Best and worst states for new grads?

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Hello everyone! I am currently a nursing student in Montana; if all goes well I *should* be graduating in bit more than a year. I am 22 years old, married with no kids or pets, and plan to leave Montana after I am done with school (we are originally from Massachusetts). So, what are the best states (right now) for new grads to find jobs?

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Doesn't seem that bad in metro Detroit to me. Myself and many of my classmates had jobs within a month and a half after graduation. All in hospitals, some in specialty units. Some don't even have their license yet.

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Specializes in CCRN, House Sup, CCT, Unit Director, ICU.

Atlanta. Of course, most of my class had jobs immediately after graduation, but we all did clinicals there and had an 'in'

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Specializes in CCRN, House Sup, CCT, Unit Director, ICU.

Stay away from Northern California, probably best to steer clear of the entire state actually

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Texas isn't bad in the more rural areas but the major metroplexes are completely saturated.

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

Run...don't walk, away from California

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Specializes in HIV, Transplant.

Pennsylvania.

I graduated from school in Philly this past May and many of my classmates have jobs already lined up at local hospitals. I also want to point out that many of them worked as externs at the hospitals which definitely helps.

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It depends on how confident you are that you can get the job. It is true that the competition in California is horrible! However, the pay is good (about $35 an hour for a full time new grad program - based on personal experience), the weather and life style are great! and there are lots of career, professional, and educational opportunities. I live 25 minutes away from downtown LA (woodland hills), my new job is 15 mins away without the need of freeways, and we have sooooo many hospitals, that you can change jobs pretty easy once you have your 2 years experience. Also, home health and community health are pretty big here in SoCal, so those are other things to look at (I am temporarily working in home health until my new grad program starts)

Good luck.

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New England especially around large metro areas is very tight for new grads, too many schools, to few positions!

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New York City is the worst in terms of hiring new grads. Almost all the hospitals wants 1 to 2 yrs experience and BSN preferred. Home care and Nursing homes needs 1year experience. I don't know where they want new graduates to get the experience from if they cannot hire new grads. It is really horrible in New York City.

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At the moment, I'm thinking California is the worst. Some of last year's graduates from my school can't leave the area and haven't found a full-time permanent RN job yet. I just graduated and am starting to consider moving out of the area. Several of my classmates landed jobs in Texas. However, a positive attitude, confidence, and perseverance might land me a job in the state, even if it is in SoCal, but I'm also checking in those suggested places where people are getting jobs.

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Try Cleveland, OH. We have a ton of jobs here. I had to move back to OH after being unable to find work in CA for almost a year.

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