How to Find Nursing Jobs
Finding nursing jobs can be stressful — especially finding the right one. You've put in hours of effort learning to be a nurse, and now you need to actually start working and making money. (Let's be real: those loan payments hit in 6 months.)
While finding nursing jobs is easier than in many fields, it can still be tough in oversaturated areas. Below are 5 proven ways to find nursing jobs on your job hunt.
1. Job Search Engines
Back in the day, nurses relied on newspapers and word-of-mouth. Today there are plenty of sites and apps to surface nursing job openings in your area — a fast, easy way to scout what's available.
Search your role — "Registered Nurse," "Nurse," or "Nurse Practitioner" — and enter your location. You can filter by salary, distance radius, and more, and favorite jobs you like. One tip: I recommend NOT using the salary filter, since Glassdoor's salary estimator isn't always accurate.
These sites also give great insight into the company through employee reviews, and previous candidates often describe how the interview was structured and what questions were asked. You can also research what salary to expect by looking up what others in the same role and location are paid. Both Glassdoor and Indeed have solid apps for Android and iOS.
2. Website Job Postings
A great way to find jobs that weren't posted to search engines is to go to the hospital or health system's website directly. Not every employer posts to job boards, so this ensures you don't miss opportunities. You can find both inpatient and outpatient jobs this way — in fact, this is how I found my current job as an inpatient nurse practitioner.
Go to the hospital or health network's website and look for a "Careers" or "Jobs" link — usually at the top of the page or in the footer. It can be hard to spot, but it's there 99% of the time.
Smaller networks may list every open job; most sites have a search function where you pick your role (RN, NP) and see all available positions. Click the jobs you're qualified for and apply through the link provided.
If you don't see a fit, you can often find the nursing recruiter's email. Send a professional note expressing interest in their system and attach an updated resume.
3. Nursing Jobs on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is social media for professionals to grow their network and find jobs — and it's underutilized in healthcare, especially by nurses. But healthcare recruiters definitely use it, so it may be just the route for you.
LinkedIn lets you build a profile that functions as your digital resume. Once it's polished, you can search jobs much like on Indeed or Glassdoor, and you may find postings that aren't listed elsewhere. For many roles you can apply directly with your LinkedIn profile alone, which makes the process easy — which is exactly why you should start building a strong profile now.
Flip the "Open to Work" Switch
In your settings, set yourself as "open to job opportunities." Healthcare recruiters will literally find you and message you about nursing jobs they want to fill. As with so much in life, landing your dream job is often about who you know.
4. Word of Mouth
With the internet being so easy, we sometimes forget the good old faithful methods. Word of mouth is a great way to find nursing jobs that may never be posted online. Ask your professional connections in healthcare whether they know of any needs — they may know of internal vacancies, be a hiring manager (or know one), and put in a good word for you. That can have a huge impact on your search.
Sometimes, when no full-time positions are open, companies will accept new per-diem applicants — a way for them to "test" your work before committing to a full-time hire.
5. Find Nursing Jobs In-Person
Don't underestimate the value of face-to-face interaction with a potential employer. Going in person to a hospital or clinic, presenting yourself professionally, and handing in your resume can make a great first impression that an online application never could.
It's not the norm anymore, but it can be effective. Look professional, be well-dressed, be polite, and smile — you never know who you'll impress or who will go to bat for you. This approach tends to work best for smaller employers like outpatient clinics or urgent care centers.
