What Qualities Are New Grad Nursing Job Employers Looking For?

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 200,000 nursing jobs opening by 2026.
• As a new grad nurse, finding a job can be stressful for many reasons.
• Nursing CE Central has the scoop on what qualities new grad nursing job employers are searching for in candidates, check them out!

If you are a new nursing graduate and are worried about finding a job, you’re in luck.  

As a result of the global nursing shortage, there are thousands of RN positions opening throughout the country; for example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 200,000 RN job openings before 2026, which is an astonishing 15% increase!

Although the opportunities are almost endless, the nation’s number one travel nursing agency, American Mobile, claims home health, cardiac, pediatric, and women’s health as being the most common new grad nursing jobs available.   

Along this same thread, certain specialties may be more competitive than others, and that’s okay; below, we have listed several qualities that you must possess in order to be the greatest candidate for any new grad nursing job. Check it out! 

Versatility

Some of your peers may have already decided on a nursing specialty, and others may not have figured this out yet; but remember, there is no right or wrong time!  

If you are a recent grad, you might get thrown through the wringer with night, weekend, and rotating shifts on several units; you are going to be at the disposal of the experienced nurses and your superiors, be prepared for this.  

Karen L. Madsen with healthcare experts, HCPro, discusses the power of versatility in the nursing profession. She says,  

“… you listen to patients, conference with doctors, manage medications, supervise others, and some days even get to have lunch and a bathroom break! We’re versatile, we can do many things at once – and one of the best things about our profession is that it is versatile as well.” 

I went to nursing school because I thought it was my passion to be a NICU nurse.  

Want to know the first job I took out of nursing school? Cardiac ICU at a major university hospital

The two couldn’t be more opposite; I never made it into pediatrics, and that’s okay.  

Once I became a mom, I knew my heart couldn’t handle the work of a NICU nurse. 

Both your personal and professional experiences show you what you want out of life, and that, perhaps without you knowing, is the beauty of it.

Ambition

You may have chosen to pursue a career in nursing because you are passionate about helping others, or maybe you grew up around nurses; whatever the case may be, you survived nursing school, which shows your ambition to succeed. 

American business media company dedicated to providing professional advice, Inc. Magazine, outlines the importance and strengths of being an ambitious employee. 

“Those who wish to be more, know more, do more, give more or have more, have a purpose and a powerful internal drive that leads them to dream bigger and go further.” 

This is no different for the nursing profession. 

Your ambition can take you so far in your career and is one of the most important qualities to possess when interviewing for new grad nursing jobs! 

Do you have dreams of being a leader or pursuing an advanced degree? Do you want to teach?  

Of course, you’re a new grad, so if you aren’t sure of these things yet, it’s okay; all nurses start somewhere, and getting experience is the best thing you could ever do for your resume and future career.  

Although I wouldn’t go back to life in CVICU, I wouldn’t have traded my time there for anything.  

It taught me things nursing school never could, and the challenges it brought me, shaped me into the nurse that I am today.  

The key is to not get discouraged, no matter how easy that may be. 

Compassion

Your words, mannerisms, and actions can truly make a difference for a patient and their hospital experience.  

California’s largest healthcare system and fifth-largest provider in the U.S., Dignity Health, outlines the various benefits of compassionate healthcare providers that all nurses looking for a new grad nursing job should be aware of, these include: 

• Patients who feel supported feel less pain. 

• Human connection decreases blood pressure and stress. 

• When providers listen, patients heal faster.  

• Respectful care boosts your immune system. 

If you can show compassion, you are going to be one of the most competitive candidates for any new grad nursing job that you apply for; I can almost guarantee it.  

Looking back on my career, I know that working in the CVICU hardened me a little.  

When you are faced with difficult situations that are hard to manage, whether it it’s witnessing death every day, or the seemingly endless hours, it can be easy to catch yourself feeling emotionally numb.  

Try not to let this happen to you. 

Keep your compassion, empathy, and your love for caring for others strong; hold onto it and never let go.   

Team Player

This is a biggie!  

Healthcare is not a one-man show, it involves various levels of expertise and experience.  

If you are not capable of being a valuable team player, it is going to be extremely hard for you to land a new grad nursing job no matter how strong your resume is.  

Maryville University outlines the top five benefits of being a team player in nursing that I believe everyone should check out: 

1. Improved patient satisfaction and outcome 

2. Higher job satisfaction 

3. Increased professional accountability 

4. Lower rates of job turnover 

5. Improved engagement in the workplace 

I have worked in several different positions throughout my time as a nurse thus far.  

I have worked in good team environments where everyone does their job, and then some; they supported and lifted each other up.  

Without ever thinking twice, my team was always there to help. 

On the flip side, I have also worked in poor environments. 

Everyone is driven by being number one; this workplace culture can make your job extremely difficult, disheartening, and frustrating.  

On top of this, it leads to burnout and decreased patient and employee satisfaction.  

If you asked me if I was still in this work environment now, I am sure you can guess what my answer might be.  

Being a team player in nursing means everything.  

As a new grad in search of a nursing job, be mindful in your development to keep, promote, and strengthen these attributes; your peers, leaders, and patients will thank you later. 

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