How to Land Your First Nursing Job
Are you considering a second career in nursing? If so, you may be wondering about how to get your first nursing job.
The nursing profession offers a personally and professionally rewarding path for people who want to dedicate their careers to helping others. The demand for registered nurses is high, especially those who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
When you know what to expect as a new nurse, you can feel more confident about starting your nursing journey. Learn about the credentials and experience needed for your first nursing job and some entry-level nursing jobs available to new nurses nationwide and in Texas.
What Is the Job Outlook for Registered Nurses?
You can answer your calling to serve others while building a rewarding career by becoming a registered nurse.
The job outlook for registered nurses is bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects registered nurse employment to grow faster than average between 2023 and 2033. During this time, there will be approximately 194,500 annual job openings. Employment will grow across most healthcare settings, especially hospitals, outpatient care centers, home health, and residential care facilities.
In Texas, registered nurse employment is expected to grow by 14.6%, over three times faster than average. The Lone Star State will have approximately 16,900 annual job openings for registered nurses between 2022 and 2032.
Registered nurses also have solid earning potential, with an average annual wage of $90,210 in Texas.
What Are the Requirements for Entry-Level Nursing Jobs?
If you are thinking about becoming a nurse, it can be helpful to understand the requirements for entry-level nursing jobs. You will need a nursing degree, clinical experience, and a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse. Then, you can start looking for your first nursing job.
Nursing Education
Registered nurses must have a nursing degree from an accredited nursing program.
One option is earning a BSN. Research shows that patients experience better outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and cost savings when more nurses on staff have a BSN. This is why many employers prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses.
According to the American Nurses Association, a BSN also provides more career and earning potential than an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Earning a BSN opens doors to more nursing career paths, including leadership roles, that offer higher compensation.
Traditional BSN programs take four years of full-time study. However, if you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline, you can earn your BSN faster in an accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. ABSN programs build on previous baccalaureate coursework, allowing you to complete a BSN program in one to two years.
Nursing education is rewarding and rigorous, preparing you to make a meaningful difference on the front line of healthcare. To feel more confident entering your nursing program, take the steps to prepare for nursing school.
Clinical Experience
You will participate in supervised patient care during your nursing program in various healthcare settings. These clinical experiences will allow you to apply the theoretical knowledge from coursework to real-world patient care, preparing you for safe and competent nursing practice.
The number of clinical hours required for registered nurse licensure varies by state but is typically at least 500.
State Licensure
All registered nurses must be licensed by the state where they practice. The licensure process involves submitting an application to your state board of nursing and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
When you pass the exam and meet the state requirements, you will receive licensure as a registered nurse and can apply for your first nursing job. Licensure is a career-long requirement, so you will need to renew your nursing license according to the rules of your state board of nursing, which typically includes completing continuing education.
What Are the Options for Entry-Level Nursing Jobs?
The decision to become a nurse is often rooted in a passion for helping others. As a registered nurse, you can make a meaningful impact from your very first nursing job.
Entry-level registered nurses work as part of a healthcare team to conduct patient assessments, implement treatment plans, and provide patient education. Their day-to-day duties depend on where they work, from cruise ships to correctional facilities and schools.
Here are the highlights of what to expect from entry-level nursing jobs in the largest employers of registered nurses nationwide—hospitals, ambulatory care settings, government, and nursing and residential care facilities.
Hospitals
Entry-level nursing jobs in hospitals involve caring for patients from all walks of life and with conditions of varying complexity. Your responsibilities will depend on the unit in which you work.
For example, in an intensive care unit, you will provide care to patients who need close monitoring and treatment for serious, complex, and acute illnesses. As a medical-surgical nurse, you will care for patients before, during, and after surgery.
Registered nurses in hospitals work in shifts, which take place on nights, weekends, and holidays. You may also have to work on short notice.
Approximately 6 in 10 registered nurses in Texas work in inpatient hospital care. It’s the top practice setting for registered nurses, and employment is still growing. Texas hospitals have reported increased budgets for direct care registered nurses primarily because of patient volume.
