NH market for new nurses

NeoPediRN · Aug 18, 2009

I graduated with an MA license and had to go through a process to get licensed in NH. It took about a month to get my NH license. MA RN licenses are not transferrable, but NH is part of the state license compacture so it's transferrable to several other states.

The MA new grad market is terrible, which is why I had to look into NH...I got a job at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, spent about 4 months there in pediatrics/some maternity and then was able to get a position in MA. I know Parkland is currently hiring for med-surg.

stellina615 · Sep 7, 2009

To update you, the job market in NH is still TERRIBLE. I have worked at a hospital in southern NH for close to 2 years and can't even transfer inside my own hospital due to lack of openings. You said you're graduating from NYU? I was under the impression that the job market was better in NY....possibly upstate? Good luck with wherever you go!

CaliAliRN · Feb 5, 2010

its been a couple of months since this was updated so I'd thought I chime in. :)

How's the job market in NH now that the new year has come around? I know it is probably tough considering budget cuts and financial allocations to other aspects of healthcare.

Believe me I know hardship of being a new grad in this crappy economy. Being from California where the new grad job market is non-existent (I've applied to over 300 jobs in CA, only heard back from 2 and was rejected due to too many qualified applicants). I'm considering relocating at this point, so just curious as to what it looks like on the east coast. Thanks!

stellina615 · Feb 6, 2010

From what I can tell, things haven't improved much. We haven't had layoffs at our hospitals since the summer, but there's nothing in the way of increased job availability, either. Hospitals definitely aren't creating new positions, and it seems to me that the older nurses in our workforce are holding off on retirement, probably for financial reasons. After 2 years of working at the same hospital, I am still working part time on one unit and per diem on another unit because there's nothing full-time available. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

ladibelle · Mar 6, 2010

I have never seen such poor job perspectives in the 18 years I have been a nurse. I have to drive an hour or hour and a half to find work now. All good positions have many applicants. There are a few nursing home positions but they are at places that have a bad reputation to work for. A new grad might get a job there if no one else is hiring. I would stay there a year or two and then leave.

tacobarlass · May 18, 2010

Hello,

I just graduated and the job market here is poor. I have an email from HR at Concord Hospital stating that they are not hiring new grads this year. I have a letter from LRGHealthcare; they backed out of the TuitionLink contracts they had with students in my class because they had no positions for them. They cited the economy. My friend interviewed at New London Hospital only to be told they wanted 1-2 years experience. I attended a symposium/job fair in April; the federal prison was hiring. If you didn't have any experience then the only options were per diem positions. Even LTC required experience. I am not familiar with any other hospitals in NH but a Rivier professor told my friend that everyone is taking out of state jobs this year. I am applying out of state myself. It has been very competitive, recruiters that I speak with tell me they have 200+ applicants. Good luck in your search.

ladibelle · May 18, 2010

I have never seen anything like this. There are some jobs but they are not jobs I would take. One company had children and infant on ventilators and payed 22 dollars an hour. Good heavans that would barely pay your malpractice insurance

RNCoastiewife · May 19, 2010

I graduated in May 2009 and I have to say the market sucks! The majority of the people I went to school with ended up working in SNF's Or LTCs. A very lucky few got into the hospitals. Noone would hire us "New Grads". There were many hospital positions and they would specifically say "No New Grads" on their websites. Terrible. Now that a year has passed, more of my former classmates are starting to get into hospitals after having that experience. Are you working anywhere at the moment? Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover, NH told me that 6 Months experience would help. I'm still at a SNF but will be moving this summer so I haven't applied to any up here in the past several months. Now I feel like I'm starting all over again looking for jobs in Florida, And even though I will have had 10 months experience, i'm still hearing the same crap, "not enough experience". It is truly frusterating. What are of NH are you going to be going too?

ladibelle · May 19, 2010

Im In Keene and have looked here and VT.starting to look at Concord, Manchester and Nashua These are all 1- 1.5 hour drives over bad mountainous roads. IN 3 years i am moving to the south

sherri12 · May 23, 2010

I just saw 4 ads for nurses wanted in the Concord Paper this morning.

Mc2182 · Jun 5, 2010

I too am a new grad and I have easily applied to over 75 positions to hospitals in NH and Maine and received not ONE reply back. I called Wentworth Douglas, Goodall, York, Exeter, and SMMC checking up on my applications only to be told "they DO NOT hire new grad's". Portsmouth has a so-called "new grad" program, yet, when I called to follow up one my applications their reply was; "we get 1000's" of applications for the selected positions" and to continue to apply ELSEWHERE!!!! WOW!! So, needless to say the market continues to suck for everyone especially new grads.

GOOD LUCK!!! It's brutal out there.