Hi! & Inquiries

[Adamz]

Hello! I hope you're all in good health. I'm an international student hopeful, and would like to make some inquiries about obtaining a BSN from UCLA. I'm from Cairo, Egypt. I have completed high school as well as a four-year university degree (BA) in English Language and Literature back in 2004, and obviously looking for a career change. I've always been interested in the medical profession.

I emailed UCLA, and they referred me to the MECN program. But when I inquired (again) about earning a BSN, their answer was simply:

"You cannot apply to the BSN Program if you already have a bachelor degree."

How come? Is that a law in California or all over the US? And if so, will a CRNA track be an option if I opt for the MECN?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

PS Sorry if this isn't the right place for this thread. It's the nearest I found.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Please review the large number of threads from new grads that are unable to get jobs, often 6 months to two years post graduation, or longer.

When the economy took a hit, many nurses that were part time had to work full time, as their spouses lost work and jobs. Add in that many near retirement age, literally overnight lost much or all of their retirement funds in the crash and cannot retire. Add in the changes in insurance that may cut reimbursement and cuts in Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, so facilities are not hiring due to decreased funds.

And California has a ratio law, desirable pay rates and weather, making it a very desirable place to work for nurses. As such, there is an abundance of nurses to hire.

[loriangel14, RN]

What kind of visa do you think you could get? if you are looking at a Green card it is several years wait.Plus you have to find an employer willing to wait those years.

[steppybay]

Thanks for the info. Why are unemployment rates high (or higher than usual) for RNs in California? The economy isn't exactly great but statistics show growth if anything in the medical field in general.

Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook

Occupational Employment Statistics, Registered Nurses

Go to the CA BRN website, they post hiring surveys of their own new grads, you'll see that many (over 50%) will be still unemployed after 18 months of their graduation date. The survey does not go into any details of how many actually becomes employed after that 1 1/2 years of unemployment. At that point, their chances to apply for new grad job drops into the "not interested as they are now passed the 1 year of graduation date and no longer considered a new grad" pile.

Read the CA nursing forum tab and you'll find of the 100's to 1,000's applying for the limited open spots, with the average of 1% job applicant numbers. However, those job openings means say (example) out of the 15 spots available: 3 may be for L&D, 2 for Peds, 1 for NICU, 2 for ICU, 3 for Ortho, 2 for Psych and 2 for ER. It's not 15 openings per job unit./dept.

You will read many have to go out of CA for their first nursing job and you will read many can't find a job at all and then, there's no further postings from many so we can only assume they are most likely still unemployed and probably working in some other job not nursing related but need to pay the bills and possibly their student loans.

There are even those that are already within the hospital's own location, some may have done their clinicals, some even do volunteer work or work inside in another capacity but not as an RN (cashier, office work) and they are still rejected from being hired as a full time nurse. Nothing is guaranteed for the internal applicants.

Yes, as mentioned earlier, one can't believe the government numbers as they are very inflated and made to look good for the political parties.