Nursing Jobs - Insider Tips On Choosing The Best Employer
There are lots of nursing jobs out there. There are also lots of choices to make. And it’s not always easy to understand the differences between them. But understanding these differences will help you choose a better employer and have a better chance at landing your dream job!
To help, we’ve put together some information that can keep you from making costly mistakes—like picking the wrong type of job or employer—all based on insider tips from nurses who know their stuff.
This article is a continuation of our previous articles that focused on what your resume should say, how to get a nursing job, and the difference between CNA and nursing positions. These articles helped nurses make informed decisions about their careers and where to look for jobs.
In this article, we go into detail about the important aspects of choosing the best healthcare and nursing jobs. So sit back and relax, read it carefully, and put some thought into these great tips!
Nursing Jobs - Do Your Research First! [ARTICLE BEGIN]
Nursing is a very rewarding career choice—and that’s why thousands of nurses are looking for work every month. But that also means that there are hundreds of other qualified, motivated nurses looking for jobs - and if you want to be able to choose a good employer, you need to do your research and homework first.
Nurses can work in many different settings, with many different types of employers. But not all employers are alike! Some will be good for certain reasons but not others. If you do your homework, you’ll be able to tell the difference and get the best employment package the first time.
So here are three important steps you should take before applying for any job:
1) Research organizations/employers online. Take the time to research and learn about "the best employers" in your area of interest.
One of the best ways to get this information is by reading a lot of nursing blogs. As long as you have an Internet connection, it’s easy to find out exactly what nurses have to say in their blogs, on their forums and on their websites. There are a ton of resources out there that make it possible for nurses to get together and help one another with job-hunting tips. In addition, blogs can be a great place to find out what other nurses are thinking. There are thousands of nursing blogs, and we’ve picked a few of the best ones on the Internet that we think you should check out.
Also, take the time to look at reviews of hospitals and health systems and companies. These sites often go into detail about what types of nurses they’re looking for and their work environment, as well as their pay scale, bonus plans and benefits. You could also talk to your friends or colleagues who have experience in these organizations/companies so you can find out how it really is from their perspectives.
The following are some websites that allow nurses to anonymously share their experiences with useful information on healthcare employers:
Nurses' View of Employment - This site is designed primarily for you to find out what nurses working in hospitals, outpatient clinics and other health facilities have to say about the types of employers they work for.
Hospitals and Health Systems Review - This site invites nurses, patient advocates and other interested individuals to submit their reviews about health systems, healthcare organizations, board-certified FNP programs as well as local hospital systems and hospitals. The reviews are then posted on the website for others to see.
2) Find out about the benefits offered by any organizations/employers that interest you.
Many nurses are worried that they won’t be able to get jobs with decent pay or benefits, but the truth is, there are many organizations that offer great benefits packages. Some employers even offer on-the-job training as a benefit! So you need to take some time to learn about the benefits, pay scales and bonus plans. Then ask yourself: do the pros outweigh the cons?
A good place to start learning about health insurance plans and employers’ bonuses is the website of The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). They have a lot of good information you can use when comparing different employers. You’ll need to join SHRM to access this information, but there is a free membership option so you can get the information you need.
3) Do your homework about the location of each employer.
It may not be possible for every type of nurse to live in any given place, but there are plenty of nurses who can and do! We recommend that you find out where you can live before you apply for jobs in certain locations. Then, when it comes to choosing an employer, you’ll know exactly how much money a yearly salary will actually get you in those areas.
The best way to learn more about possible living situations is to do your own research. So go out into the community and talk to other nurses who live there and ask them what it’s like. Find out what you can expect in terms of public transportation, traffic, cost of living, etc. It’s important that you do your homework early on because living in a place that you know nothing about might be difficult when you start looking for jobs there.
A great source of information about job locations is the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). They have a lot of information available online and they update their databases on a regular basis. We recommend that you spend some time going through their website, which has mapped out all of the cities in the United States. Look up your community and see if it’s located in the best area for you to live so you can plan your job search around where you want to live.
4) Make sure your application is complete and that everything is filled out correctly.
One of the most common first things that employers do when they are trying to hire a nurse is to look through their application and see if they can find any errors or anything that they think should be added. The more complete your application, the easier it will be for them to accept your application.
If you’re an RN, you don’t have to include all of the information about your licensure and education. You only need to include what you feel is important for them to know about your work experience, training and educational background. In addition, if you have completed a fellowship year since high school, do not include those years in your resume unless there is a specific reason for including them on your resume.