Chances?

It's hard to say as you will be competing with people with inside connections. In my years at a big Boston hospital, I never saw a new grad hired who did not have some sort of connection to either the unit (had been a student on the unit, had worked on the unit as an aide or was referred by a current employee) or the hospital (and was therefore referred by another nurse manager). You both will have BSNs which is good because without them there wouldn't be much of a chance. I would say apply everywhere but be open to the smaller community hospitals. I think you will likely find something.

Awesome! that sounds encouraging. honestly my plan right now is to not even waste energy on applying to the big hospitals in Boston. do you think my experience will help get in the door at a smaller hospital? also, from a local's standpoint, what would be the best way to go about starting the process? I know there is no GN status in Mass anymore and the vibe im getting is that a person cant really even move without an active MA license so it seems that calling hospitals is not that effective. also, where i am from it is acceptable and has proven effetive for me to walk into the hiring managers office with resume in hand. Ive heard the culture over there is much different and this same tactic will likely have negative results. My plan right now is to start calling HR's and go from there... what advice do you have?

I need to know a little more in order to properly advise you.

-Why do you want to move to MA?

-Where do you plan to live?

You have good experience. In all honesty I think your biggest problem with community hospitals will be that you're an out-of-towner. People don't typically move across the country for the opportunity to work at, say, Norwood Hospital so they might think you're only using them as a stepping stone to getting a job at one of the Boston hospitals. You will need to come up with some kind of compelling reason as to why you want to work for them- these hospitals are burned all the time by people who get their requisite experience and move on.

Thanks for your informative replies Kel,

The main reason we want to move to MA is because...well...why not? In all honesty we want to really take full advantage of the "perks" of nursing and that includes being able to work anywhere (or used to include that eh?). we traveled to boston this year for the 4th and LOVED it. Also the bulk of my family lives on the east coast. Im viewing this as a bit of a reconnect if you will.

where do we plan to live?

In Boston! We have made peace with the fact that it will be uber expensive to live in the city but we want the experience of it all.

Our dreams are not necessarily to work the major medical centers there in Boston so much as the experience of the north east as well as starting our careers as RN's.