Delaware

What does the current job market look like for graduates of nursing programs? Students graduating in the near future might be concerned about finding employment soon after completing their nursing degrees.

According to the results of a study conducted in 2010 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), graduates of entry-level baccalaureate (BSN) nursing programs are obtaining employment offers at the time of graduation or very soon after graduation at much higher rate than graduates from other fields. Data was collected from over four hundred nursing schools throughout the country. The results revealed that 65% of new BSN graduates had employment offers at the time of graduation, while 89% had obtained job offers within four to six months after graduation. Employment offers did vary by region of the country.

The survey found that states located in the West and Midwest have much lower job offer rates for new graduates at both the time of graduation and within four to six months after graduation. Some of these states include California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington as well as Delaware and Minnesota. Overall, the healthcare workforce continues to expand, with the demand for BSN- prepared registered nurses remaining strong.