Is it hard finding a job after graduating?

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I was recently contacted by a girl who recently graduated from the same nursing program I am about to enter. She was telling me she was having a hard time finding a position and was now working as a pharm tech?!? She was reaching out to me in hopes I had any job leads for her. It totally freaked me out because our school claims to have a 97% placement rate. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and maybe she is one of those people who got through school, but just didn't enjoy the actual career of nursing. It looked like she had a few different RN positions this year (physical therapy, home health care). Is it hard to find a good nursing job after graduation? I am terrified to get out of school and end up in the same position as I was before I started :(

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It will be incredibly easy if you're willing to move anywhere. Otherwise, the ease depends on the job market where you'll be seeking employment.

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I haven't started my program yet, we are currently in the Midwest and I DO NOT want to stay we were looking at Texas (Dallas is where my sister is) or Florida Tampa or Miami area. Anywhere but CO or AZ haha so I'm hoping I will be good. I'm planning on looking at medical Spanish courses or getting a tutor cause I know bilingual will be a selling point. I haven't started my program and spent the last 4 years in pharm research. I use to EMT and enjoyed emergency medicine. I graduate in a year (it's an accelerated BSN program). Thank you for easing my mind a little

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Dallas is a difficult market for new grads due to having more new grads here than there are new grad positions.

Most major cities are swimming in new grad nurses looking to work in acute care. The more rural you go, the better your chances will be. Competition is fierce for acute care jobs. Preference is given in many places to local applicants, those with a BSN and those with inside connections or CNA experience.

Be willing to spend a year or two in a place others may not want to go to. Be willing to work somewhere other than a hospital.

Good luck!

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I graduated with an Associates in May. Passed the NCLEX the end of June. Did a bunch of applications first week in July. Interviewed the next few weeks. Received multiple offers. Accepted one last week. I start in a few weeks. I applied specifically to places that stated "New graduates welcome." Quite a few of my classmates were hired for positions at places they worked prior to graduation. I haven't heard that any of my classmates had difficulty finding a job. Maybe not the dream job right out of the gate.

I can understand your concern. I had them too. Maybe I didn't have a position as quickly as I would have wanted, but my entire process took under a month.

Best of luck to you. í ½í¸

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Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

I live in a rural area, so I really can't speak to the job market in big cities. Acute care (hospital) nursing jobs are plentiful where I live. We actually have a shortage of nurses at my hospital, if you can believe it.

As a new grad, I easily landed a hospital position within a couple of months of graduating. LTC and ALF tends to hire quite a few new grads too, although I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. For me, it was a pay check and valuable experience that landed me my next hospital job.

Be willing to work anywhere as a nurse for at least a year.

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Specializes in NICU.

Just to your "bilingual is a selling point" ,it isn't ,...you do not get paid extra for it,plus there is liability involved .Your employer has strict requirements for those doing interpreter services.Hospitals provide a language line with certified interpreters that give a id number to put in your chart so the patient can not say "no one told me anything".Staff that want to be listed as a resource must take the language exam and be certified.Your co workers will get annoyed at your being pulled away to another area to serve as interpreter as preferential treatment...welcome to the world of nursing, .I am sure you will find a position if you are willing to move,work nights, or weekends.Good luck to you.

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Yes, it's extremely hard unless you have a good contact that can get you into a hospital setting. I had to go across country to get a job. I said it once and I will say it again, hospitals would rather have a "nursing shortage" and work their experienced staff to death than to take a chance or spend the money training new grads.

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Specializes in Adult Psych.

It took me 3 months to get a job. I didn't work in school and I lived in a highly saturated area as far as nursing jobs go. I applied everywhere and only heard back from a psych unit. Was not my first choice. Rural places definitely have more jobs. I ended up moving cross country and I was flooded with job offers.

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Yes, it's extremely hard unless you have a good contact that can get you into a hospital setting. I had to go across country to get a job. I said it once and I will say it again, hospitals would rather have a "nursing shortage" and work their experienced staff to death than to take a chance or spend the money training new grads.

So then don't work at a hospital. Be willing to work at nursing homes, home health, group home programs, offices, clinics, hospice companies... There's tons of jobs out there, but the more you limit yourself, the harder it's going to be to get a job.

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