Which Specialty Get the Most New Grad Applicants?

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I was told today by a nurse recruiter that 85% new grad applicants applies for Labor and Delivery. She said I would have a better chance if I don't pick L & D. I was surprised because I always thought it was Med/Surg. I wonder if this happens only at her hospital or other places as well. Do you have a different number?

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Specialty areas, like ICU & ED (especially those two) along with L&D and NICU are very popular with new grads. Most do not want to get "stuck" in med-surg but I think spending some time in med-surg is a good thing. You get exposed to a lot of different things and it helps get your nursing and time management skills down pat.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I think 85% sounds way high. Maybe 15% of my class had an interest in l&d. Maybe she meant all the specialties put together.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

The overwhelming majority of nursing students I've talked to during clinicals want L&D, ED or one of the critical cares. Not many have expressed interest in med-surg, and only a couple have expressed interested in psych.

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I agree with Meriwhen. I wanted L&D, Newborn Nursery, or ICU. I got psych (didnt work out) and now med-surg.

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Specializes in Psych, OB-GYN.

Overwhelming majoring of my classmates want ED, ICU, L&D, or NICU. (We graduate next week!!!) Very few have accepted positions in these areas, though some have! Many are headed to Med-Tele units, while majority are still (desperately) seeking. We have a few looking for OR - they have their choice - apparently OR is high demand around here. Two for Psych - they got jobs immediately. We're a class of 200+, so be interesting to see how many actually get what they want. Personally, I wanted L&D, and got it :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

This question is misleading.

Despite the fact that a new grad may "prefer" a specific area, they cannot apply unless there are openings and meet the job qualifications. If a specialty area does not hire actually new grads, they could not actually be applicants. A more accurate question may be "Which type of new grad job openings attract the most applicants?"

I do agree - new grads seem to prefer anything that is NOT MedSurg. And they all intend to become NPs as soon as possible in order to escape the horrors of bedside nursing - LOL.

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Agreed.

This question is misleading.

Despite the fact that a new grad may "prefer" a specific area, they cannot apply unless there are openings and meet the job qualifications. If a specialty area does not hire actually new grads, they could not actually be applicants. A more accurate question may be "Which type of new grad job openings attract the most applicants?"

I do agree - new grads seem to prefer anything that is NOT MedSurg. And they all intend to become NPs as soon as possible in order to escape the horrors of bedside nursing - LOL.

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Specializes in L&D.

For my class of 23, it seems they all want L&D, ER, NICU.

As far as I'm aware, so far 2 have accepted ER, 1 LD, 1 NICU, the rest who have accepted jobs are in medsurg(tele, surgical for the most part I think)....I know 1 that wants OR. Myself? I want L&D and plan to have it lol :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

How can there be that many jobs? Think about it, there may be one mother/baby nurse for every five to ten medsurg nurses (depending on the size of the hospital).

Those numbers don't make sense.

I'd remember that there is often a difference between what grads want and what they end up taking because they need to get to work.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

L&D, ER, ICU, NICU and pediatrics seem to be the most popular. Most want these. Very few actually get them out of the starting gate.

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