Job woes in the SF Bay Area... why is it like this?

U.S.A. California

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After finishing nursing school, it took me several months to finally get a job (I live in San Francisco and the market is tough here for new grads). Other RNs advised me to start anywhere, such as a clinic. I finally did get a position in a women's outpatient clinic (yay, income!), but I've always felt somewhat envious of my friends who started on the floor, because most RN attitudes that I encounter are that of "you have to start on the floor to be considered a 'real nurse'". I do a lot at the clinic, but other RNs seem to think that working in a clinic is not "real nursing." Even a couple co-workers who started on the floor have made comments.

Now we are facing layoffs due to budget problems, and I'm likely to get the axe in the next couple months because I'm per diem (though I work 5 days a week). I've been looking for another job but the problem is that even though I've been at the clinic for over a year, all the available RN jobs require the famous "minimum one year acute care experience," which I don't have. I had an interview at a hospital a few months ago (maternity unit), and was hopeful because they had six openings, and the Nurse mgr said my chances were good because they had so many openings. But I didn't get the job, and when I called to ask why or what suggestions they had for me to improve in future interviews, they told me they preferred to hire new grads.

So I don't qualify for new grad training programs because I'm not a new grad, but I don't have floor experience either. Is it only like this in the San Francisco Bay Area??? When I tell people I'm a nurse they often say "Oh good, you'll always have a job." And on a recent news report about the economy they reported that healthcare is one of the very few industries to not be affected by the national economic crisis, but I'm not feeling safe at all. And I have about $40,000 in student loans to pay off. I don't know what to do. Anyone else been in this situation?

I've looked into relocating, but I'm living rent-free here and salaries seem much lower in other areas, so I don't know if it'd be a good financial move.

Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

My wife has a friend who lives in SF. She went there as a traveler and the hospital she works at wised up. They started treating staff better, hence they stayed and more people wanted to be there, and they didnt need travelers as much. She became staff and has been there since. But now she is looking to get out. I dont think its simply an itch for something different either.

Apparently the moral has gone down the tubes. Everyone so worried about being let go for trite reasons.

She wanted to go back to travel nursing, but was told there wasnt much out there that fit her wish list. So, she is still in SF, not liking it.

I dont know why it got that way. I think a lot of places are getting that way.

Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.

If you're there rent free...I'd stick it out...you've won half the battle...no high rent to pay.

Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I dont think OP is a traveler.

Eh, we wanted to go to CA as travelers but............well, Kaieser is just not worth working for. I dont care how beautifull the sunsets are. They are not worth it.

No, I'm not a traveler... they require floor experience too.

Eriksoln, what didn't you like about Kaiser? Seems like a lot of RNs here want to work for them because of their benefits.

I'm not picky, I just really want floor experience... even just one year so I can be more marketable. It's discouraging hearing potential employers flatly say "Oh" when I tell them I work at a clinic and then never hear from them again.

So I don't qualify for new grad training programs because I'm not a new grad, but I don't have floor experience either. Is it only like this in the San Francisco Bay Area??? When I tell people I'm a nurse they often say "Oh good, you'll always have a job." And on a recent news report about the economy they reported that healthcare is one of the very few industries to not be affected by the national economic crisis, but I'm not feeling safe at all. And I have about $40,000 in student loans to pay off. I don't know what to do. Anyone else been in this situation?

In the U.S., healthcare is a privilege for people who can afford it, much like big-screen TV's and fancy cars. That means healthcare is subject to the same forces as those affecting all other industries. Health care is more important than other things so it will get hit last, but it will get hit and this is happening now. People who loose their jobs also loose their insurance. A one-day stay in a hospital will cost $10,000 or more without insurance. Who can afford that?

Anyone who has a job right now is lucky, and anyone who has a job a few months from now is really lucky. The economic collapse is going to get worse before it gets worse. If the government takes extreme action to correct the problem, we MIGHT see a recovery by next year. That's if the government takes extreme action, and I don't see any action being taken, much less extreme action.

This is a depression. This is an economic collapse that the world hasn't seen in a long long time. None of the rules apply. Good luck

Yes js408, I feel like we're in a depression too. I work at a public (county) hospital though, so I would think we'd see MORE patients as those who can't afford insurance due to job losses will be turning to our hospital. County officials are still planning to cut outpatient RNs though (replacing us with medical assistants) and they've already gotten rid of most of the LVNs (inpatient and outpatient). I don't understand it but no one seems to care what nurses' concerns are.

Getting back to my original post/question though, I started experiencing my particular job problem way before the current economic crisis came about.

Specializes in ICU, Education.

I never thought I'd again see the day when nurses couldn't get work (new grad or otherwise). Wow, this economy is scary!

Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

op: what you are doing is real nursing. it just is not as skilled as what acute care new grads are doing.... to answer your question i think what is going on in sf is that there are too many nursing programs and not enough new grad hospital positions.

i do not understand why you are not considered to be a new grad. you have 1 year of work experience. my understanding is that new grad status lasts for at least 2 years. plus, you have no acute care experience so you should qualify for a new grad program. if i were in your position i would sell myself as an inexperienced new grad rather then play up the 1 year of clinic experience. also, if acute care does not work out for you, then i would look at positions in ltc. you will have more direct patient care in ltc then the clinic settings and this may be something you can use to enter acute care later on, if you wish? gl!:twocents:

I too agree with MBA and play up that you are still a new grad. It might help you get your foot in the door. But you might have to consider moving for a year or two just to get some experience to a place that really needs nurses.

Nope! We are not in a depression yet. During the last depression the unemployment rate was 25%. Heck, we are not even at 10% unemployment yet!!!!

But it is time to send all the nurses working here on VISA's back to their country to ensure our citizens keep working!

I too agree with MBA and play up that you are still a new grad. It might help you get your foot in the door. But you might have to consider moving for a year or two just to get some experience to a place that really needs nurses.

Nope! We are not in a depression yet. During the last depression the unemployment rate was 25%. Heck, we are not even at 10% unemployment yet!!!!

Um, the unemployment rate in the U.S. as of January 2009 is 15.4%. Check it for yourself-

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm

The figure you want is in row U-6

Um, the unemployment rate in the U.S. as of January 2009 is 15.4%. Check it for yourself-

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm

The figure you want is in row U-6

This 13.9% figure includes

"Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past."

Per bls, unemployment rate for Jan. 2009 is 7.6% in Jan 2009 as listed under the latest numbers on their home page.

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