Are California nurses staying with their job longer because of lower nursing to patie

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I just graduated as an LPN, I am currently working at a rehab facility where the nursing staff ration is 1:16 but can go as high as 1:23. I feel over whelmed. I just doing a little research on nursing ration. According to an article i read Ca nurses are keeping their jobs longer. I have heard from some Ca friends that is hard to get a job as a Nurse in Ca. According to the article I read it is because of the New Law? I just want opinions.

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Specializes in FNP.

Probably more likely due to the fact that many can't even give their houses away, so being unemployed is out of the question!

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
I just graduated as an LPN, I am currently working at a rehab facility where the nursing staff ration is 1:16 but can go as high as 1:23. I feel over whelmed. I just doing a little research on nursing ration. According to an article i read Ca nurses are keeping their jobs longer. I have heard from some Ca friends that is hard to get a job as a Nurse in Ca. According to the article I read it is because of the New Law? I just want opinions.

What new law is that?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The ratio law in California is not new by any stretch of the imagination. In addition, it does not apply to LPNs/LVNs. It only is applicable RNs who work in acute care settings.

Nurses in California are remaining at their jobs longer due to several reasons:

1. Many middle-aged and older nurses lost substantial retirement savings during the financial meltdown of 2008. Although many of these nurses would have retired, they must continue working to replenish the monies that they lost during that year.

2. California has an unemployment rate that exceeds 12 percent. If a nurse's spouse remains unemployed, it is the nurse who must pick up the slack and work extra hours, accrue overtime, or pick up a second job to keep the family's finances afloat.

3. Many newer nurses who graduated within the past three years searched for work for 6 months, 1 year, or even longer before landing their first nursing job. Some California new grads are still jobless. The lucky new grads who found jobs are likely to hold onto what they have because it took so long to find employment, and because they realize that their local job market is brutal.

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The ratio law in California is not new by any stretch of the imagination. In addition, it does not apply to LPNs/LVNs. It only is applicable RNs who work in acute care settings.

Nurses in California are remaining at their jobs longer due to several reasons:

1. Many middle-aged and older nurses lost substantial retirement savings during the financial meltdown of 2008. Although many of these nurses would have retired, they must continue working to replenish the monies that they lost during that year.

2. California has an unemployment rate that exceeds 12 percent. If a nurse's spouse remains unemployed, it is the nurse who must pick up the slack and work extra hours, accrue overtime, or pick up a second job to keep the family's finances afloat.

3. Many newer nurses who graduated within the past three years searched for work for 6 months, 1 year, or even longer before landing their first nursing job. Some California new grads are still jobless. The lucky new grads who found jobs are likely to hold onto what they have because it took so long to find employment, and because they realize that their local job market is brutal.

Another thread a while ago, said that the law said "licensed nurses" so which is it? and does it have any bearing on the legality of firing or demoting acute care LPN's especially in states without any ratio laws?

Of course there's a couple of other angles being worked to get rid of LPNs: The studies show..., and the RNs don't want to supervise you anymore!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Another thread a while ago, said that the law said "licensed nurses" so which is it? and does it have any bearing on the legality of firing or demoting acute care LPN's especially in states without any ratio laws?
The ratio law in California only applies to RNs who work in acute care hospitals. It does not apply to LVNs in any setting. It does not apply to RNs who work in non-hospital settings such as nursing homes, clinics, hospice, etc.
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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

It is licensed nurses.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/services/DPOPP/regs/Documents/R-37-01_Regulation_Text.pdf

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thanks for the link and clarification. :)

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

As a relatively new California nurse, I can tell you that I don't think I could be a nurse at all in any state that doesn't have ratio laws, at least not an acute care nurse. I never had more than 4 patients when I worked peds acute care, and that was more than enough for me -- I don't understand how nurses elsewhere can handle 6 to 8 or more! (my hat's off to them!) I can almost imagine managing 5, but definitely not more than that!

What others have said about the job market being brutal here is also true. It took me 5 months to find my first nursing job, and then almost a year of looking to switch into public health. I'm happy in my current job and hope to keep it until I'm 65, at which time I hope that I will be able to retire -- although the way my finances are going, I may still be working when I'm 90!!! (I sure hope that's an exaggeration!).

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Thank you for your comments. I ended up quitting my job. My last day however would not be in a month. 2 days ago i found myself taking care of 15 to which 1 had to be sent to the hospital, 5 critically diabetic, 4 people that needed attention for heart medication, admission, and one person who run out of O2. I felt like my licence is threatened.

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