Moving to Northwest Oregon

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  1. This is a discussion on Moving to Northwest Oregon in Oregon Nursing, part of United States Nursing ... Hi all! My husband is in the military and we have gotten notice that we are being transferred to...

    by Jan 10, '11
    Hi all!
    My husband is in the military and we have gotten notice that we are being transferred to Northwest Oregon (Astoria area) and I am wondering if anyone knows what the job market is like up there? I am a new grad with no RN experience (have two years M.A. experience though). I have been following a few threads related to the "new grad flood" in the Portland area (California is EXACTLY the same!) and am terrified that I will get up there and be trapped in a tiny town with no jobs for new grads which would devastate me! I am a mother of three (7, 3, and 6mo) who has worked very hard through nursing school to graduate with honors and my BSN. I don't want moving to Northwest Oregon to ruin it all for me! Please if you have any idea of what the market is for new grads in Northwest Oregon I would love to know. I have been looking in Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook, and some southwest Washington hospitals. The area is so small there isn't a lot to choose from (I've basically have been open to anything an hour or less away from the Astroia area). Thank you!
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    by scaredtorelocate Jan 10, '11 10:12 am
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  3. 34 Comments so far...

  4. Jan 10, '11 by
    My idea.... if you can get a job locally and get a year of experience then do it. Being military I'm guessing this is a lifestyle your used to, somewhat. When your done with your year of experience go get a job out there. I would guess it would make his check bigger too, seperation pay.
    lindarn likes this.
  5. Jan 10, '11 by
    Well, I'm in Southern California now and the market for new grads here is also 100:1 so I don't know how much luck I would have staying here either. Plus, my husband is in a branch that doesn't "deploy" much and I don't think any amount of money is worth spending a year away from my family and I am sure he feels the same. Thank you though. Your advise is appreciated.
    lindarn likes this.
  6. Jan 10, '11 by
    Quote from scaredtorelocate
    Hi all!
    My husband is in the military and we have gotten notice that we are being transferred to Northwest Oregon (Astoria area) and I am wondering if anyone knows what the job market is like up there? I am a new grad with no RN experience (have two years M.A. experience though). I have been following a few threads related to the "new grad flood" in the Portland area (California is EXACTLY the same!) and am terrified that I will get up there and be trapped in a tiny town with no jobs for new grads which would devastate me! I am a mother of three (7, 3, and 6mo) who has worked very hard through nursing school to graduate with honors and my BSN. I don't want moving to Northwest Oregon to ruin it all for me! Please if you have any idea of what the market is for new grads in Northwest Oregon I would love to know. I have been looking in Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook, and some southwest Washington hospitals. The area is so small there isn't a lot to choose from (I've basically have been open to anything an hour or less away from the Astroia area). Thank you!
    Have you tried Southwest Hospital in Vancouver, Washington? I believe that they offer a new grad internship. (I think that is the name of he hospital). They are right over the boarder from Washington to Oregon. You should try there, and see. Hope that helps.

    Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
    Somewhere in the PACNW
  7. Jan 10, '11 by
    Hate to be a buzz-kill but the job market in Oregon stinks! Graduated in June, live in Portland (the biggest city in Oregon) and I'm totally freaking out. In the past a new nurse might have to work in a SNF for a while before moving to a hospital but there are so many of us looking it's become a matter of luck and who you know.
    CaLLaCoDe and lindarn like this.
  8. Jan 11, '11 by
    Quote from JulieB71
    Hate to be a buzz-kill but the job market in Oregon stinks! Graduated in June, live in Portland (the biggest city in Oregon) and I'm totally freaking out. In the past a new nurse might have to work in a SNF for a while before moving to a hospital but there are so many of us looking it's become a matter of luck and who you know.
    ditto, have been looking for 6 months, by chance I got a home health job and now I think I may have SNF position in WA there is nothing in OR, I live in Portland and have been looking at places up to 2 hours away. I have worked in a hospital for 3 years as a CNA and they wont hire new grads, pretty much all the hospitals in the area will not hire new grads, the only way in is through an internship program but those so competive. one I applied to had 40 spots with over 700 applicants
    CaLLaCoDe and lindarn like this.
  9. Jan 11, '11 by
    Quote from LoveMyBugs
    ditto, have been looking for 6 months, by chance I got a home health job and now I think I may have SNF position in WA there is nothing in OR, I live in Portland and have been looking at places up to 2 hours away. I have worked in a hospital for 3 years as a CNA and they wont hire new grads, pretty much all the hospitals in the area will not hire new grads, the only way in is through an internship program but those so competive. one I applied to had 40 spots with over 700 applicants
    I hope I don't sound horribly negative but it is so frustrating and when I see so many posts about people coming here to work I just want to scream NOOOOO!
    I'm glad you found something. I'm having a horrible time looking for a SNF too and that seems to be everyone's advice when they hear you're not working. Everyone says
    But I heard that there was a nursing shortage
    and I say well not around here and then they suggest I work in a SNF and I want to say duuuuh it's not like I'm not totally for that but nobody is leaving their job so there are very few openings.
    Hopefully something will happen, I just have to stay positive and that just seems to get harder and harder each day.
    CaLLaCoDe and lindarn like this.
  10. Jan 11, '11 by
    Quote from JulieB71
    I hope I don't sound horribly negative but it is so frustrating and when I see so many posts about people coming here to work I just want to scream NOOOOO!
    I'm glad you found something. I'm having a horrible time looking for a SNF too and that seems to be everyone's advice when they hear you're not working. Everyone says and I say well not around here and then they suggest I work in a SNF and I want to say duuuuh it's not like I'm not totally for that but nobody is leaving their job so there are very few openings.
    Hopefully something will happen, I just have to stay positive and that just seems to get harder and harder each day.

    The SNF I got hired at is in Vancouver and is only on call, so yeah I hear ya Oregon is saturated, people tell me to look to southern Oregon and I have as far as Klamath Falls and there is still nothing for new grads
    CaLLaCoDe and lindarn like this.
  11. Jan 14, '11 by
    As a new resident to Oregon (experienced RN), I would like to add the fact that the atmosphere that I experienced in two hospitals, Tuality and Providence Newberg is extremely oppressive for new hires. There is a constant pressure on the senior staff and they feel that they have to get rid of the "new guy" to eliminate "competition". They have no union representation and they pretty much have a "buyer's market" when it comes to retaining staff or properly orienting to their system. As unbelievable as it sounds, I was fired from a hospital after three days b/c I questioned the reason to work in an area that I was forced to work... and I was not hired to work in that area. I just said: "it's not my cup of tea but if I have to work here, I need some orientation..." I was fired in 15 minutes!
    Good luck getting a job in Oregon, I know you are not going to like it.
    lindarn likes this.
  12. Jan 14, '11 by
    Wow what an experience. During my senior practicum I heard a lot of nurses tell stories of how a new RN is often thrown to the wolves, so to speak. It's really sad because with the type of work we do we should all really support each other not enjoy watching novice nurses suffer. I hope you're happy where you are now.
    next1 likes this.