Is there a nursing shortage in Cali ?

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I have been reading alot of treads and it seems like there are alot of new RN grads and not enough jobs, can this be true ? Well this is my situation, Im a 30 yr old single mom of 3 and live in Fresno, Ca. I would love to be a nurse, but I have to be sure I will have a good paying job to care for my family, not to mention all the time it will take to go to school, it will need to be worth it. I have some GE classes done and some preq's but none of the science's. Anyone here going to school or working in Fresno, how long did it take to get into a program (city or state) and how long did it take to find a job and what was your starting pay ? Please Help and Thank You all who respond.

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If Fresno is like the rest of the state, no, there is not a shortage. There are plenty of applicants for the good jobs and few good jobs go lacking someone to take them. Most of the jobs that are not filled are that way because there is something wrong about that particular place of employment. That is not to say that you couldn't support yourself and your family should you go into nursing. You may just have to be more flexible than you might have been intending. Good luck with your future in nursing.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

There's a definite nursing shortage in Southern California. Other parts of the state, however, are beginning to feel the glut of an oversupply of nurses.

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Southern Cali employers are not actively attempting to alleviate any "shortage" with their low wage scales. I've noticed more available potential places to work, but not necessarily more jobs, coming from the Bay area. At the local branch office, one of my previous employers quoted me a rate of pay $6 an hour less than what my best previous employer was paying me and more than $2 an hour less than what they themselves were paying me in the past. And still, they didn't have any work to offer me. The employer that has been providing me with work, has me working more than 40 hours a week, but doesn't think they need to pay overtime. I just don't think I care to be without a job, otherwise, I just might turn them in to the Labor Board. Their rate of pay is nothing to shout from the rooftops about either. I went to another agency. They didn't bother to even call my references and never called me to say one way or the other whether they were going to give me a job. I got the message. I don't know how an employer can advertise for employees, have open shifts listed on a bulletin board in the office, and not even go through the motions of getting employees to take care of their patients. You should have heard what I overheard them saying when someone called, asking about work. I could just see the HR people at the headquarters of that employer laughing if I wrote them a letter and described what happened to me when I bothered to apply there. The only shortage in southern Cali is a shortage of fools who want to work for low wages, if they can get someone to bother to do the background check on them when they apply. Just talking about my experiences. Maybe others find working conditions in southern Cali to be hunky dory. Somebody has to be satisfied in La La Land.

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At this point, it doesn't seem worth it. Im actually from the bay area and would like to move back. It would take anywhere from 5 to 7 yrs to finish school, with that time i could get a BS for sure or even a MS, in something else. Rethinking Nursing !

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The Bay Area is one of the toughest to get job in as a new grad due to the number of nursing schools as well as since it is high paying, many from other areas wish to live and work in this area.

Fresno actually has some excellent facilities and they hire new grads, such as Children's Hospital and St. Agnes just to name a few.

Also be aware that if you are working at a couple of the facilities in that area, they do have an RN program set up that you may be able to get into, quicker than applying on your own, but last I heard was that you had to be an employee for at least one year to qualify.

Check with the hospitals there directly for more information on this program.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

gvincali if your dream is to be a nurse then go for it. Finish your science pre-reqs and get on a wait list and while your waiting get some other type of training to get work in a hospital such as Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist or Unit Secretary.

Suzanne4 gave really great advice in her post. ;)

If your being called to nursing give it a try. :) Good luck whatever you decide. I hope you continue to post here and keep us all updated.

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Thanks Suzanne4, Ive thought about this alot and I really do want to be a nurse. So I looked at St.Agnes, C.H, and Community and they all have new grad programs, hopefully this will be the same when I finally finish school in a few years. Im very confident right now that it will all work out.:yeah:

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And as mentioned above, please keep us posted.

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