DFW Area new grad market, Is it really as dire as everyone makes it sound?

U.S.A. Texas

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Hi everyone,

I currently live in Utah but we are moving to Dallas shortly after I graduate in early August so I've been doing a lot of research on the area. It "appears" that Dalllas a great job market for nurses. However, I keep reading a lot of negative posts on here about the seemingly impossible job market for new grads. They aren't super recent (I think the most recent I read was 2012) so I'm wondering is it still really as dire as you all make it sound? Especially since I do not have a BSN (I have worked as a Tech at the hospital for the past 2 years, am ACLS and PALS certified and have a 4.0 GPA).

I have applied to several Residency positions and also plan on applying to every LTAC, SNF and rehab within a 40 mile radius of where we will be living (although I can't apply to any of those until I've passed my boards) but I'm worried not that I've gotten the hubs hopes up for no reason!

As always, thanks for your input!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Without a BSN, you're not going to be eligible for new grad programs in DFW hospital systems, but you may get lucky with non-acute organizations. Make sure you have your Tx license ASAP. With the huge number of local new grads available, employers are very unlikely to take you seriously if you don't have it.

Relocation is a bad idea If you're making the move based on your ability to get a job & not because hubby has a job waiting. Finding a job could take a while.

Also keep in mind that many of the major DFW healthcare employers are GroupOne clients. This has been discussed many times on AN so you may want to review those posts.

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My husband can work anywhere (he's self employed) however, I'm not comfortable moving unless I have a job. Utah is also a compact state I've called all the hospitals I've applied to and the TBON and I can practice under my compact license for 90 days so I'm not concerned about that.

I have found a few hospitals that will take an ADN (I know Baylor and Methodist systems want BSN's) but it sounds like its probably very competitive. I'm doing my capstone at an LTAC so I do plan on applying to as many of those as possible as well as smaller community hospitals in surrounding areas.

Thanks for the input, off to review more posts!

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Just read up on Group One and i'm not worried. I was completely honest on my application, have never had as much as a speeding ticket and all past and present employers love me. Or are you saying I should worry about being "blacklisted" in the future??

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Methodist will hire ADN, as will Parkland, All Saints, and JPS.

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You can get a job as a new grad with a 4.0! The job market was really bad when I graduated a few years ago as an ADN, but all my classmates that were 'A' students got good jobs right away in OB, ER, ICU. I wasn't one of those 'A' students, but I was able to get a paying nursing job, it just wasn't my dream job.

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