States hiring New RN Grads?

Bobbkat · Dec 4, 2009

I'm trying to find one in CT right now. There are a few (very few) postings on the east side of the state. There are many more hospitals on the west side of the state, but they seem to all be on (new grad) hiring freezes. And I agree that the notion that we all are having trouble because we are substandard resume writers is preposterous.

lilbugger · Dec 4, 2009

man, this suck. I am thinking of relocating..either in connecticut or washington. But don't know which one to invest in.

Tristar · Dec 4, 2009

man, this suck. I am thinking of relocating..either in connecticut or washington. But don't know which one to invest in.

I just moved from WA to Southern California, which I am finding out was not the best move, the LA area is is saturated with RN grads

Seattle pretty much sucks for jobs also from what I have seen there are not that many RN residency programs.

I think if you go east to Spokane and Yakima you might have some luck.

Also WA Dept of Corrections hires new nurses. Providence hospitals I have heard has recently hired new grads, also check out Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA

Hope that helps

vincejojo · Dec 4, 2009

texas, washington, oregon, idaho, nevada, arizona, utah, virginia.....really, all states are hiring!!! you may hear of new grads constantly stating that they cannot find a job...but, the jobs are out there, being filled. keep in mind that some new grad resumes and cover letters are not as good as they should be so they are being tossed to the side, ignored...while others (from out of town) are being swept up and these out of town new grads are being offered paid relocation, sign on bonuses, etc. to move from the east coast to the west coast (and vice versa).
even though a facility will indicate they "prefer" one year experience, you should still apply. exceptions are made all the time especially if your resume reflects an individual with great clinical experience, current experience in a medical facility (cna, pct, etc.). do not limit yourself to only facilities that have new grad/nurse residency programs either. many facilities are not utilizing their new grad/nurse residency program; however, they are hiring new grads directly into units (med/surg, l&d, icu etc.).
also, keep in mind, hospitals that are attempting to make their facility a "magnet" hospital will be posting job openings for bsn but they do hire nurses with less than a bsn if you indicate you plan to continue your education.
good luck with your job search!

are you a new grad? or were you fortunate to get a job? what states are you?

i don't know what part of the country you are. good resume or bad resume, bsn or msn. hospitals in most states are not hiring new grads period.

nohika · Dec 4, 2009

I just moved from WA to Southern California, which I am finding out was not the best move, the LA area is is saturated with RN grads
Seattle pretty much sucks for jobs also from what I have seen there are not that many RN residency programs.
I think if you go east to Spokane and Yakima you might have some luck.
Also WA Dept of Corrections hires new nurses. Providence hospitals I have heard has recently hired new grads, also check out Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA
Hope that helps

Be careful with Spokane and Yakima, though - you have three WSU campuses in that area pumping out new-grads twice a year. (WSU Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Yakima all have BSN programs.)

Also, down in Vancouver/Portland, there's Legacy - they don't hire new grads unless you make it into their residency programs. They weren't planning on opening any of them, but I hear a few of them are.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

I really don't think it's fair to generalize... all states are hiring, but maybe not in the areas you are looking in. I've heard that NY is not hiring, yet I am a new grad in NY with a job, so is everyone else I know of in my graduating class. It may not be their dream job, or even in the area they wanted, but they all have jobs.

They say Florida is not hiring, but I know a new grad in Florida who found a job. Again, not her dream job, but it is a nursing job.

Go over to the first year in nursing forum and check out the stickie for "Any hospital in the country that is hiring new grads" it's a good place to start looking!

smn2010, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

there were no generalization made in my post. there are however; many, generalizations being made by several others that are posting on this thread. too many new grads are "assuming" that hospitals are not hiring because they don't happen to know anyone that has been hired. so, i was not "jumbling" all new grads together. if this is the way that you wish to interpret my post, you are taking my post too personally....unless for some reason you are unsure of how your resume/cover letter represents you.

....nor, was i being dismissive. alerting job seekers to take a second, or third or fourt look at their resume never hurt anyone. asking a friend/relative to review your resume wouldn't hurt either.

....86toronado has basically summarized my thoughts in his/her post. additionally, i will add that there are some new grads that "do" need to re-evaluate their resumes/cover letters. at the same time, as 86toronado states, you shouldn't limit yourself to a particular area/unit. i would suggest you refer to the 'sticky' 86toronado refers to that is in the "first year nursing forum."

