Best place to be a New Grad RN with ASN.

[ArmstrongLPN]

I am currently doing Excelsior's ASN Program. I have made lots of progress this year and plan to be finished sometime mid 2015 god willing:bookworm:. My partner and I moved to Virginia Beach a year ago from NY thinking it would be a great move for his portrait photography business. Unfortunately we were very wrong. We are looking for our next city to fall in love with.

With consideration to the move to BSN and the tight market for new graduates my question is, Where is the best place to be a New Grad RN with ASN in your opinion.

I understand every situation has its set of variables, i'm just trying to narrow down some places to visit.

Thanks Guys

Greg

[estrellaCR, BSN, RN]

Most hospitals nowadays want BSNs and even new grads BSNs have a tough time finding jobs and ASNs have it worse. More rural areas are more open to ASNs as they need staff as most nurses flock to the cities. Also states that are not too popular have more hiring of new grads including ASNs. From what I hear, border towns in Texas, cities in North/South Dakota/Montana/Wyoming are quite new grad friendly. Also nursing home/rehab centers dont require BSNs as much. So try these states or if you want a hot state, be open to rural areas. I see your interest is in Psych...you may have better luck as most RNs want to do med-surg so if you really want Psych you can get a job quicker, at least thats the case in NY and the East Coast.

I would advise that you do not move until you have graduated and have an official job offer. Because in this economy, it is impossible to predict where you will get a job.

[MissMeeks]

I can only speak for the part of the country that I have been living in for the past 20 years which is the deep south. I have lived in Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee. Nashville is a wonderful booming healthcare metro (and a lot more open minded than you might think) and I think your partner might see some profit in his business in this area. Around here, no one (Vanderbilt is the ONLY group that I have heard of) really cares or even considers your degree-they care about your license. Typical pay for a new RN in this area is about $22/hr from what I've been told recently which might sound bad to a person from the east coast, but the cost of living is considerably cheaper. I WOULD NOT consider Alabama at all (I think Mississippi might be the only other state that pays RN's lower) and Kentucky is actually nice as well-Lexington and Louisville would be your best bets. Getting a nursing job these days isn't as easy as it once was, but with some planning and an open mind, you might actually enjoy living 'round here :)