Graduate Nurse Jobs in North Carolina
Graduate Nurse jobs in North Carolina are in strong demand, with consistent openings across hospital systems, academic medical centers, and outpatient networks throughout the state. The largest concentrations of hiring are in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Greensboro, where major systems like Atrium Health, Duke University Health System, and Cone Health maintain deep pipelines for new graduates. The most sought-after entry points are medical-surgical, critical care, and emergency nursing, with pediatrics growing steadily at academic centers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
“*This position qualifies for our UNC Health Incentive Program, please ask your recruiter for more information. “
Hiring New RN Graduates for December 2026 and May 2027 Graduations
Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.
Summary:
Provides competent clinical nursing care consistent with professional standards. Reporting and accountable to the Nurse Manager/Director, the Clinical Nurse is responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care utilizing the nursing process in a hospital setting.
3rd Floor – Medical/Surgical
Third floor Johnston Health, Smithfield is a 33-bed Medical Surgical Unit that serves primarily medical patients, although Pediatric patients are seen occasionally for overnight observation. Third floor nurses will get exposure to wound/wound vac care, tube feedings and tracheostomies and will care for patients with a variety of medical diagnoses, to include:
- Pneumonia
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Abdominal Pain
- Altered Mental Status
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Diabetes
- Shortness of Breath, among others
Full time is 3 12-hour shifts. Our standard shifts are 0645-1915 and 1845-0715 with every other weekend. Holidays are rotated among staff. Each shift is staffed with a charge nurse and nurses are paired with an NA teammate to assist with care. Nurse-to-patient ratios on the unit are typically 1:5 or 1:6.
We have a strong team on 3rd floor Johnston Health Smithfield, and continuously seek ways to improve our processes through our Nurse Council. Our “ONE GREAT TEAM” understands that “It Takes a Village.” Our ideal teammate will be able to work independently, while being committed to working together as a TEAM to provide the excellent care that our patients deserve.
Responsibilities:
1. Education - Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn.
2. Evaluation of Care - Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care.
3. Implementation - Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population-appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning.
4. Leadership - With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost-effective care. Gives feedback to co-workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all
5. Patient Assessment - Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs.
6. Planning - Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems.
7. Research - Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.
Other Information
Education Requirements:
- Graduation from school of professional nursing.
- Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the day of clinical care.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification
- No prior experience required.
Job Details
Legal Employer: NCHEALTH
Entity: Johnston Health
Organization Unit: 3rd Floor
Work Type: Full Time
Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00
Salary Range: $32.23 - $41.35 per hour (Hiring Range)
Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity
Work Assignment Type: Onsite
Work Schedule: Rotating
Location of Job: US:NC:Smithfield
Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No
This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position.
Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.
See All 47 Graduate Nurse Jobs in North Carolina
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Find Graduate Nurse JobsGraduate Nurse Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Graduate Nurse Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- UNC Health21

- Atrium Health17

- NIVA Health5

- Duke Health1

- Advocate Aurora Health1

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in graduate nurse jobs across North Carolina.
- Active North Carolina RN license or eligibility through NCLEX-RN upon hire
- Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program
- Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association
- Completion of an approved clinical practicum or supervised hospital rotation
- Strong communication and documentation skills in a team-based care environment
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays
Graduate Nurse Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a graduate nurse in North Carolina?
You become a graduate nurse in North Carolina by completing an accredited Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and then passing the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure through the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Many North Carolina hospitals hire candidates as graduate nurses before licensure results arrive, under a temporary practice permit issued by the Board, allowing you to work under supervision while your application processes.
Which companies hire graduate nurses in North Carolina?
Companies currently hiring graduate nurses in North Carolina include UNC Health, Atrium Health, and NIVA Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. North Carolina's large academic medical systems and regional health networks run dedicated new-graduate residency cohorts several times per year, making them among the most consistent sources of entry-level openings in the state.
Which North Carolina cities have the most graduate nurse jobs?
Winston-Salem, Smithfield, and Clayton have the most graduate nurse openings in North Carolina. Charlotte's concentration of major health systems and Raleigh-Durham's dense cluster of academic medical centers and research hospitals drive the bulk of demand, while Greensboro and Winston-Salem benefit from large regional systems like Cone Health and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist that maintain steady new-graduate hiring.
Are there remote graduate nurse jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of graduate nurse openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on clinical nature of most entry-level nursing roles. The graduate nurse positions most likely to include any remote component are telephone triage, care coordination, and utilization review roles, which typically require prior clinical experience before transitioning to a remote setting.
How can I get hired as a graduate nurse in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to a new-graduate nurse residency program, which most large North Carolina health systems run specifically for candidates without acute care experience. Atrium Health, Duke University Health System, UNC Health, and Novant Health all operate structured residency cohorts designed to bring new graduates into med-surg or general care floors. Holding a current North Carolina Board of Nursing temporary practice permit, an up-to-date BLS certification, and completed NCLEX-RN registration significantly strengthens a candidate's standing for these programs.
Where can I find and apply to graduate nurse jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to graduate nurse jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your credentials and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 47 Graduate Nurse Jobs in North Carolina
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