As a new grad, or nurse in general, are jobs abundant, or scarce where you live?

[bear94, BSN, RN]

I am from central Illinois. Around here, most new graduates have jobs lined up about 5 months before graduation in non-medsurg areas (i.e. only 4 people from my graduating class of 54 took jobs on a medsurg floor. The rest took jobs in ICU, ER, OB, Peds, OR, and a few were sprinkled into CCU, CRU, and NICU- all across 3 different area hospitals).

When I first started flipping through topics on this website, I was shocked to find that there are new grads out there who cannot land a job for up to a year after graduating. I would love to see everyone's thoughts shared on this thread. Share your general region, if you're comfortable with doing so, and your experience with job hunting!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Southern PA/northern MD. New grads can get jobs if they have connections or are willing to forgo the dream job as the first job and start out in LTC. Experienced nurses have no problems if they have certain types of experience- typically those that require the longest orientation.

[bear94, BSN, RN]

Rose_Queen, I feel like a lot of the posts I see on here about new grads having difficulties with job hunting are based out east!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

More likely anywhere in a major metropolitan area. I've got Baltimore nearby.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I've worked in both the Tri-State area and Philadelphia metro. The market in both areas is saturated with new grads. I got a job by accepting a position that essentially required I make myself available to work 5 days per week with the understanding that I may only be called to work 1-2 days per week with only 2 hours notice. Nurses with speciality experience have an easier time, it's still competitive.

[johsonmichelle]

Its depend on where the new graduates nurse wants to work whether its acute care or long term care. Some of the nursing home in this area are ALWAYS hiring. I live in maryland and the job market is not too bad but its much easier if you have a bsn.

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

New grads from my adn program, with a few exceptions, went into their specialty of choice in acute care with no problem. I think maybe 6 out of 55 went to med surg/tele and that's because they wanted it.

[Sour Lemon]

I'm in Southern California and would say it's easy after a few years of experience and difficult as a new grad.

[ottersloveoysters]

New England - lots of competition for new grads because there are a lot of nursing programs around.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Southern Texas. I would say the bigger cities around me are more difficult for new grads to get jobs but in the outlying smaller towns it's easier. But a new grad won't necessarily get the job in the specialty they want, but they will get a job.

[violetlauren]

I'm from South Dakota. I think it is easy to find a position as both a new grad and an experienced nurse. I had a job five months before I graduated. I chose to work med surg but many people in my class were able to get jobs in specialty fields with little difficulty.