Job market in MN/WI (What are our chances?)

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Honestly I am posting this for my boyfriend. He is a new graduate and we are hoping to relocate to MN/WI. Both of us are concerned with the job market, which seems rough everywhere. He is taking his boards soon and will have his license by mid to late August. A little info about him... RWJ scholar,Graduate of the accelerated nursing program at Jefferson University,Graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude I believe),Previous hospital experience as a Unit Secretary (Memorial Hospital NY). Does he have a chance of finding a job? If so, how long do you think it will take for him to find work? Any reccomendations on where to apply? We are most likely going to be living in Ellsworth WI (on the boarder of MN) He is going to apply to work in both states, and is willing to commute long distance if necessary.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Education.

Your chances are excellent. Ellsworth is only 20 minutes from Red Wing, MN. There is a 134 bed hospital there (Fairview Red Wing) that has recently become part of the Mayo Clinic Health System. Mayo is a Fortune 100 Top Employer. Otherwise, Ellsworth is about 45 minutes from South St. Paul, which is one of the far east suburbs of the Twin Cities metro area. There are a number of hospitals in the Twin Cities to choose from...St. Joseph's and Regions are both in St. Paul and are good-sized, assuming he wants to work in the inpatient setting.

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St Joseph's is part of healtheast which includes Woodwinds and Bethesda and St. Johns. They only hire new grads twice a year and the last round they only hired a total of 8 new grads for their entire system. Guess how many apply - hundreds upon hundreds! Regions hasn't had any new grads posting in several months besides labor and delivery ironically and there were only 2. MN/WI has one of the best healthcare systems and a TON of nursing schools - economy is just as bad here as it is most places and because the pay and working conditions are great in MN/WI nurses come in droves. New grads are having a VERY hard time unless they have a really good connection (i.e. they precepted on the floor, they have a friend high up or a family member in the in). Most of my nursing class do not have jobs and they are from MN. I think the only reason he has somewhat of a chance is because he is a guy and honestly male nurses get affirmative action around most parts, haha. My suggestion -apply into the MAYO healthcare system - they accept more new grads than most places.

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"My suggestion -apply into the MAYO healthcare system - they accept more new grads than most places. "

What are the chances there if someone is applying as a newly RN grad?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Education.

Be aware that the Mayo system has a very large pool of highly qualified BSN/BAN grads, so the only ADN grads that generally get in (to the inpatient setting, at least) are from two local community colleges: RCTC and Riverland. If a person has their Bachelor's degree, it depends highly on other qualifications, experience, etc. The competition is pretty stiff, but there is definitely a chance if you are a highly qualified baccalaureate grad.

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

The market is hideous in the Twin Ports, fwiw.

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Be aware that the Mayo system has a very large pool of highly qualified BSN/BAN grads, so the only ADN grads that generally get in (to the inpatient setting, at least) are from two local community colleges: RCTC and Riverland. If a person has their Bachelor's degree, it depends highly on other qualifications, experience, etc. The competition is pretty stiff, but there is definitely a chance if you are a highly qualified baccalaureate grad.
He does have his bachelors in nursing, graduated with honors from a well know program, is a RWJ scholar (recieved a prestigious scholarship), and has working experience as a unit secrectary at Memorial Sloan in New York. Are those not considered impressive qualifications? We decided to go ahead and move up no matter what and will be arriving on the 25th of August. Hopefully he is able to find a job relatively quickly. =(
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Just wanted to chip in about Regions... I graduated a year ago in May and was hired by Regions. So I have been on the unit for over a year, and there have been new grads that were hired after me. So I wouldn't shy away from applying, and so far I have really enjoyed working for them.

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Specializes in Cath Lab & Interventional Radiology.

Have you found work in MN/WI yet? If you are willing to travel east Eau Claire, WI has a couple hospitals. Sacred heart is a 344 bed hospital and Mayo Clinic Health System hospital is similar in size. They both hire new grads readily.

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