How is the San Diego Job Market?

U.S.A. California

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Hi, I'm researching a possible career change into nursing (from landscape architecture) and have a few questions:

1. It looks like the job market isn't so great right now. Are nurses (with BSN's) having a hard time finding jobs in the San Diego, CA area right now?

2. I've heard that the job market for nurses fluctuates a lot. Is it likely to be better in 2-3 years when I graduate? If it's bad right now, how long has it been bad for?

3. If i have a hard time finding a job in San Diego when I graduate is it an option to keep working in my original career rather than move out of town for a job? I've heard it's the kiss of death, career wise, to not start working right away after graduating. We have two little kids and I don't feel like we have the flexibility to move at this time in our life.

4. Right now I'm looking at National and CSUSM BSN programs...night classes are appealing because of child-care, but are there any other good programs in the area? Thoughts on the Entry level Masters at Azusa or USD?

Thanks so much to all of your for your input!! SO glad I found this forum!!

lovetheocean...I don't know how it could possibly get worse than its been in the last few years? I would think that with 401Ks doing better and other jobs (non-nursing) opening up that it should get better? Of course, I graduate this May so I might be trying to convince myself!

Love your response and I agree that attitude is very important.

Hi Chelsea, wondering how many interviews you went on with that amount of applications? I'm graduating from CSUSM in 2 months. Have you found work yet? Good luck!

Specializes in Cardiac Unit, Tele, Med/Surg, Oncology,.

Im fr San Diego n i work at scripps. Im barely getting in their new grad program after 1 1/2 yr of gradustion, i wasnt lucky gettin in. Finally! I got in cause im an internal employee. Its very bad here right now. LA has more openings, i suggest think very good before applying here. I know a lot of classmates who still didnt have a job n we graduated Aug 2011.

Im fr San Diego n i work at scripps. Im barely getting in their new grad program after 1 1/2 yr of gradustion i wasnt lucky gettin in. Finally! I got in cause im an internal employee. Its very bad here right now. LA has more openings, i suggest think very good before applying here. I know a lot of classmates who still didnt have a job n we graduated Aug 2011.[/quote']

Oh wow! What unit did you get hired in, if I may ask?

Lovetheocean,

You spoke the truth. Everyone needs to realize that it is not just the economy that has nursing at a down turn. I read an article recently stating that the influx of private colleges and universities starting "express nursing degrees" have produced nursing graduates at record numbers. The graduates are at a higher rate than job opportunities. This is diluting the industry as we see that highly qualified nurses are not getting offered the same salaries if they choose to change employment and often take pay cuts just to be in a change of environment. We see this because new grads are accepting jobs at 17-18$. Can we blame them? No! We all need jobs and most of these new grads have these high 150k school loans (if you're from CA, you know what schools cost that now) that they need to start paying on. I don't mean to sound rude but would just like to call it how it is. I'm worried despite the fact that I have a good nursing job because I'd like to pursue advanced practice degrees but if dilution worsens, how can I afford the added school loans? FYI, been applying to other nursing positions since September with only 1 interview and no offer. This seems to be the norm from reading these blogs. So for those who think its just the economy, it's not. Supply is greater than demand and will continue this way because the "express schools" are not going to slow their production and lose all that profit.

Wow $150K? I go to school in San Diego and it's expensive but it's still only about $4K per semester, BSN program. The ADN programs are...something like $40 per unit. Also, the market WILL clear up some in the next decade. I know that's a long time to wait but the nurisng population IS aging. Many of them want to retire but lost a lot of their 401K when the economy crashed. It's still a very valid profession. I think the "for profit" schools will fall out of favor given the push for magnet status? Just a thought.

Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.

Just a note. Not all private schools are for profit. I attended one in San Diego. It was $50k and not an "express" school. It was a not for profit institution. Why did I do that? Because I have a degree in another field from that school from a long time ago and I liked their format. Plain and simple.

I think it will take a long, long time for the market to open up. And sadly, there are still waiting lists for schools.

I've applied to 180 positions since I got my license in July. Two interviews but no job.

Sorry EXPharmagirl. I do know that the Community Colleges in SD did away with their waiting lists and are using a point system for applicants now. This is just in the last few years. I think they are taking half from the waiting list and half based on the point system until the old waiting list is gone. I really do think the market will open up though! I've been told that the market is cyclical. I have some research subjects on the topic. ping me with your email if you would like to see them - it's from a research project from last year. Good luck and don't give up!

Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.

I'm not talking about just San Diego. It seems like there is still a mad rush to go to nursing school everywhere.

I agree that the market is cyclical and there are a lot of people that will retire. BUT. The hospitals are not willing to invest in new grads right now. We are expensive and some will move on to seek their dream jobs when they get their foot in the door.

Then there is San Diego...About 2000 people applied for the sharp residency last time around. 2000. 1600 for UCSD. Scripps looks at the first 500. These numbers are ASTRONOMICAL. It's going to take a long time for those ~1850 grads that didn't get jobs.

Oh my gosh seriously? 2000? For how many spots? Is that up on the website somewhere? I wonder why the mad rush for nursing? I went into it after being laid off from the legal field back in 2009, hoping to get a degree with a specific skillset. It was a new program at my school at the time (CSUSM).

Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.

I know a few people that work there. I'm not sure how many they hired but it was anywhere from 3-10 spots per department and they interviewed double that.

I got into nursing also in 2009 after being laid off in the pharma industry.

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