Best States for Entry-Level Nursing Jobs

The comment below is in need of some research. That is a careless statement to make ("There is no nursing shortage") if you are only looking at your own experience and not the facts. It seems you may be discouraging people to follow their dreams of giving back and taking care of others based on something bad that's happened to you or those you know. Be sure to share ALL the facts and if you don't know them, do some research before you speak. That's a concern in our country, people think they know, but they don't have all the details....

The shortage of nurses is a prediction of what is to come when all of the 'Baby-Boomers' get older and require healthcare. I don't have all of the facts either, but I do know that I cannot educate others with their choices in life based on only MY experience. There's a big world out there and lots to learn. I encourage people to look into what's available in their areas and where they may want to live in the future... :)

I would check with the state's attorney in the state where some hospital said they only hire grads from schools they have "contracts" with. If that hospital receives any federal funding, and they nearly all do, I think it is against the law to do something like that. Or if that hospital receives any funding from a local taxing entity.

And jobs for new grads? Like a lot of us have posted elsewhere - go where it sucks! Portland/Vancouver? Seattle? San Diego? Gee. Experienced nurses are staying in the workforce due to this economy and even coming out of retirement.

Hit the rural areas and small towns.

Like everybody else, I agree that it is hard to get a job as a new grad. Some hospitals that I have gone to apply tell me that they have contracs with some shools, and that they only hired new grads from there. Also, if we do not get a job within soon after the hospitals that hire new grads do not want to consider you, because you have been out of school and with out a job for too long. Good luck to every one of us, we need it.

This was great but there was nothing listed for registered nurses. Where do you recommend a new graduate nurse go to secure a job? The Portland/Vancouver area is not at all promising.

Find trying to find a nursing job maddening. I like most new grads am having trouble. Whne asked point balnk why employers don't want ot hire new grads, i get a variety of answers. The list includes:
- employers spend lots of money to train a new grad and then they leave.
-some new grads aren't worth much. The goal of nursing schools have become to turn out as many graduates as they can, not training quality nurses
- older nurses fear new grads levels of knowledge. They feel threatend.
- new grads are unreliable. They are young and interested in the opposite sex, drinking, partying and having a good time. They do not come to work with work on their mind , but the night before and the night to come.
- new grads won't stick around. They young, the will leave to start a family.
Those are just a few comments that I have gleened from nurse adminstrators and from converstions with other nurses.

I myself am a new BSN grad (May 2009). I graduated with honors. I have a second degree in social work (also with honors) and I am a EMT. I have applied to over hundred positions. I know that I am limited because I can not work more than and hours drive away from where I llive. (elderly parents). Nursing is taking care of people. Being there fir them when they need some one. How can I be good nurse and leave my parents alone when they need someone right now.
Most positions I apply to, I never hear back from them. I have even applied for LPN/LVN postions, medical assistant and , CNA, personal care worker postions. I have applied for retails sales postions. I can find nothing.
As much as agripe about not finding a job. There are nurses with years of expereince not finding jobs. It is the economy and the mind set of hospitals and care facilties. They are businesses, the want to make a buck ( as many bucks as they can). I believe they will short staff and overwork nurses until, we as nurses as a whole say enough. BUt no, we won't. We have a duty to our patients we will continue to provide the beast possible care to our patients even at the expense of our own health and families. The have us by the very nature that drives us to be nurses.

I hope all new grads find jobs. wisj you all the luck in the world. I position I am extremely hopeful for (part-time for right now) and I am only being considered because a well respected nurs is pushing very hard for me.

I graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor's in Nursing. I have my License and I am still working in retail because I cannot find a job. I live in New Jersey, so I'm close to work in either PA or NY and I'm willing to get a license in either state because I am that desperate to start my career. Because I have no experience, I am frowned upon. I've even had an interviewer tell me that I wont be able to find a job in NJ and I should just get a NY license. It is very discouraging and frustrating to go through school and not be able to find a job. Especially when you have loans that have already begin to accumulate interest because I cannot afford to pay them on my salary.

This article does not address the "entry level nurse". I live in the Cleveland Ohio area and someone mentioned that new grads are frowned upon. SHE IS RIGHT!!! I have been looking for a job and have over 200 applications out there to every hospital/LTC facility/nursing home/Agency/ home health care place in northern Ohio, THEY ARE NOT HIRING NEW NURSES W/O 1-2 YEARS EXPERIENCE. We have the biggest industry for healthcare and there are no jobs for new grads, this is crazy! I don't believe there is a nursing shortage. I do believe I may have made a mistake becoming a nurse, especially because I have not found a job with the 200 applications and have been unemployed since May 2009. I love taking care of people and nursing is my passion, but right now I feel like a failure or a lepor, not a nurse.