Nursing Jobs, Once Plentiful, Now Drying Up

For the past few years, nursing has been one of the hottest fields in Massachusetts. A statewide nurse shortage spurred many people to enroll in nursing schools, where attendance is now booming. And in May, hundreds of local nursing students will graduate and begin to look for jobs.

But many new nurses, and even some experienced ones, are finding that the job pipeline is drying up. The hiring landscape for Massachusetts nurses has taken a turn for the worse.

You might think Rachel Weinstein would be feeling optimistic about her chances for employment. She's a senior at the school of nursing at Boston College, and after she graduates this spring she'd like to work in intensive care at a big Boston hospital. She's submitted a few applications, but her hopes for landing a position are pretty low.