Hi everyone!

I was just wondering what the job search has been like for nurses in North Carolina. I'm currently a student applying to my university's BSN program this fall, and I hope to become a Psych RN (eventually an NP). I would appreciate it so much if you could share your experiences in the current job market! Thanks! :)

Hello! Best wishes on the program!! I am currently a new graduate from WSSU traditional BSN program. I was definitely hard to get a job, even an interview this year. Many of my classmates still do not have jobs, but while your in school it is important to make your resume look as impressive as you can. Also, working at a hospital as a CNA or a summer internship would help you get your foot in the door. Although the job market is bleek, myself and others have gotten jobs at major hospitals in NC in Level 1 trauma ED's, ICU's and specialties. So it can BE DONE!!!! Don't worry about a job until you get through school and the NCLEX!

I live in NC and the job market is tough like most places around the country. Jobs are not falling into your laps like a few years ago. Your first hurdle is to get into a nursing program. That alone is a teadious process. You will probably find a job once you graduate if you start networking. I would get a job as a CNA and get your foot in the door with the local hospitals. Take it one day at a time. Things might turn around by the time you start your job search.

Thanks so much for both of your replies! I hope that the job market in NC will improve in the next few years! I was just wondering if it is extremely difficult for new grad nurses to find jobs at the university hospitals in NC (UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, etc.). Also, from your experience, does having a BSN provide an advantage? Again, I truly appreciate your insight!

If you do a search, you will find many threads in regards to BSN vs ADN.

Look up current job postings in your area and see how many of them say "BSN preferred." I think that's the best way to see what degree your area prefers, especially with new grads.

Thanks so much for both of your replies! I hope that the job market in NC will improve in the next few years! I was just wondering if it is extremely difficult for new grad nurses to find jobs at the university hospitals in NC (UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, etc.). Also, from your experience, does having a BSN provide an advantage? Again, I truly appreciate your insight!

Honestly I don't know of anyone who got a job at UNC, Duke is my employer and about 5 of my classmates, Baptist (WFUBMC) hired a lot, but they give preference to employees and externs, they also have a ED Academy for new grads. ECU is also a huge teaching hospital. Being BSN prepared, all we are taught is that is the best choice, however everyone must choose their best option. In my personal opinion, you might as well, because a lot of the ADN's in my area spent as much or a small amount of less time in school and they kinda regret not doing the BSN. Majority of the big teaching hospitals are looking for a BSN, especially when they have the option of being extremely selective.

I really appreciate all of the responses! :)

If you all don't mind my asking, what is the starting salary for an RN in hospitals in places like the Triangle or Triad? I have heard rumors of anything from $35,000 to $55,000, so an accurate range from new nurses in the area would be absolutely wonderful!

Thanks again!

Moved to the North Carolina Nursing Forum for more exposure.

As a New Grad I was offered $20/hr at some hospitals and $21/hr at others plus shift differential ($4/hr for nights). I was a New Grad last year and I tried to get into all the North Carolina hospitals and was not given an opportunity (I was an out-of-state New Grad) until I lost my home to a flood in Iowa and a county hospital squeezed me into their program during the middle of it.

Now I work at another hospital closer to home and the New Grads that were just hired said they had a lot of difficulty getting jobs and a lot of their classmates are desperately still looking.

The nursing job market all around is very difficult now. I just oriented at my 2nd job (hired PRN) and spoke with nurses with 20+ and 30+ years of experience and they were shocked at how hard it was to find a job now (they at one point said it was true that they would always find a job, but not anymore). One of them said that she was considering going back to the Middle East like she was doing for the past few years because all she could find here was a PRN job. The other one was forced to take a refresher course where she would pay the hospital to work there so she could get more acute care experience (she worked in a doctor's office for 23 years). The funny thing is that the hospital will not guarantee her a job at the end of it!

I have a friend who graduated with me from the ADN program last year and just got her BSN this summer and she still can't get a hospital job, but she is working full-time and PRN at a skilled nursing facility 3rd shift.

Get your BSN, start looking now into working at a hospital or whatever as a nursing tech or CNA (even though I know people who did that and they could not get work as an RN either where they graduated) but hopefully (keep your fingers crossed) by the time you graduate, the economy will have improved, the older nurses will have finally retired, and the full-timers will cut down to part-time, and you will then get the job you so very hardfully worked for!