Portland Job Market for Experienced Nurses?

U.S.A. Oregon

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What is the job market like in Portland for nurses with a few years experience? I currently live and work in another state and DH and I have talked about moving to the west coast when he's done with his current schooling. By the time we'd move I'd have about 3 years of experience. I know things are bleak in most major cities for new grads, but how are things in Portland for nurses with experience?

Is there a local hiring preference for BSNs? What is the hospital system like there- it looks like there is one major "brand" and then a few other hospitals?

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Specializes in Cardiac, PCU, Surg/Onc, LTC, Peds.

The job market sucks here for everyone. I see mostly openings for experienced positions in ICU, OR, ED. But it's very competitive due to the economy with hundreds of applicants for one position. There is a glut of nursing schools (10+) and at least hundreds+ of unemployed new grads right now and I don't see that improving soon. There aren't many positions for even experienced nurses right now. Many of the hospital openings are being filled from transfers within the system but I don't see the # of open positions like I used to. Also another factor is that many NM will hire a local nurse before someone out of state. My close friend is a NM and just saying what she's told me and I've heard from other NM friends.

My advice-don't bank on moving to Portland unless you have a job lined up first.

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The job market sucks here for everyone. I see mostly openings for experienced positions in ICU, OR, ED. But it's very competitive due to the economy with hundreds of applicants for one position. There is a glut of nursing schools (10+) and at least hundreds+ of unemployed new grads right now and I don't see that improving soon. There aren't many positions for even experienced nurses right now. Many of the hospital openings are being filled from transfers within the system but I don't see the # of open positions like I used to. Also another factor is that many NM will hire a local nurse before someone out of state. My close friend is a NM and just saying what she's told me and I've heard from other NM friends.

My advice-don't bank on moving to Portland unless you have a job lined up first.

I live here in Oregon. What can I do to get into the cardiology specialty? What suggestions would you have for me as a new grad to work my way there? Eventually I want to end up in the ICU. Thank you in advance.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
I live here in Oregon. What can I do to get into the cardiology specialty? What suggestions would you have for me as a new grad to work my way there? Eventually I want to end up in the ICU. Thank you in advance.

First of all get ACLS under your belt, secondly keep applying to hospitals, thirdly seriously consider a job in California, Bakersfield!

Registered Nurse - Telemetry

San Joaquin Community Hospital, Bakersfield, CA Full time

Night shift

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Specializes in Cardiac, PCU, Surg/Onc, LTC, Peds.
I live here in Oregon. What can I do to get into the cardiology specialty? What suggestions would you have for me as a new grad to work my way there? Eventually I want to end up in the ICU. Thank you in advance.

If you're in school still, do your preceptorship in cards, you could do ACLS but usually your unit will send you within 6 months of hire, so I'm not sure how much it would help. I would at least take an EKG class and be competent in identifying rhythms. Network, network, network. When I applied for a position I always found out who the hiring manager was and sent an email sharing my interest in their unit and/or specialty.

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