What cities hire new RN grads?

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After reading through different posts on AllNurses, it seems that a lot of people are having trouble getting jobs as an RN, even with a BSN! That's making me want to re-think about going into the whole nursing field. I'm from California. Anyone Californian RN's here? I have a couple of questions to ask you guys.

1. Where did you get your BSN?

2. Did you get a job right away after graduation & earning your license?

It seems that experienced nurses are high in demand while new grads are not. Well, how do new grads get experience as an RN if hospitals don't want to hire new grads? I thought there was a nursing shortage? I'm really confused with that. I really want have a career that has to do with health, but I guess I might look into a different type of health-related career.

And this might be a stupid question, but is it possible to go from an ADN to MSN without having to get your BSN? What if I were to get a Bachelor's degree in some other field, like psychology or biology, can I still get into an MSN program? Or are MSN programs strictly for those who have earned their BSN's only?

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Specializes in Med/Surg Tele; LTC; Corrections.

Houston, Texas..New Orleans, La hire new grad RNs you might have better luck as an new grad in a teaching hospital.

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Specializes in LTC currently.

I think physician assistant school is a nice alternative to nursing. Great pay, collaborate with doctors and nurses alike, plus they are in demand. You can get a bachelors, masters or an associates as a physician assistant.....yes u can go from Associates to masters. If u get a bachelors in psych, u can branch over to nursing with a masters, but U should strongly acquire bedside skills first. I wouldn't want a nurse practitioner as my mid-level provider without bedside skills....a nurse practitioner told my school class that nurses that go into the profession at the masters level from other careers are termed generic nurses, but nevertheless less are nurses...governors university have associates to masters track.

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To Juwon: do you happen to know any schools that offer associates or bachelor's degrees to become a physician assistant? I might consider it. I need to do more research on that, thanks for bringing it up!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Houston is not an easy place for new grads to find work. Not at all.

Eagle Pass? Sure. Laredo? Sure. Major Texas cities? Nope.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I have a bachelor's degree in another field, so when I was considering nursing school options, I ended up choosing the school that would best prepare me to be a competent nurse and one with the best price. In my particular area, this was a very well-respected diploma program. (These don't really exist in many areas of the country, which is a shame because they give you a good clinical and theory foundation). I received a great education for a great price. I had been accepted to an accelerated BSN program and planned on attending the ABSN program, but that would have cost twice as much (would have had to take out loans galore), and even though I don't have a BSN now, I believe I received the better nursing education. I graduated with no loans, as well, since I had received scholarships and was able to pay for my education (well, my hubby did, and it's not like he had a great paying job; we just lived frugally. Now I'm paying for his grad school, so he will graduate with no loans). We have no debt to speak of, which is awesome. When I decide to go back for my MSN, I can go straight for an RN-MSN program (and many will take into account the general electives I have already completed with my previous bachelor's degree).

Since it sounds like you are in high school, I would just suggest a BSN program if you know you want to be a nurse (or actually a diploma program, if you even have one in your area, and it is high quality), and if you can relocate when you're finished school, then you will be able to find a job (if you can't find a job in your area). If you eventually want to be an NP, then just go right for the PA program, and then you will be done much sooner and have wasted less time and money on education.

I think you just need to look in your particular area...what school will give you the best education for the best price? And, if price is no object, then just pick the best school. PA programs are also a good way to go if that is your end goal. There are some universities where you major in PA studies as an undergrad, and finish in 5 years. If I could do it all over again, that's probably what I would have done, but at 18, you sometimes choose a major only to realize much later that you should have chosen another. At the end of the day, though, I really enjoy being a nurse, so things have a way of working out the way they should. Good luck!

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Oh, and you asked about PA programs, simple google search "PA studies as undergrad" reveals that Hofstra, Pitt, UPenn, Gannon, U of Iowa all offer PA studies as an undergrad. These won't be cheap, but you'll be making good money when you're done to pay off your loans. Pretty much, you'll just spend that whole first year working as a new PA paying off all your loans (I know this b/c I had looked into it when I was looking at educational opps a few years ago lol). A good deal, though. You just need to be focused academically no matter which option you choose, PA or nursing. People's lives are in your hands when you finish, so it's important that you really learn the material, not just memorize it for the test. Okay, off my mom box now (and I'm not even a mom haha).

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.

St. Louis

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which hospitals in Houston, TX are hiring new grads? I am in PA currently and just graduated and passed the NCLEX. Looking to relocate to the Houston area with husband who is in the oil industry. Thanks.

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