SPOKANE, Wash. — Nursing students from the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/Washington State University College of Nursing can evaluate numerous employment opportunities as health care agencies and providers from throughout the region line up to recruit skilled nursing graduates during a semi-annual Career Fair event March 28.
The fifth semi-annual Career Fair will take place from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., on the main floor of the Intercollegiate College of Nursing campus located at 2917 W. Fort Wright Drive.
This semester’s graduating class includes 22 graduate students and 117 baccalaureate students from throughout the state including Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Yakima-based students.
Health care organizations from throughout Washington state and surrounding regions will be on campus to promote job openings and entice graduating students to consider their organization for employment. Recruiters representing 17 hospitals, nursing homes and home health care agencies will offer employment information and other materials designed to attract the attention of each student.
“This is a great chance for students to compare the opportunities, benefits and incentives offered by the various health care agencies,” said Molly Lawson, event co-chair and graduating senior. “By inviting the agencies and organizations directly to our campus, students can evaluate a variety of opportunities in a convenient and familiar setting.”
Given a growing worldwide nursing shortage, the 139 graduating students are entering a profession in high demand. Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing students have an exceptionally high placement rate of between 85-100 percent, with many students receiving multiple professional offers upon graduation.
According to a survey of fall 2001 graduating students, about 86 percent indicated they had received firm job offers. The average number of job offers received was two. About 10 percent had five or more offers.
Established in 1968, the college is the nation’s first, oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium. The college offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through its four consortium partners, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, WSU and Whitworth College. Each year, the college educates more than 600 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other educational institution in the state. For more information about the college, visit the Web site at nursing.wsu.edu.
