Does California really need RN's

suzanne4, RN · Nov 17, 2005

You are looking at the wrong time of the year for a job, very few are going to be hiring again until after the holidays. If the hospital hired you now, then they will have to pay you for the legal holidays, even when you would still be in orientation.

There are 12 hour shifts available, but remember that a hospital needs to pay the overtime for the last twelve.

And are you a new grad, or do you have experience?

serinamour · Nov 17, 2005

No I am a seasoned RN and specialized in Cardiology. I have never heard of hospitals not hiring around the holidays?? I was a manager and always needed help especially holiday season. Census was always high, due to flu season...nurses sick...etc..... But maybe California is different??? I have done travel nursing also and never heard of it. I am learning a lot and thank you for the info and if you have more info....send it my way. I have applied at San Fran General hospital???? Any info there would be appreciated....thanks again for your help. Candis

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2005

Though I might be incorrect, I always thought that California was the only state that paid daily overtime to nurses for the last four hours of every twelve hour shift. When you combine this daily overtime with the mandated holiday pay for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, it can be quite pricey to hire nurses in this state and at this time of year. As Suzanne had indicated, I think your job-hunting fortunes will improve once these holidays are out of the way in early January.

To answer your original query, California badly needs RNs.

shodobe · Nov 18, 2005

Where I work you have to sign a document stating that you know OT wil NOT be paid until AFTER your 12 hours. In California, unlike a number of states, OT is either paid after 8, 10 or 12 hours each day or after you have accumulated more than your weekly total hours, 36 or 40. I myself am scheduled for 10 hour shifts. I get OT after 10 hours and double OT after 12. So to answer the question, it depends where you work and what papers you sign, this is very legal. Also, California does need nurses everywhere.

serinamour · Nov 18, 2005

Wow.....thanks to you all for the info given...I will continue my quest for a job in California....pending the right season.....who would of thunk it? Thanks

suzanne4, RN · Nov 20, 2005

As a manager, you needed help around the holidays, but if you remember, most nurses get about six weeks orientation, and do not included in your numbers, so you are paying them for the holidys when they do not count.

If you started in two weeks, you would still be in orientation.

Many do not like to have the funds come from their budget then.

Your best bet is the beginning of January. This isn't just for CA, but for almost every place in the entire country.

serinamour · Nov 20, 2005

As a Manager, if I had a qualified RN applying for a position on my unit. I would hire them, no matter what the budget was. Good RNs are hard to find and I would hire them regardless of the time of year.Keep in mind we did 12 hr shifts and self scheduling, it was not necessary for orientees to work the holidays. I, as a Manager, would schedule them off. But every state and hospital are different. But thanks for your insight....point well taken. and thank you.

Haunted · Nov 21, 2005

This time of year is especially hard to be a nurse, which is why I chose registry. Overall, my experience with the California so called "nursing shortage" is more like a shortage of desirable jobs. We have seen many hospital groups merge, shut down and been turned inside out by JHACO, DHS and CHA investigations and the headlines all scream that "NURSES ARE AT FAULT!!!". I would say that every State needs RN's, but California seems to be under the spotlight, since we are the only State that has mandated ratio's in effect.

They are not always enforced, in fact the hospital needs to simply notify the governing agency that they were unable to fulfill staffing needs, which in my opinion should be based on ACUITY rather than just counting noses! My other gripe about these ratios is that many hospitals incorporate LVN's into the 5:1 module, meaning that the RN is now responsible for 10 as far as assessment, IVP and piggies, not to mention that a lot of hospitals I travel to require an RN to take MD orders.

I am very specific in my job requirements, I prefer 8 or 10 hour shifts and there are a few hospitals I would NEVER go to at this time, so I get cancelled a lot. I would say we are pretty full up with RN's and lacking desperately in good working environments. Anyone have an opinion about all of this?

serinamour · Nov 21, 2005

Thanks Haunted for your info....can you tell me in your opinion what hospitals that are good and bad....and why? This is info I need to have....and thanks again for all info.:)

suzanne4, RN · Nov 21, 2005

As a Manager, if I had a qualified RN applying for a position on my unit. I would hire them, no matter what the budget was. Good RNs are hard to find and I would hire them regardless of the time of year.Keep in mind we did 12 hr shifts and self scheduling, it was not necessary for orientees to work the holidays. I, as a Manager, would schedule them off. But every state and hospital are different. But thanks for your insight....point well taken. and thank you.

You can still schedule them off, but legally they are still supposed to get the 8 hour legal holiday pay. With budgets the way that they are now, most will refuse to do that.

Your best job selection will happen after the holidays.

prmenrs, RN · Nov 21, 2005

My suggestion would be to sign up w/a registry, you'll have a chance to try 2-3 [more?] hospitals in the next few weeks; when you apply in January, you'll have a better idea of where you do/don't really want to work.

just a thought.