Nursing market cools, new grads have a tough time finding jobs

Indeed. Whoever is telling nurses to "move to Texas where there is more demand" is highly misinformed.

I have been told that there is really no shortage of nurses to being with, just a shortage of nurses who remain in nursing. The field I used to work in I ran into many nurses who no longer wanted to be in the profession for many different reasons. Many said that if nursing/nurses ever get better treatment from the hospitals they work for, got better respect in general, respected each other more, rather than cut each other's throat to make themselves look better, and finally got paid better, then there would be no shortage of nursing, there are plenty of licenced nurses right now that have elected not to remain in the field. Some are older, but there are plenty younger ones too, some move on to other careers like pharm. sales, others get their NP or CRNA for more money and to get away from the abusive environment that nursing can be. Again, this is not first hand experience just what I have been told. I was planning on my 2nd degree BSN, but between the high tuition cost and speaking to many nurses not sure this is a good move anymore.

To be fair, if you have that magic "one year of experience" (aka, you're a warm body that's passed the boards and has been basically oriented to healthcare) there are bazillions of jobs out there.

I live in Midland, TX and there are job openings for RN's at the hospital in Midland and Odessa. Midland Memorial is starting the Versant program for new RN's this June. They are still accepting applications for June. I know not everyone wants to live here, nor can eveyone up and move, but if you can you might check into the hospitals around here.

I have many years of experience as a nurse, and there are no nursing jobs where I live.

I was talking about my local market. It's quite a frustratingly myopic situation we have: Nearly all the facilities have dozens of staff nurse positions open, but none wish to fill them with new grads.

I was talking about my local market. It's quite a frustratingly myopic situation we have: Nearly all the facilities have dozens of staff nurse positions open, but none wish to fill them with new grads.

I was just reading that 46% of new grads leave their first job within the first year. That's probably why the hospitals don't want to risk it. On the other hand, noone starts a job intending to leave- If these hospitals had good working conditons and supported their nurses (both new and seasoned) they would probably not have any vacancies- both new and seasoned nurses would want to stay.