Hi {{first_name|nurse,}}
I still remember what it felt like being a new grad in NYC back in 2012. Every person around us acted like new grads were lucky to get anything. Monica got told the same thing in 2013. Apply everywhere. Pray for a call. Take whatever you can get.
That mindset still sticks with a lot of nurses today.
But the numbers from AACN tell a different story.
Here’s what’s really happening.
New Grads Are Getting Hired Faster Than Almost Any Other Field
AACN surveyed 643 nursing schools. These weren’t small programs. These included BSN and entry-level MSN programs across the country.
Here’s what hit me:
84% of BSN students had job offers at graduation
82% of MSN students had job offers at graduation
96% of BSN grads had job offers within 4–6 months
95% of MSN grads had job offers within 4–6 months
For context, only 55% of all college grads across all majors had full-time jobs six months after graduating.
Nursing is still one of the strongest career paths in the country.
Even with the chaos.
Even with burnout.
Even with budget cuts.
New grads are still getting hired.
Where You Live Still Matters
States in the West, like California, Oregon, and Washington, are tougher.
AACN reported the lowest job-offer rates in the West at graduation:
72% for BSN grads
71% for MSN grads
Compare that to states in the South and Midwest, like Texas, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas:
90% for BSN grads
85% for MSN grads
This lines up with everything I’ve seen helping nurses move for years.
Some regions are overloaded.
Some regions are begging for nurses.
If you’re a new grad and you’re struggling to get a callback, it really isn’t your fault.
It’s the market around you.
Hospitals Still Prefer BSN Nurses
AACN also found:
25% of employers now require a BSN
Almost 70% strongly prefer a BSN
Hospitals are trying to hit that 80% BSN goal the Institute of Medicine pushed years ago.
Better patient outcomes.
Lower mortality.
Lower failure-to-rescue.
Those numbers are real.
If you’re currently ADN and thinking about your next move, this is your sign.
Not pressure.
Not guilt.
Just reality: BSN gives you more doors.
What This Means for You Right Now
This data makes one thing clear:
New grads are not “unhirable.”
The job market is not dead.
There are just regions where you have to be more strategic.
Here’s what I tell every new nurse:
Focus on regions with high hire rates (South, Midwest).
Look for large systems first (Kaiser, HCA, Ascension, Providence).
Apply before graduation if your state allows it.
Use preceptorships as interviews.
Don’t just rely on Indeed.
Use internal hospital job boards.
Reach out to recruiters directly.
Your first job is the hardest one to get.
After that, everything changes.
My Honest Opinion After Seeing This Data
Every year, I talk to nurses who think they missed their chance.
They think they’re too late.
They think the market is too saturated.
They think they’ll never get into a good hospital.
But the numbers do tell a different story.
If 96% of BSN grads are getting hired within six months, the opportunity is still there.
The real challenge is knowing where to look and how to position yourself.
Monica and I didn’t know any of this when we were new grads.
We learned the hard way.
You don’t have to.
If you want to go deeper, here’s something that might help
We started sending out a premium weekly email for nurses who want more than the usual job boards and Instagram advice. It’s called Map My Pay Insider, and it’s where I look exclusively for things to send that don’t fit in these regular newsletters.
It’s $9 a month, and here’s what you get:
Weekly emails with the highest-paying nursing jobs across 1,000+ U.S. cities
Hourly, weekly, and yearly pay for each role
Rent vs. mortgage breakdowns
Leftover income after taxes, so you see the true value of each job
Monthly bonus tools: pay calculators, interview tips, and city cost-of-living guides
It’s basically the shortcut I wish Monica and I had when we were trying to escape low pay and make better career decisions.
If you want access, you can join here:
This App Is Built for Nurses Like You—Try Map My Pay
No more paycheck guessing. This app shows your after-tax income city by city, plus what’s left after rent.
🗺️ Compare 1,000+ U.S. cities
💵 See what’s left after housing
👀 Check cost of living, safety, and more
👩⚕️ Filter by role, shift, and OT
📱 Connect with other nurses and see real pay stubs
Moving? Negotiating? Scouting contracts? Let the app crunch the numbers first.
Get Map My Pay now.