Learning Objective #1: Describe the values of new nurses in seeking work positions.

Learning Objective #2: Explore the influences on new nurses related to career path decisions.

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Abstract Recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce rests on an understanding of the generation Xers that are graduating and making career path decisions. Nurses are renown for being highly mobile in career decisions and even choosing traveling nurse positions to explore choices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the values, influences, and sources of information of baccalaureate nursing students with regard to nursing career path options and first employment positions. Design: A descriptive design was used to analyze survey data. Methods: A sample of 610 senior baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in twelve diverse U.S. colleges and universities was surveyed using the Nursing Career Decision Making Inventory. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Findings: For a nursing career, senior nursing students value happiness, enjoying work, choice of work area, family time, and comprehensive benefits. Their primary sources of influence for this sample were fathers, friends, and nursing faculty. Information sources were most frequently from movies, first hand experiences, and brochures. Conclusions: A profile and factors of values, influences, and sources of information was derived. These factors of career path decisions by young nurses provide decisive information for strategic recruitment and workforce retention planning. Key words: nursing careers, recruitment