Finding a job as a new grad

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hi there - I'm just now starting an ADN program here in Arkansas, and I'm wondering what you guys can tell me about job outlook.

I have my heart set on moving to the pacific northwest. I'm not an Arkansas native and no offense to southerners, but culturally this is really just not my part of the country at all. I'm probably going to go crazy staying in Little Rock long enough to finish even my 2 year ADN program.

that said, does applying out of state lower your chances of getting a job as a new RN? is a license a license, or are people in washington going to look down on a degree from arkansas? is it easier to get hired right out of school in your home state?

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Specializes in SRNA.

I think they mostly care that you're licensed to work. I work in WA now, but was educated in NV. You can take the NCLEX wherever you want and have your results sent to whichever board of nursing you're going to apply for your initial license with.

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I think they mostly care that you're licensed to work. I work in WA now, but was educated in NV. You can take the NCLEX wherever you want and have your results sent to whichever board of nursing you're going to apply for your initial license with.
cool. out of curiosity, is the recession doing especially nasty things in WA? a few months ago it seemed like nursing was the only thing you could get a job doing...or leastwise 1/2 of the advertised jobs were in nursing. I think its still fairly easy to get a nursing job in Arkansas, but I'd rather not stay here any longer than absolutely necessary. If it weren't drastically cheaper for me to go to school here I'd probably have already tried to transfer up there. (that and there don't seem to be waiting lists for Arkansas schools)
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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

Wow, I was going to tell you that you might be OK. There are travel nurse positions in Arkansas still. Not sure why, but guess there are jobs there. If you want to move NW, Washington has hospitals hiring, a lot too. Good luck.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
cool. out of curiosity, is the recession doing especially nasty things in WA? a few months ago it seemed like nursing was the only thing you could get a job doing...or leastwise 1/2 of the advertised jobs were in nursing. I think its still fairly easy to get a nursing job in Arkansas, but I'd rather not stay here any longer than absolutely necessary. If it weren't drastically cheaper for me to go to school here I'd probably have already tried to transfer up there. (that and there don't seem to be waiting lists for Arkansas schools)

Oh, to answer your question about WA (since I read this after my post), the biggest change in WA is that hospitals are doing away with travel nurses. There are hospitals that earlier in the 08 year were completely dependent on travelers and now they are telling the staff "pray we can get more staff cause we cant pay the traveler nurse bill anymore".

I had my contract cut short. I'm OK with that, wife and I want to go staff. We are going back to PA.

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There are travel nurse positions in Arkansas still. Not sure why, but guess there are jobs there. If you want to move NW, Washington has hospitals hiring, a lot too. Good luck.
awesome :D yeah, I drive by a gigantic sign for travel nurses every day after school. it'll be a long while before I'm graduated, but it's encouraging. of course, most of the places I'd travel to in arkansas I'd rather not be. gay vegetarians don't do so well in towns that do the whole "Robert E Lee day" instead of MLK day thing...but I think there are even still lots of hospitals in little rock that are hiring. probably because of all the people like me who leave and the lack of incentive for outsiders to come here...
"pray we can get more staff cause we cant pay the traveler nurse bill anymore"
I would love to get a full time job somewhere in WA. Olympia or Seattle would rule. people have suggested I do travel nursing, but I'd really like to put down roots somewhere with big mossy trees and start building a house. the one thing about travel nursing is that I think I might like the limited length of employment...go on long vacations in between jobs, or take the just for fun classes I can't afford right now. either way...:redpinkhe
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I am a new graduate as of Dec of 08. I am having an extremely hard time finding a job in WI. I am from the Green Bay area, but have been looking all over the state. It seems like here, most of the job openings are for higher levels of care; ER, ICU, NICU. None of which "seem" to be willing to take on a new grad. :(

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
I am a new graduate as of Dec of 08. I am having an extremely hard time finding a job in WI. I am from the Green Bay area, but have been looking all over the state. It seems like here, most of the job openings are for higher levels of care; ER, ICU, NICU. None of which "seem" to be willing to take on a new grad. :(

I like your screen name. It sounds like diner slang........."One sunrise suprise with two pigs sitting, and put the potatoes in hell twice". lol

If you have time, read Dean Koontz's "Odd Thomas". You'll love it. Its not like his usuall material. It a very heart felt story.

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I like your screen name. It sounds like diner slang........."One sunrise suprise with two pigs sitting, and put the potatoes in hell twice". lol

If you have time, read Dean Koontz's "Odd Thomas". You'll love it. Its not like his usuall material. It a very heart felt story.

haha, completely OT but I read Odd Thomas a few years ago and loved it. I second the recommendation =)

good luck Sunrise! I hope you find an opening somewhere and don't have to relocate (unless you want to, of course!)

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Specializes in SRNA.
cool. out of curiosity, is the recession doing especially nasty things in WA?

I can't tell you much about the Seattle area...no idea.

I live in south-eastern WA and things here are still growing...my nurse manager wants to hire about 20+ more ICU nurses to expand from a 16 bed unit to a 20 bed unit. The cost of living here is still pretty low with nursing salaries pretty good in comparison. I'm making about $30/hr on nights and get an extra $3.50/hr when I work weekends - that's with 1yr experience only.

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Get in the VA system. There are 175 facilities. Your license will be good in any facility. Google VA travel nurse corps...

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Well thank you - I don't know...it just came to my head.

And thanks for the advice also.

I haven't read much Dean Koontz, but I love James Patterson! :)

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