Published
I graduated Aug. 2013 from a BSN program in NWI. I passed the NCLEX at the end of Sept. From my job hunting experience and my fellow classmates I can give you a little insight. The IU hospitals across the state are hiring very few new nurses. Indy's job market for new nurses right now is rough. The Fort Wayne area is great, as is South Bend- both are hiring lots of new nurses. Fort Wayne area is starting new nurses at approx. 20/hr, South Bend approx. 22-23/hr. I know it's not much info, but it's a start. Best of luck to you!
Yes I live here in Indy and I agree with mKellRN. The job market here in Indy is extremely rough right now. Trust me! I myself have been looking for work and can't find much. Of course the standard LTC is always hiring. As a LPN for 5 years, new RN (October) they (LTC) put too much responsibility on the RN's. You take a look at a few miles out from Indy the hospitals are hiring left and right. I can't up and move or I would have (home owner), but take a look at Ft Wayne and Terre Haute hospitals. Good luck!
I'm in northern Indiana (about 2 hours north of Indy) and I have never had an issue finding a job. I had a job lined up before I took boards, and I've had multiple offers, both in hospitals and LTC. I'm currently working in a skilled nursing facility. The pay, however, is sad. I've been a nurse for nearly 2 years and I still make less than $20/hour. I should also add that I only have my ASN.
The hospitals in Indiana that pay the most are in Indianapolis. IU Health's starting wage for a new grad RN is 22.30. The night shift differential brings it up to 25/hr. Honestly, if I were you, I would just do what I could to find an RN-to-BSN program that offers their coursework entirely online, and just stay in Chicago. It costs more to live there, but your job security is probably a lot safer than what it would be in Indiana. Back in May, the St. Vincent system laid off hundreds upon hundreds of nurses, the IU Health system got rid of their evening differential, and the St. Francis system got rid of their weekend differential. They're cutting corners left and right, and they don't care about the lives of the employees they're severely negatively impacting. I moved out of state upon graduation this year from Ivy Tech, and I make 28/hr in a hospital system in a city where the cost of living is only minimally higher than Indianapolis. Again, save yourself the trouble and headahce, and leave Indiana alone.
ArvinC EMT, ADN, BSN, RN
47 Posts
Hey fellow nurses, I live in Chicago graduated from an ADN-RN program in May, passed the NCLEX in July; I currently work at a nursing facility in the downtown area of Chicago. I don't want to stay in a nursing home forever, and a lot of hospitals in the Chicago area went Magnet meaning they are only looking for RNs with their BSNs. I do want to go back to school to get my BSN but with the 5 8s schedule at a nursing facility it's impossible. I heard from a lot of people that IN is very new grad fairly, so I was wondering what's the demand the Hoosier state.
P.S. I was born in Kokomo, IN., it's time to go home.