let me also state that all nursing recruiters are not being completely honest with you when you speak to them. while the facility may have hired 100 new grads last year and the recruiter knows of only 5 who interviewed...and only 2 who were hired this year/recently...means absolutely nothing to me. i am aware that nurse recruiters are being more and more selective. they will not tell you exactly what they are looking for in a new grad; nor will most nurse recruiters tell you "why" you were not selected. while the nurse recruiter you referenced may only be aware of 5 who interviewed/2 who were hired...there are unit managers who are actively reviewing resumes that are sent to them directly and they (the unit managers) are scheduling interviews with these new grads---without the help/assistance of the nurse recruiter. the unit managers are literally bypassing the nurse recruiters in order to fulfil their staffing needs. keep in mind, nurse recruiters are overwhelmed with the number of resumes/cover letters they are receiving and unit managers are tired of the "wait" in order to start the hiring process. if the hospital/facility has provided the "o.k." to hire nurses...the unit managers are doing so--without the nurse recruiter's assistance.

as 86toronado stated, do not limit yourself to a particular unit. i know of many unit managers who have ignored the resumes they have received because the new grad has indicated, "interested in working on a fast-paced, critical care unit." (something to that effect)....well, the unit manager tosses it because they are looking to fill a position on a regular med/surg floor; not a fast paced, critical care unit as indicated in the resume.

best of luck to those who are seeking employment as a new grad rn. while you may find yourself getting more and more frustrated with your job search do not lash out at others because you take the comments of a post so seriously. :nono: just be patient and the right job will come your way. :wink2: :up:

LPN_2005/RN_10 · Dec 11, 2009

There were very limited RN positions in the state that I currently live. And the positions that were open stated they wanted a BSN or certain number of years experience as an RN. I realized that I have to relocate to where there is an abundance of RN positions in hospitals-and most of them don't mind hiring new grads. Long term acute facilities also hire new grads, but most graduate nurses can't see themselves in a nursing home facility. Hospitals is just about every grad nurse dream job, but sometimes we have to accept the "starter" job which probably will not be in the hospitals. I will love to work as an RN in a hospital, but I will accept the "undesirable" nursing home or other non-hospital job until my dream job is available. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and very difficult decisions to get your foot in the door, any door! :lol2:

Good luck to everyone in their job hunt!

vincejojo · Dec 11, 2009

IF you are well aware of the economy situation, you will know that most hospital have put a hold on their New Grad programs. This has created a lot of recently graduated nursing students scrambling for jobs with nurses who have one to two year experience. Tell me as a recruiter who would you consider first?

Yes SOME new Grads are lucky but there are people out their with better GPs, better resume/cover letter, and good interview skills still searching

smn2010, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2009

rather than "wait" for a new grad progam to start since the new grad programs have been put on hold...if you were well aware of the economy, you would search for positions on a facility unit regardless of whether the job description states 1-2 years experience. additionally, you need to put your frustrations aside and "think outside of the box" when it comes to locating a job.

it is really sad that you "think" some new grads are "lucky" that they got a job and you didn't. a better gpa?? i would be interested in seeing how you set yourself above/beyond other new grads to show the "experience" you may have gained while in school...and...previous work experience.

every new grad who has found a job...did not get the job based upon "luck." please believe that! they worked their butts off!!!! ...sending out resumes, pounding the pavement, applying online, making phone calls to department heads, scheduling in-person visits to facilities...(hint! hint!)...and a wealth of other tactics to get their "foot in the door". tactics that you probably have yet to even consider because you are relying upon your "better gpa" to help you get a job.

remember this....it was not "luck" that gets a new grad their job because usually each and every one of them deserved the job they now have!!! when a new grad gets a job....it is his/her "time" for it to happen!!! they can now reap the rewards for all the effort they put into finding employment

vincejojo · Dec 11, 2009

Like I stated, most "facility unit" would rather hire someone with a year or more experience instead of someone fresh out of school with little or no experience.

vincejojo · Dec 11, 2009

texas, washington, oregon, idaho, nevada, arizona, utah, virginia.....really, all states are hiring!!! you may hear of new grads constantly stating that they cannot find a job...but, the jobs are out there, being filled. keep in mind that some new grad resumes and cover letters are not as good as they should be so they are being tossed to the side, ignored...while others (from out of town) are being swept up and these out of town new grads are being offered paid relocation, sign on bonuses, etc. to move from the east coast to the west coast (and vice versa).
even though a facility will indicate they "prefer" one year experience, you should still apply. exceptions are made all the time especially if your resume reflects an individual with great clinical experience, current experience in a medical facility (cna, pct, etc.). do not limit yourself to only facilities that have new grad/nurse residency programs either. many facilities are not utilizing their new grad/nurse residency program; however, they are hiring new grads directly into units (med/surg, l&d, icu etc.).
also, keep in mind, hospitals that are attempting to make their facility a "magnet" hospital will be posting job openings for bsn but they do hire nurses with less than a bsn if you indicate you plan to continue your education.
good luck with your job search!

i totally agree but keep in mind that most hospital have put a freeze on hiring. what do you think would happen with those one hiring? large number of applicants.