Is the nursing shortage over in the Bay Area?

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Here I am in nursing school in San Francisco and all I hear from my teachers is how hard it is to get a job when you graduate. I would love to work at Lucille Packard when I graduate but the message is that unless you already work for them, chances to get into the internship program are very slim. Apparently there are hundreds of new grads applying for few internship spots. Can someone ease my fears a little here. I am working really hard to go through the school while having a family, maintaining a very high GPA. Am I going to graduate and not be able to find a job that I like?

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I've definately heard the same thing. I'm a pre-nursing student in Marin, and apparently the jobs are real hard to come by. My friend just finished her ADN at College of Marin, and did get a slot at Marin General. But she was one out of 200 applicants...I think they only offered two slots, night shift, for cardiac.

I've also read that because of the economic downturn, more RN's are coming back to work full-time, and also that nurses move to Calfornia from elsewhere b/c the pay is higher...all leaving less slots for new grads.

I'm curious what others know about this? I'm worried about it too.

Take care!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

One thing you may want to do is apply as a unit secretary to a unit you're interested in at the hospital you're interested in.

This is one way to get people to know you and if all else fails you can always use some as a referral when you graduate. Or if you can, work as a nurse assistant. Some hospitals will hire nursing students as nurse assistance without the CNA certification.

Good luck to you! :yeah::bow::yeah:

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I graduated from a SF nursing school in December and just found a job in April. My friends and I were totally unprepared for the competitive job market for new graduate nurses in the Bay area, thankfully it sounds like you have a heads up before you are out of school. A previous post mentioned trying to get a unit secretary position, that's great advice! Anything to get your foot in the door, do it. If you are doing clinical on a unit you like, introduce yourself to the manager (at an appropriate time, of course) and ask about any new grad programs.

I know that Stanford, John Muir, and UCSF have new grad training programs but the positions are limited. Check out their websites. Don't wait to apply at the last minute, I made sure to apply to Stanford and John Muir as soon as they posted their online applications and got callbacks from each place.

During my job search, the overall impression I got was that less places in the Bay area are hiring interim permitees. Once I got my license, I got more responses from potential employers. Good luck!

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Thank you guys, that's what I thought I might do, get my foot in the door. In a way I'm glad that they have adequate staffing because that means that when you do get hired, you can provide safe nursing.

By the way, I love this website, it's been my lifeline getting through the prereqs and applying to nursing school.

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There can be a shortage in some facilities, but the issue is that there are only limited positions for new grads, and that is where people are having problems getting a job. With two years of experience, you would not have any problems.

My suggestion, especially for peds units, would be to try to get a student externship there while you are in school. New grad positions will usually go first to them, more so than any other job in the facility.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
nurses move to Calfornia from elsewhere b/c the pay is higher...
Nurses move to certain parts of California because the pay is higher, which is saturating local job markets such as the Bay area. Nurses, however, are staying away from other regions of the state.

The hospitals in the cities and towns of the Central Valley are desperate for nurses, and tend to pay competitively for the lower cost of living in that area. The problems is that it is difficult to attract and retain nurses in cities such as Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton, Delano, Visalia, Hanford, Corcoran, and Porterville due to the undesirable weather, isolation, and other issues.

New-grad nurses who are willing to bite the bullet and move to another part of the state will have multiple job offers from which to pick and choose. I realize, however, that packing up and starting a life in a new city is a challenge that some are not willing to take. Uprooting is not easy.

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When I could no longer make a living in the Bay area, I moved elsewhere and found employment. Lower pay, but pay nonetheless. I am unhappy because I miss the Bay area and want to go back, but I realize I cannot live there without a job.

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New-grad nurses who are willing to bite the bullet and move to another part of the state will have multiple job offers from which to pick and choose. I realize, however, that packing up and starting a life in a new city is a challenge that some are not willing to take. Uprooting is not easy.

It isn't just being "willing" or not wanting to take on the challenge of moving... many new nurses (and not so new) are not ABLE to move to another part of the state.

I'm glad to hear that the instructors are preparing the students for this problem.

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A few weeks on TV, there was a segment on the "nurse shortage" they did say because schools have been putting out a lot of students (2 year programs, and accelerated programs were mentioned), there are a lot of new grads applying for the few positions that may have been available. Many are forced to go without jobs for a while, because there are really no jobs.

I feel for those who are moving from other states without job offers. It doesn't seem like a good time to migrate. Maybe in a few years, when the nursing madness ends. I have come across scientists leaving their jobs, to get into accelerated programs to get into Nursing pronto! If I was still in my early 20's I would go into medicine. If you are as good as many nurses are and have time and $$$ on your side, then why not go for the Docs jobs?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If you are as good as many nurses are and have time and $$$ on your side, then why not go for the Docs jobs?
The nursing model is separate from the medical model.

I assume that most nurses would be absolutely turned off to the idea of having 24-hour responsibility for our patients. While the doctor is paid substantially more money, the job of a physician is not all it is cracked up to be. I know of many docs who have regretted their career choices.

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Originally Posted by engima2174 viewpost.gif

If you are as good as many nurses are and have time and $$$ on your side, then why not go for the Docs jobs?

Not to mention here in the Bay Area many staff RN's make quite a bit more money than docs in the lesser paid specialties(peds,FP).

And I'm not even really talking about just 'cause of OT either. My brother is the CEO/CFO of an IPA in the North Bay and so he's in charge of recruiting/interviewing the practice physicians and also handles their financial compensation package issues. Let's just say I was shocked at what newer MD grads were willing to relocate here for.

Of course this is anecdotal and means nothing in the long run......was just interesting and beside the obvious answer that most nurses don't wanna be docs in the first place, that may be another reason whay a career changer wouldn't, at least locally anyway....

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