what is the best state for a new RN grad to find employment

B52-H · Feb 16, 2011

Some of the places that keep coming up over and over again in my job feed are Minnesota and the Dakotas. If you are willing to relocate and don't mind icicles forming on your eyelashes, you should check it out. A hospital in North Dakota was actually offering a signing bonus for a new graduate position, which is unheard of these days.

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Feb 16, 2011

Seems like the jobs disappear fastest in the places everybody dreams of living in. Just thought I'd throw that out there. If you can live without icicles, have snow maybe once a year, El Paso TX is always looking for nurses. Low cost of living, lots of outdoor stuff to do (skiing 2 hours away in season!), get some experience, then look for work in those dream cities. Sure it's in the desert, but not only is it a dry heat, even the rain is dry! The intersection of 3 cultures is interesting. On a quiet night you can hear the gunfire and screams of the victime across the border in old Mexico;-)

cathlabdino · Feb 16, 2011

I hear that NJ is happy to hire new grads and will take them over "seasoned" nurses. The hospitals around me are looking for BSN nurses as many are "Magnet" hospitals and need to increase their numbers of BSNs. NJ cost of living is VERY high and taxes are terribly high as well, however. Good luck in your persuit!

nursie_pants · Feb 16, 2011

I moved from the NE to my current job in Missouri (St. Louis, specifically) right after nursing school. The hospital I work at (1200 beds) hires a ton of new grads.

When I was job hunting in 2009 it seemed like most opportunities for new grads - and they were few and far between - were in TX and ND. A lot in TX. If you end up with a compact state license, that would make it a lot easier for you if you change jobs at some point.

I should mention, that it's really hard to generalize by state as far as where all the jobs are. Rather, it depends more on the region, city, or even hospital and as we all know with hiring freezes/etc, things can change pretty fast.

Best of luck!

WillowNMe · Feb 16, 2011

I am graduating from a school in Minnesota and am looking out of state. At least in the Twin Cities, there aren't hospitals that will hire new grads. A lot of our larger hospitals are still in hiring freezes, and those who aren't have a very large pool of laid off nurses and new grads from the past three years to pick from.

B52-H · Feb 16, 2011

I am graduating from a school in Minnesota and am looking out of state. At least in the Twin Cities, there aren't hospitals that will hire new grads. A lot of our larger hospitals are still in hiring freezes, and those who aren't have a very large pool of laid off nurses and new grads from the past three years to pick from.

Try this place

http://jobs.startribune.com/job/67044/graduate-nurse-rn-application-all-locations/

MissBrahmsRN · Feb 17, 2011

Texas is not such a great place to come to if you are a nurse, new grad or not. my manager told me last week that in this latest hiring round she had 300 applications for each new grad open slot on our floor. she said 150+ for the experienced slots.

i guess it's better than some other states though...

the nursing schools here keep expanding and turning out grads plus everyone moves in from all over thinking that the jobs are flowing like water. i work hard every shift cause i know if i ever lose my job there are tons of RNs lined up behind me...

UserG · Feb 17, 2011

I was first licensed as an RN in OR. My first job in 2008 downsized me after just a few months and I was unemployed for 6 months. I took stopgap jobs here and there, but ended up full time staff in a dream job in South Florida. (Oh, and we're hiring new grads still, too!)

inProgress · Feb 17, 2011

I know of one hospital in southwest FL that hires new grads by the dozen and are currently hiring.. (charlotte regional in punta gorda) small town 45min north of fort myers.

I personally dont know what the work enviroment is like but they hired at least 8 students from the last graduating class of my school.

Pay is low around here though.. maybe $21/hr for new grads. Plus side is once you get your 6mo-1yr the hospitals in Fort Myers are willing to look at your resume. And I hear they are much better compensated and its a bit bigger city.

Good Luck!

blownin · Feb 17, 2011

What hospital is this?

blownin · Feb 17, 2011

User G, what hospital is hiring in S.fla?