California shortage

I am currently a nursing student but something has drawn my attention. I notice that in all the nursing magazines they pass out for free at our school that there are tons of nursing positions in CA. I've also read on this board where CA is bringing in nurses from other countries due to the shortage. CA is going to continue to have a nursing shortage as long as the cost of living is so high. Even with the great wages you still would just be keeping your head above water. If some of these hospitals offered things like a housing stipend maybe they could get more nurses to look into moving out to the west coast. I sure hope it does get better for the hospitals in CA. I really feel for the nurses who are working in them already because they are probably being worked to death. Just my thoughts..................Goodnight

[Wuiteroz]

Hm.. there's a huge-huge nurse shortage EVERYWHERE!!

It's not an easy job, ha?

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Housing is so very expensive in California. For a one bedroom when I was traveling in Santa Barbara it was 1500 per month for rent. I think alot of people look at that cost when considering moving there.

renerian

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Come to Florida! Housing is cheap, no state income tax and the nursing shortage is acute. Florida has turned to Canada, Eurpope, the Phillipines and Jamaica for nurses.

[2banurse]

Well, 3rdShiftGuy, while housing is definitely cheaper than in Cali, it isn't that cheap. I'm finding that it costs about the same to buy a house on Long Island as it does in Bradenton and Sarasota, and yet the salaries are definitely lower. Now I am comparing this to Long Island, not NYC which has astronomical costs, and yet again, salary is compensated.

Kris

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I did not realize sarasota was that high. Very nice area.

renerian

[sanakruz, ADN]

We pay for the weather here. If one is lucky enough to buy real estate it's the good life to be sure.

But being a nurse is tough everywhere these days.....

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

Yes, we need more nurses. The population in this state is increasing rapidly. Santa Barbara is expensive, as are most of the coastal areas, but you will find that salaries are higher here. We live in the Central Valley, much cheaper housing and you don't have to spend hours commuting. It is still possible to buy houses, without spending a fortune.

To me the weather is good, except for three months in the summer when it's too hot. We do live within three hours or so from the coast, and an hour or two into the Sierra Nevada.

Check out the rest of California, don't make assumptions.

Mimi

[Vsummer1]

Mimi,

You said it for me. Not ALL of California consists of yuppie havens like Santa Barbara! I am in So. Cal., in LA on the border of Kern and the houses are affordable here. The hourly for a new grad is 20-25 (depending on who you talk to ?) and the staff/pt ratio is 4-6 in med surg.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Cali is worth any ammount of money to me......................big smile.

renerian

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by 2banurse

Well, 3rdShiftGuy, while housing is definitely cheaper than in Cali, it isn't that cheap. I'm finding that it costs about the same to buy a house on Long Island as it does in Bradenton and Sarasota, and yet the salaries are definitely lower. Now I am comparing this to Long Island, not NYC which has astronomical costs, and yet again, salary is compensated.

Kris

Dood, those are "monied" areas and crowded, so there is demand! If you want bargain basement prices go up way north to Pasco county around Hommossassa, I know some friends who got an huge house and an acre of land very cheap. Even here in St. Pete the prices are really outrageous in some areas, especially in the thriving downtown area where one bedroom condos are $180,000.

Agree though that comparatively speaking nurses salaries don't equal what they do other places, especially on the central coast of Florida.

[Cynthiann]

I'm wondering, how much does it cost to buy a house in So Cal that is still near the city? One that is around 1500-2000 sq ft.