The hardest part is done. Congratulations! You have qualified for an incredible career that makes a real impact on countless lives. 

Graduating from nursing school is an accomplishment anyone can be proud of. But there are still a lot of questions at the start of a registered nurse career path. "What nursing options do I have?" "What can I do with my BSN?"

The future is bright. You can specialize in patient care groups, medical practices or technology. Healthcare jobs are continually in demand. And, the future of healthcare jobs is full of innovation, learning opportunities and stability.

Your First Steps on the Registered Nurse Career Path

After graduation, your first steps towards getting a nursing job are: 

1. Taking your NCLEX exam, which is administered under the authority of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

2. Choose a starting point and apply for jobs.

3. Start your career with a mind toward growth.

Choose a Starting Point for Your Registered Nursing Career Path

"How do I know what I want to do?" 

You can always remain a generalist or change direction with experience. However, think about your characteristics and what makes you feel the most meaningful. Where you can make the greatest use of your disposition and skillset will help you excel. You'll need to consider:

• The kind of facility you want to work at
• The size of the facility and care group
• The number and type of patients you would provide the best service to
• What areas of interest you are open to

Not all nursing jobs are the same. If you have a sensitive nature, you may be better suited for nursing specialties like camp nursing, missionary nursing, or a family practice nursing. On the opposite end of the spectrum, high-energy nurses with strong emotional resilience may find a future rewarding as a trauma center or critical care nurse, poison information specialist, or nurse anesthetist working in the OR. 

Your First Nursing Job Workplace

Facilities are very nuanced. Apply to places to work that are going to start you on the best trajectory. Are you someone who thrives on intimate patient relationships who would be good at long term care? Or, do you prefer a busy environment full of changing situations? 

Types of nursing workplaces to apply to: 

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Psychiatric institutions
• Care facilities, like nursing homes, rehabilitation centers or residential care providers
• Home health care agencies
• Government agencies
• Schools, camps and missionary groups

Tips for getting nursing experience more quickly:

• Gain experience doing on-call or per diem nursing jobs. This can give you a variety of environments to test.
• 9-5 nursing jobs are in high demand. Get into more facilities by applying for positions that work nights and/or weekends or longer hours (usually for fewer days per week!).
• Volunteer during your downtime. It will expand your network as well as your experience.

Still worried about transitioning from nursing school to your first job? 

• Consider taking a few extra transition courses, like the Transition to Practice Course from NCSBN. 
• Talk to your nursing school advisers and career specialists. Partnering with over 20 East Texas agencies, LETU's School of Nursing helps you gain clinical experience. 
• Brush up on your resume writing and interview skills. 
  • Writing labs and tutors can help with cover letters and resumes.

Keep a Mind Toward Growth

As you start your career, consider how you want to grow. Apply to jobs that will give you experience that will lead you towards your career goal. Do the research ahead of time to know what the prerequisites are for that dream job. Plotting your course will help you figure out where to start. 

Keep your expectations realistic. Nursing is a huge responsibility–and that responsibility is earned over time. Starting your career, you may not land your dream job. But you will gain the insight and experience to be on your way. 

What can you do with a BSN?

If you started your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as a physician assistant or another healthcare staff person, you already have an idea of what nursing looks like. New opportunities will open for you immediately. 

The advantages of a BSN over other nursing certifications or degrees are: 

• Earn more money. Look up what nurses earn with a BSN by type of nurse. Pay and requisites vary state-to-state. 
• More qualified opportunities. Certain roles and promotions are only available to a BSN, such as management or specialization
• Specialized knowledge. Clinical experience is invaluable, but even with that there is specialized knowledge only gained through nursing coursework
• In higher demand. Regardless of experience, BSN's are more highly sought after and may eventually become a requisite for nursing. The best facilities can demand higher qualifications, as well.

The Boundless Future of Nursing and Healthcare Jobs

The future of nursing is guaranteed to be full of promise. Today's nursing shortage is continuing to grow as the population ages and healthcare technology advances. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports:

Nursing employment is supposed to grow by +15% in the next decade. That's much higher than average!

As of 2016, the median pay of a nurse was $68K. 

The registered nurse career path is a lucrative one. Nurses increasingly take more central roles in patient care. High tech healthcare means more demand for highly skilled registered nurses. Ongoing education, specialization and experience means continual opportunity for graduating your salary. If career advancement is a motivator, consider staying in larger facilities or medical service providers. Where there are more floors, there are more ladders to the top. 

Start Your Journey to an Incredible Career in Nursing

Interested in starting your journey, but haven’t chosen your nursing program yet? Learn how to become a nurse at LeTourneau University.