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?

Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Hematology,.

Im not really directly answering your question. But what I have found in the South East US is that when I first graduated I was living in Birmingham, Al making not a lot of money working nights and paying a lot in taxes, housing, gas, etc. But I got great experience working at a level one trauma center and they spent a lot of money on me to prepare me right out of school. As soon as I could I moved to a small county hospital in GA, I pay less than half in living expenses, live 7 min from the hospital, work day shift, make more, and the job is 5 times less work being in an icu that isn't a level 1 trauma center like i was in.

So job outlook for new grads. I never would have received this job right out of school. However, the question is are you willing to work hard for not a lot of money in an area that maybe isnt the best place to live to get the experience that you need to get a job at one of the "better hospitals to work for"

that was the long way of saying that cities like birmingham are good for an opportunity for a job but it may not be exactly what you expected expecially when you have lived in a cool place like cali, col, fl, or the many other places that i one day dream about raising my son at.

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It's nice to hear stories that convey optimism for new grads. Now if California would just turn around!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry.

Tulsa Oklahoma! I'm always hearing of these new grads being snapped up quickly, with $10K sign on bonuses.

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Washington State looks pretty bad for now. Not just Seattle, but the whole State.

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

Very true. If you are willing to go a hundred miles or so outside the major metro areas, you'll start to see hospitals with job postings that explicitly state they are willing to consider new graduates.

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Specializes in HIV, Transplant.
KATRINIA--

You're in Philly?? What school did you go to? I'm supposed to be moving there in Aug. but I've been hearing such horrible things about finding a job there so I was contemplating just staying in Miami! They have 5 schools here that offer 2 year contract positions with Baptist hospital which also pay for your entire tuition! I dont know if I want to move to a city where there is nothing like that, where i'd be struggling to find a job after I graduate. (while paying back all my loans!)

But if you're saying this, it makes me feel better about going!

I'm no longer in Philly because I moved back home but I went to Temple University. I haven't heard about any schools there offering an opportunity like the one you mentioned in Miami. There's definitely a ton of hospitals in the Philly area but I wouldn't pass up a good opportunity for something that's uncertain either. Many of the hospitals are teaching hospitals so first priority will probably go to people who either had clinicals their or worked there during school which is the case with many of my classmates. But you never know unless you try. Good luck whatever you decide!

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Seattle is scary......beautiful to place to live.........if you want to work at Starbucks!!!:eek:

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" They have 5 schools here that offer 2 year contract positions with Baptist hospital which also pay for your entire tuition"

I'm sorry, but WHY would you want to give this up?! Tuition for my accelerated 1-year program is nearly $40k, and others in this area are about that same price. Plus, we can't work during the program, so you need another $20k+ to live off for a year. If I had something like you have, I'd do the sure thing and save myself a huge headache. You can always move here after your 2 years at your hospital. Philly isn't going anywhere. Good luck to you!

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California is definitely hard. Although some of my classmates have gotten jobs (most haven't looked yet) the competition is so thick out here with all the nursing schools in the area.

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Texas wasn't hit as bad on recession as rest of the country. I know Cali, NY, NJ, DC is pretty bad. I rook my sweet time taking my NCLEX and was hired at my work 1 day after my results was posted online

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i'm in the same boat trying to find job in southern ca and i agree it's really difficult to find job for new grads.

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I'm in upstate NY and I know of plenty of my classmates (including myself) who are now working after just graduating in May. And places are still hiring....so just keep looking, work is out there. Good luck!

Hi do you mind saying where upstate NY? I live in NYC and looking to move upstate if I have to. I honestly don't know anything about upstate.

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