ATTN: bay area RN new grads.. Were you able to land a new grad job?

[pogiboy67]

I recently just passed my boards and am finding it is VERY hard to land a job as a new grad at a hospital. I know you dont necessarily have to enter a new grad program but a lot of hospitals i have tried applying at say you must be in a new grad. Are you all getting the same treatment? Kind of ironic.

[Rianna1]

Wow, it seems like the best time to network is while in NS. Does it help if you know physicians and nurses in hospitals?

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Wow that's terrible that so many people are having trouble in the Bay Area. Seems like we don't have a problem in Central or Southern California. None of my nursing buddies had problems getting a job as a new grad in the Fresno area, and I got hired 2 days after my first interview in Ventura county. For those that are willing, come move down south!!

[jt716]

i applied online to numerous positions at kaiser through their website but have not heard anything. did you apply online? should i attend one of their information sessions?

[aliciajeakin]

Wow, didn't realize this was such a huge problem. I went to nursing school in Idaho and was expecting to have little problem finding a job in the Bay due to the 'nurse shortage.' I've applied and applied to no avail as of yet. The Bay is home for me and I'm dissapointed that I'm having such a problem when most of the people I went to school with were hired before they graduated. I guess it's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling to get hired.... gotta keep trying though! Good luck everyone!:icon_roll

[gitanagirl]

Hey guys I feel for you! I graduated around a year and a half ago and also wanted to move to the bay area to work. I fortunately got a job offer before I graduated, but the competition was fierce. I remember I heard there were over 100 applicants for a 4 spots. On my unit there are some new grads starting soon, but the competition was even tougher this year! I had a backup plan to apply to a couple of hospitals in central California (where I knew I could get a job with much more ease) and then transfer with a year experience. I know it's not the best alternative, but if you have to start making money right away (like I did), then it's an option to consider. I wish you all the best of luck!!!

[JanessaG, BSN]

I am a new grad who will be starting a new grad program at a bay area hospital. They had very few positions available and I know they hired only people who had precepted there or were already working there in some other capacity. This is a tough area to get in to because it's so desirable. There are many more positions available with 1-2 years of experience. If you really want to be in this area, I think you have to get that experience and then transfer. There are always exceptions, but I think that experience can make all the difference in the world.

[fil149]

whats the pay in Ventura? What unit are you working in and how is your preceptorship going?

[jt716]

just wondering if you were able to find a job yet? read your post and in the same position as you are. i live in the san jose area and cannot find a job anywhere. im also thinking about taking a job at a snf because i am in sooo much debt.

[dancingdoula]

just wondering if you were able to find a job yet? read your post and in the same position as you are. i live in the san jose area and cannot find a job anywhere. im also thinking about taking a job at a snf because i am in sooo much debt.

I'm not sure if you're asking me or not but, no job yet. I whined to my mentor and she sicked the director of our nursing program on the local CHW. Their new grad program is full but they said they might consider bringing me in outside of the normal time because of my L&D and NICU experience (I've been a Doula for 7 years and did my preceptorship in a level III NICU). I just finally decided to relax about the finding a job thing and focus on the NCLEX since I test in a little over 2 weeks from now. There will be plenty of time to stress about a job then and my husband has assured me we won't be evicted for at least another month:eek: I have been discouraged from starting in LTC because new grads tend to get stuck there since you don't get acute care experience. I suppose if it comes down to it I could start in a SNF and just work until I can get into a new grad program this summer. It seems really unprofessional, I know, but I gotta keep a roof over my toddler's head!

I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, pass the NCLEX, and then hopefully I'll get lucky!

[missvanrn]

I've been looking for several months and still haven't found anything (Sacramento area). Very few new grad jobs posted and they all seem to go to externs, as Suzanne has said. I was avoiding the SNFs for the same reason as the above poster, but I'm going to apply to them now and pray that they'll even take me. If I work at one for a year or so, hopefully I'll then be able to move to an area that needs nurses more.

[jt716]

My mom and my aunt DO NOT like the idea of me working at a snf for the exact same reason you said. They dont want me to end up getting stuck there but i am desperate. It looks as though all of the new grad programs are already full or have started so my plan is to try and get a job at a snf and hopefully get into a new grad program by the summer. I already passed the NCLEX so hopefully I will have an edge over those who are graduating in may. As soon as you get your license and with your experience, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a job. Good luck with the nclex and job search!

[tas79]

wow i am getting extremely nervous about finding a job now. I am currently studying in sacramento, but i am really anxious to move back to the bay area, where i am originally from and where family, friends and my boyfriend all currently live. I graduate in August of this year and I want to start looking at places to apply as early as April. Does anyone have any specific suggestions as to how I could deal with the apparent new grad job shortage? I can only live off loans for so long!