RN opportunities and hiring climate

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I will be relocating to NH this year and really hoped to find employment at DHMC. Could anyone give me an idea of the present hiring climate. Is it very easy to get an RN job at present? I know that the pendulum swings back and forth and I wasn't sure if it was a buyer or seller's market in NH as far as the nursing field right now. Thanks for any imput.

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Hi, I just read an article about the hiring opportunities in the NHNA (NH Nurse Association) newspaper, July issue. According to this article, the hiring climate is NOT good at this time. Despite all the hype about a shortage of nurses, apparently NH is not quite short according to this new article. They provided various hiring figures for the bigger hospitals and medical centers. The numbers were not to the advantage of the new nurse, that's for sure. For every 100 new graduates or nurse applicants, there were only about 10 hired. They attribute the shortage of nursing jobs to the fact that in the earlier 2000-02 years, there was a surge in qualified nursing students due to 'shortage' marketing campaigns. As hospitals strive to retain their workers, there are less positions available. Hope this info helps. It is straight from the NH nursing paper so it must be legitimate. One more thing worth mentioning is the fact that I am also hearing many of the bigger and more desirable employers are requiring bachelor's degrees OR hiring those with BSNs over ones with ADNs.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

hi,

I went to nursing school in NH, and as long as you apply early you should not have a problem. I got a job in MA, by choice, but was also offered a job in NH.

The downside to DHMC is they want a BSN for any of the specialty areas except adult ICU, but if you want PICU, NICU etc they wont hire you without a BSN, I found out after wasting a lot of my time since they do not let you know that on the postings... For that reason I will never apply there agaiin!!

Also in MA the pay is much better, I am making about 5.00 more an hour and pay hardly any income tax because I do not live in MA.

Swtooth

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Thanks for the info. I am already an RN for 6 years so I wasn't worried about applying for school. I just seem to have the bad timing of moving when the hiring is on a downswing. I am glad to know that DHMC is so big on BSN. I won't waste too much time chasing rainbows there. What are some other big hospitals which are hiring ASN? I have experience in Peds and Infectious Disease.

Also I thought you still have to pay the same income tax to MA even though you live in NH. I had been thinking of working a VT hospital until I found out their income tax is 7.2% for my pay range. That would hardly be a deal.

Thanks

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

Lynette, you're right re: the income tax thing. I worked in MA for three years while being an NH resident and there is basically NO tax break for being an out of state resident. In fact, I paid more income tax as an out of state resident than I did while I lived IN MA (because at least when I lived in MA I got a small deduction for the rent I paid there). The only good thing is that NH doesn't have an income tax... so at least you're not getting taxed twice!

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

hi,

but NH has quite the high property taxes, as I am now finding out, as I look for my own place!!!

I think in most cases the BSN requirement may only apply to new grads, so you may be ok if you are applying for a job that you have experience in.

Good luck

swtooth

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This is all very helpful info. I started looking into updating my resume and was surprised to see that I've actually been a nurse for 8 years and not the 6 yrs. I wrote. I guess it just doesn't seem that long since nursing school. How time flies!

I see on the DHMC website that most of their postitions show three salary ranges:

$23.10 - $29.98 and $36.85. When I spoke to a recruiter there she said that with my experience I should be considered for around the midrange if I were to be hired. Do these salary ranges seem typical of other hospitals, clinics. etc. or is DHMC on the top end of salaries for NH?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

If you live in NH and work in MA, you do get MA income taxes withheld from your income, but you get most of it back on April 15th... Unfortunately, they don't pay you interest on it. :o)

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Do you know anything about the new grad program at DHMC? I've applied to February 2007s internship and am waiting for an interview. Any info would be great!!!

thanks!

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Sorry you don`t get most of it back.Been working in Ma for over 18 years and they suck you just as anyone else. Live in NH so as far as land taxes at least its deductable on federal.

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Hey AlmostRN25,

I put a post on here quite a while ago regarding DHMC and their nurse residency program and not a soul responded. I am starting to think the whole thing must be a figment of my imagination! Anyway, if you hear of anyone who has been hired there as a new grad I would love to know about it! Good Luck to you!

Finz Up,

ParrotheadRN2B:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
sorry you don`t get most of it back.been working in ma for over 18 years and they suck you just as anyone else. live in nh so as far as land taxes at least its deductable on federal.

okay. it's been more than 10 years since i worked in ma. tax laws have undoubtedly changed. thanks for clarifying for the sake of those considering the commute to ma.

this further supports my stand, though, that before someone considers the "much higher pay in massachusetts", they need to do the math...

higher salary

- (minus)

state income taxes

- (minus)

commute (gas, parking, tolls, wear-and-tear on vehicle)

- (minus)

the oft omitted true hours... if i'm adding an hour on either end of my workday because of my commute, i need to figure my salary by that number, not the hours i'm punched into the timeclock

= (equals)

true salary

we have seasons in our life. i'm in the season where being home with my family is more valuable than a few dollars more per hour. that is just my place right now, not an opinion or advice. so understand that my words come from this place.

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