If you’re considering RN programs in NJ, you’re probably wondering about the current job market and local hiring trends. Are nurses in high-demand?  Are NJ hospitals and medical practices hiring recent graduates? Statistics show NJ has a shortage of RNs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that America’s highest levels of RN employment are concentrated in the metropolitan areas surrounding White Plains, NY and Wayne, NJ.[i] Yet, in 2012, NJ reported a 17 percent shortfall of registered nurses.[ii]

Don’t rely on statistics alone. Weigh the following three factors when considering your RN program choice.

Experience Differentiates RN Program Grads

You may have heard that some nursing school graduates have a hard time landing job offers, despite the current healthcare boom. Experience—or lack thereof—is often a key factor in an RN job hunt. Understaffed, overcrowded facilities can’t afford to spend time training new hires on everyday matters. If you already have some healthcare experience—even if you previously worked as an LPN, paramedic, or health technician—your familiarity with medical environments and job-related challenges may be of key importance to your RN job search.

NJ’s Advanced Practice RNs May Soon Be Filling Different Roles

The start of ObamaCare in 2014 means that thousands of uninsured NJ residents will soon have access to healthcare and the state will need more primary care providers. One report estimates the primary care provider shortage in NJ will reach 1,600 by 2014, which means the state will need advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to fill the gap.[iii]

How does this impact nursing students and nursing programs in New Jersey? As nurse-managed health centers and clinics draw APRNs away from general practice roles, the upward momentum will affect the entire nursing supply chain—leaving more entry-level roles open to recent graduates.

The Long-term Need for NJ Nurses Is Skyrocketing

Job opportunities for NJ nurses will continue to expand tremendously in the coming years. As the economy continues to improve, many veteran nurses that delayed retirement or temporarily returned to work because of the recession will soon leave the workforce. This reduction in the RN workforce is expected to occur in one large sweep, as opposed to gradual attrition.

By 2020, the state’s nursing shortage may reach 40,000.[iv] Earning your RN now is a smart way to prepare for the increased regional demand—a demand that will likely support career growth opportunities and incredible job security for qualified, ambitious RNs.

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