Ambulatory Care Settings
Ambulatory care refers to outpatient healthcare services. Many registered nurses work in physician offices, home healthcare, and outpatient centers, typically during regular business hours.
The demand for registered nurses in home health is especially high in Texas. Most agencies that responded to the recent Texas Home Health & Hospice Care Nurse Staffing Study reported needing more registered nurses, including those with no experience.
Entry-level nursing jobs in ambulatory care focus on patient assessment, medication administration, patient education, minor procedures, and diagnostic tests. If you prefer a predictable schedule and are interested in coordinating care across healthcare systems, you may want to consider ambulatory care for your first nursing job.
Public Health
Some new nurses find their first nursing job in public health. Public health nurses help government agencies—as well as community health centers and nonprofit organizations—improve the health of entire communities.
Entry-level nursing jobs in public health focus on health promotion and preventing illness and injury. Registered nurses may administer immunizations, conduct health assessments and screenings, and provide health education to individuals and groups.
Many public health agencies in Texas have raised their budgets for registered nurses, primarily due to increased funding and new programs. Public health nursing is an opportunity for new nurses who want to make a broad impact in their communities.
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
Working in a nursing or residential care facility allows registered nurses to build long-term relationships with patients, making a difference in their everyday lives. RNs provide on-going assessment of patient progress and needs, administer medication, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, coordinate care, and provide education for patients and their caregivers.
Like hospitals, long-term care facilities provide around-the-clock care, so nursing shifts may be on nights, weekends, and holidays.
The need for nursing and residential care nurses is high. Over half of Texas facilities that responded to the Long Term Care Nurse Staffing Study reported the need for more registered nurses in direct care over the next two years.
How to Find Your First Nursing Job?
There are many ways to find your first nursing job as a registered nurse. Networking, professional nursing organizations, and mentorship are essential strategies that can give you access to job opportunities, career guidance, and career-long professional connections.
Networking
To find your first nursing job, build professional relationships throughout your journey to becoming a nurse. Your networking connections can help you discover job openings, provide references for job applications, and offer valuable career advice.
Here are a few ways to make professional nursing connections:
- Leverage Clinical Rotations: The clinical instructors and preceptors in your nursing program likely have many connections in healthcare, so make an effort to get to know them and tap into their expertise.
- Connect with Alumni: Graduates of your nursing program know how to navigate the job market with the same education as you, so reach out to them through your university or LinkedIn.
- Attend Job Fairs: You can interact directly with recruiters and employers at nursing job fairs, potentially allowing you to make a strong first impression and stand out from other job applicants.
Professional Nursing Organizations
Consider becoming a member of a professional nursing organization to support your job search. You can make valuable connections and gain professional experience that some employers may look favorably on.
Organizations such as the American Nurses Association and the National Student Nurses Association provide networking and mentorship opportunities through local chapter meetings, conferences, and events.
Professional organization memberships may also grant you access to exclusive job and career resources, such as resume reviews and interview coaching.
These nursing organizations offer public job boards:
Mentorship
Getting guidance from experienced nurses will support your job search and transition into professional nursing. You can seek mentorship from your nursing school faculty and clinical instructors, fellow members of professional nursing organizations, or the nurses you meet during clinicals.
Mentors may introduce you to employers, provide recommendations for job applications, and give feedback on your resume and interview skills. Moreover, a mentor can help ease the transition from nursing school to professional practice, helping you navigate your first nursing job.
Are You Ready for a Fulfilling Career Change into the Nursing Profession?
The nursing profession is both fulfilling and financially rewarding. When you start your journey to becoming a registered nurse, you will open doors to a career where you can change your life and the lives of others.
Now that you know how to get your first nursing job, take the first step toward a career in nursing with Baylor University’s Distance ABSN program. In just one year, this intensive full-time program will prepare you for your future nursing role.
Baylor’s Distance ABSN is designed for Texas residents with a completed bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. You will learn from nationally recognized faculty, benefit from strong academics and a well-earned reputation, gain clinical experience in underserved communities, and study nursing through a Christian worldview.