Filipino RNs in the Bay Area, California

Rep · Feb 21, 2007

Hi,
I was wondering how hard/easy it is for a new filipino RN to find a nursing job in the Bay area, specifically the Santa Clara County (Moutain View, Palo Alto, SunnyVale, etc area). This is where all my relatives live.
Do the hospitals here only accept the top notchers or something like that? Or is the bay area just like any other state in the US that has a shortage?
Are there specific places in California where it is generally "harder" to get a nursing job?
Thanks!

This is the area that if you do not have any US hospital experience will make it difficult for you to find a job if you want to work in a hospital setting. If you want to work in a sub acute or LTC setting then it is easy for you to find a job here.

But if you are willing to go an hour or more drive from here, you can easily find a hospital job.

In other words, there is no shortage in these areas. They only go for US experienced nurses.

Sometimes luck plays in . As my sister was able to get a job in a medical surgical floor at Stanford.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 22, 2007

It has nothing to do with being from the Philippines, but that you need to be petitioned for a green card. There are more than enough that apply to work in that area, which is the highest paying in the US. The facilities get more than enough applicants and they do not have to wait for them.

With significant specialty area experience, then you may find it easier, but with anything else? Very slim to none for hospitals.

And with the retrogression in place right now, no one is doing anything anyplace as far as hospitals.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 22, 2007

If the nurse has a green card in hand, then there is usually not any issue.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 22, 2007

And that is not specific to nurses from the Philippines, but from any country.

caliotter3 · Feb 22, 2007

Like the other posters have said, the Bay area is a difficult place to find a position for all nurses, not just Filipino nurses. There are rarely any openings, and these are usually for the most desirable nurses in terms of qualifications. Most people, foreign-born and native alike, can not afford to live in the Bay area or to stay in the area long enough to scratch out a living. I once saw, in an employee newsletter, a bio on a Filipino RN with a background in Critical Care who was working as a home caregiver (the job was listed at about $7.50/hr) while she was attending the local university to upgrade her education. How she was managing, I surely don't know. But as an RN with her qualifications, she was really selling herself short just to be able to say she had a job in patient care. Good luck if you plan to come to the Bay area.

rookieq · Feb 22, 2007

This is the area that if you do not have any US hospital experience will make it difficult for you to find a job if you want to work in a hospital setting. If you want to work in a sub acute or LTC setting then it is easy for you to find a job here.
But if you are willing to go an hour or more drive from here, you can easily find a hospital job.
In other words, there is no shortage in these areas. They only go for US experienced nurses.
Sometimes luck plays in . As my sister was able to get a job in a medical surgical floor at Stanford.

Thanks Rep,

I had a feeling that would be the case, i am quite familiar with the area, when you say 1.5 hours away, which areas are you referring to? i see you are from the valley. I was in Mt View just 2 weeks ago. I visited the El Camino hospital (my relative gave birth) it was a nice hospital.

Thats good for your sister, did she have US experience? or was she a greencard holder already?

cheers

rookieq · Feb 22, 2007

It has nothing to do with being from the Philippines, but that you need to be petitioned for a green card. There are more than enough that apply to work in that area, which is the highest paying in the US. The facilities get more than enough applicants and they do not have to wait for them.
With significant specialty area experience, then you may find it easier, but with anything else? Very slim to none for hospitals.
And with the retrogression in place right now, no one is doing anything anyplace as far as hospitals.

Thanks Suzanne,

didnt know that lots of US nurses want to work there considering the high cost of real estate. but then again, RNs make a lot. How many months of US experience do they usually look for? (or years?)

rookieq · Feb 22, 2007

Rep,

would you know the hourly salary for the Sub Acute or LTC setting workplaces (bay area)?

Thanks!

rookieq · Feb 22, 2007

Like the other posters have said, the Bay area is a difficult place to find a position for all nurses, not just Filipino nurses. There are rarely any openings, and these are usually for the most desirable nurses in terms of qualifications. Most people, foreign-born and native alike, can not afford to live in the Bay area or to stay in the area long enough to scratch out a living. I once saw, in an employee newsletter, a bio on a Filipino RN with a background in Critical Care who was working as a home caregiver (the job was listed at about $7.50/hr) while she was attending the local university to upgrade her education. How she was managing, I surely don't know. But as an RN with her qualifications, she was really selling herself short just to be able to say she had a job in patient care. Good luck if you plan to come to the Bay area.

Dear Caliotter3,

Thank you for the heads up. Didnt know it was that difficult, I guess filipinos and foreign nurses alike prefer the bay area since many relatives are settled there. hence, lots of applicants.....

but yes, the cost of living is high, Rent for an old 2 bedroom apartment goes for $1300/month. a decent house goes for $800-950k. you can probably get a shack for $550k. :lol2:

i would have thought that because of the high cost of housing, it would be less attractive.

thats a bummer, i was hoping that demand would be the same as everywhere else.....

thanks

Rep · Feb 22, 2007

Thanks Rep,
I had a feeling that would be the case, i am quite familiar with the area, when you say 1.5 hours away, which areas are you referring to? i see you are from the valley. I was in Mt View just 2 weeks ago. I visited the El Camino hospital (my relative gave birth) it was a nice hospital.
Thats good for your sister, did she have US experience? or was she a greencard holder already?
cheers

She only have sub acute experience and is a green card holder. She went to a job fair at Stanford and was told they do not accept foreign graduates with only sub acute US expereince. They only accept new graduates fron US schools and foreign nurses with US acute experience. But she applied anyway via online and was called for an interview. Found out later that not alot were applying for medical surgical areas so she was lucky.

I have been to jobs fairs held by Kaiser Permanente, went to El Camino Hospital, ValleyMed, O' Connor, etc but no luck. Same explanation given. Foreign nurses with no US acute experience are not qualified and their new graduate program are only for US graduates and not for foreign nurses who want to enter that program. But when I went to ValleyCare at Pleasanton, they told me I can join their new graduate training program this coming June. And that place is a 1 hour drive away form Mountain View where I lived.

For LTC and sub acute, starting salary is between $30 to $35/hour.

BTW, El Camino Hospital is just a 15 minutes walk from where I stay.

Been there, done that..... Talking about "equal opportunity employment."

rookieq · Feb 23, 2007

She only have sub acute experience and is a green card holder. She went to a job fair at Stanford and was told they do not accept foreign graduates with only sub acute US expereince. They only accept new graduates fron US schools and foreign nurses with US acute experience. But she applied anyway via online and was called for an interview. Found out later that not alot were applying for medical surgical areas so she was lucky.
I have been to jobs fairs held by Kaiser Permanente, went to El Camino Hospital, ValleyMed, O' Connor, etc but no luck. Same explanation given. Foreign nurses with no US acute experience are not qualified and their new graduate program are only for US graduates and not for foreign nurses who want to enter that program. But when I went to ValleyCare at Pleasanton, they told me I can join their new graduate training program this coming June. And that place is a 1 hour drive away form Mountain View where I lived.
For LTC and sub acute, starting salary is between $30 to $35/hour.
BTW, El Camino Hospital is just a 15 minutes walk from where I stay.
Been there, done that..... Talking about "equal opportunity employment."

Thanks for sharing that. This info is very important to me (didnt think i would be lucky enough to get info from someone from M View, it gives me a good understanding of the situation at the bay area, i regularly visit Mountain View and stay at the houses behind the Safeway along Shoreline.

Pleasanton looks like a nice place, i would pass there when visiting walnut Creek via 680.

In your estimate, how many years would you need to work in Valley Care before the likes of El Camino etc can hire you?

Thanks!