

Anyone have honest opinions or experiences with RN programs near or in Albany, NY? I have a bachelor’s in healthcare administration, but I’ll need to retake several courses since they’re past the 5-year mark. I’m looking for a program that genuinely prepares you to be a good nurse and pass the NCLEX, without a lot of unnecessary hoops or hazing of nursing students. I’d really appreciate any recommendations or insight into the quality of the programs and support students receive from programs you have attended