Job Market in DFW...is it really that bad for new grads?

[RedTx]

Im new here and had a question due to reading some of the threads. I have a degree in Business from UNT and decided I wanted to go back to school and get a BSN. My plan is to apply to TCU accelerated program this upcoming fall.

From everything I have read here Jobs are no where to be found? Is this correct? At least for new grads?

I plan on staying in the dfw area and really want to become a nurse, but seriously how bad is the market for new grads?

Thanks for any input you could share.

[s-whnp, NP]

Not true. In my last year of nursing school we were led to believe that unless you had experience as a tech or nurse extern you would never get a job offer as an RN, also not true. The main thing is you won't necessarily get the job on the floor you want. In my opinion, apply to every single job opening you can. When I started nursing school and even applying for jobs, I would never have guessed I'd end up on the floor I'm working now.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Jobs for new RNs with no experience are not impossible to get in the D/FW area, but the local job market for new nurses is fiercely competitive. You will be competing for employment with graduates from TWU, UTA, Southwestern Adventist, Tarleton, Midwestern State, El Centro, Brookhaven, TCC, Weatherford, Hill College, TVCC, NCTC, Grayson County College, Collin County College, Dallas Nursing Institute, and other schools of nursing.

The fact that you will be earning a BSN degree places you at a huge advantage because some hospital systems in the D/FW area (notably HCA) will only hire BSN-educated RNs and GNs into their new grad internships. However, the massive amount of student loan debt that you'll incur by attending TCU's accelerated program is not going to be advantageous, especially when you'll be repaying the debt with a job that typically pays less than $25 per hour to start. The average D/FW hospital will pay a new RN $23+/- to start.