Does California really need RN's

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.:)

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?

The ratio is the floor. Hospitals must staff up by acuity.

Here's a quote, "In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), the hospital shall implement a patient classification system as defined in Section 70053.2 above for determining nursing care needs of individual patients that reflects the assessment, made by a registered nurse as specified at subsection 70215(a)(1), of patient requirements and provides for shift-by-shift staffing based on those requirements. The ratios specified in subsection (a) shall constitute the minimum number of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and in the case of psychiatric units, licensed psychiatric technicians, who shall be assigned to direct patient care. Additional staff in excess of these prescribed ratios, including non-licensed staff, shall be assigned in accordance with the hospital's documented patient classification system for determining nursing care requirements, considering factors that include the severity of the illness, the need for specialized equipment and technology, the complexity of clinical judgment needed to design, implement, and evaluate the patient care plan, the ability for self-care, and the licensure of the personnel required for care. The system developed by the hospital shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:...

,,,(q) The hospital shall plan for routine fluctuations in patient census. If a healthcare emergency causes a change in the number of patients on a unit, the hospital must demonstrate that prompt efforts were made to maintain required staffing levels. A healthcare emergency is defined for this purpose as an unpredictable or unavoidable occurrence at unscheduled or unpredictable intervals relating to healthcare delivery requiring immediate medical interventions and care."

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/pubnotice/NTPR/R-37-01_Regulation_Text.pdf

I think working registry is a great way to find out the true conditions. Some hospitals have great units as well as poor ones.

Some units have friendly, helpful nurses who insist on high standards and safe staffing.

Another unit in the same facility may have grouchy staff, low standards, and wimpy nurses who accept minimum ratios without meal break coverage. The best nurses usually transfer to the better unit so registry gets sent to the latter.