Which areas are looking for new grad nurses?

[swansonplace]

I am a new grad, and am willing to relocate to an area that is in need of a new grad. Does anyone know of any areas that are looking for new grad nurses? I am particularly interested in nursing residency programs.

[soontobenurse_84]

I have heard that Texas is a great spot for new grads from out of state-especially the Dallas area. One of my coworkers mother live there and they are building a ton of new hospitals. I googled it and did at least find that part to be true. Hope this helps any.

[swansonplace]

Thank you.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Bzzzzt. Wrong. DFW is SATURATED with new grads. Hospitals hire new grads twice a year, through internships only. Competition is stunningly fierce. Hundreds of applicants for each individual new grad slot. There are a ton of schools here cranking out new grads every few months and not nearly enough spots to employ them all.

Nurses with two or more years of experience who either have a BSN or are actively pursuing one have their choice of jobs. New grads? Nope. Very tough market. The hospitals are growing, it is true. But nobody really wants the new grads, or at least not in the masses that are being churned out by the local schools, let alone those flocking here from out of state thinking this is the new grad mecca.

Do NOT move ANYWHERE without a firm job offer with salary negotiation finished and a firm start date in writing.

[swansonplace]

Does anyone else know of any areas that are interested in new grads?

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

Generally speaking, large metropolitan areas have the most saturated nursing markets. Here in Midwest Chicago is one of the worst large cities in the country to presently look for a job. I assume this is because nursing degrees are selling like hot rolls, so a metropolitan area that used to have 30 nursing schools, now has 45 nursing schools because running healthcare schools is lucrative business. The area becomes saturated with new grads who have nowhere to go, and they will pound every medical centers with thousands of applications per day.

Once I moved about 100 miles from Chicago, I found out hospitals in areas that are more rural are eager to hire new grads (our hospital hired lots of them), but alas, if you grew up in a big city, you probably want to stay in the city, because that's where night life and friends are. So I guess for a majority of big city kids relocating to another part of the country is not an option.

Nursing homes are always hiring, but if you have a BSN and want to work in acute care some day (I think most BSNs do!) accepting a nursing home position could be career suicide. Also, most of those nursing home companies suck and they work their nursing staff to death (13-15 patients per nurse) claiming they are "low acuity" which is complete b.s.

If the nursing home resident is on the call light all day because she's disabled, that's a high acuity situation. If they poo in their pants all day that's a high acuity scenario because somebody has to go in there to diaper them. A low acuity patient is mostly independent. My surgical patients at the hospital are more independent than nursing home residents. In nursing homes, you have a lot of badly disabled people who are total care...

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

The Dakota oil patch is looking for nurses, though housing is extremely hard to find.

[swansonplace]

The Dakota oil patch is looking for nurses, though housing is extremely hard to find.

Thank You

[SubSippi]

North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, all have decent job markets for new grads from what I've heard, as long as you're okay with living in a more rural area.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Likely places where no one wants to live.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I seem to be having luck in West Virginia. The cost of living is low so be prepared for a lower hourly wage than you are used to. Good luck :)

[swansonplace]

Thank you so much.