Military spouse- where to go after graduation

[micheleruth87]

So I graduate in December and about a year afterwards we will be relocating to another base. If we have the options to put in a few different places, does anyone have experience about what areas of the country have a greater shortage than others? By the time we move I will hopefully have a year of experience in a local hospital.

[salvadordolly]

In my travel days, the Rocky Mountain states and the south always seemed to have a shortage. The working conditions were worse than the coast and the midwest and they paid a lot less than these areas.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not a new grad, but the trends I've seen from talking to people as well as at this forum is that you will have better luck finding a new grad job in more rural areas and smaller towns than you will in major cities and in most (if not all) of California.

Hopefully you will get that year's experience and not be a new grad when you move.

Also, consider that you can apply for military spouse preference at government facilities. It DOES NOT guarantee you a job, nor will it replace specific job requirements that you don't have, such as education or actual nursing experience. But if you are one of the best applicants for the position AND things are equal/pretty similar between you and the other applicants, it could give you a boost.