Meg Whitman addresses the CA nursing shortage

allnurses Guide · Jul 13, 2010

I just graduated from nursing school and I'm not even taking NCLEX because I already changed careers again! The world changes too fast for words, doesn't it?

mmm333-- if I could give you one piece of advice from an oldster-- take the NCLEX!! Yes it's a P in the A to review but you just have no idea how that license can help you someday! I got my license and paid inactive fees for years not knowing if I would ever return to nursing but when I needed a job I did not have to go work at a minimum wage job to support my two kids. The effort put forth can be well worth it in the end.

orange juice · Jul 14, 2010

there are nursing shortages in some areas of CA. it's just that many people are unwilling to move to those areas. for example, if you look at the CHW website for career openings, there are many openings in merced and bakersfield. but, many people don't want to move to those areas. many want to stay in the comfort of the bay area or the LA area. and, of course, in the much urban areas, there is no shortage.

I have applied to places like central CA and smaller cities. There are no jobs there either. I have called many HR depts of hospitals/centers they all say no new grad openings or cancelled programs. Even for experienced nurses looking at listings you think 2-3 openings for a 300 plus bed hospital is a shortage??? Also many of these places may leave the listings open even thou they are not hiring. The week my license was posted online I started endorsing to other states and its the same story in other states. Many states now prefer their local state grads. I wish CA did.

allnurses Guide · Jul 14, 2010

Even if there were pockets of shortages here and there, Meg's website clearly didn't intend to convey it. The simple truth is that she and/or her campaign apparatus have no clue what's going on, and would have been better off without the truthfornurses website-- that just makes it glaringly obvious.

Testa Rosa, RN · Jul 17, 2010

I'm a New Grad RN from Northern California who has looked in Modesto--while many locations may look like they have jobs posted they also indicate "NO NEW GRADS NEED APPLY." Several of my friends have interviewed in Bakersfield and have told me the competition is very stiff there as well.

Aquarius30 · Jul 18, 2010

"also the boomers will be retiring soon. i think there will be another "shortage"

you know i have to agree with this statement. the economy is going to pick back up at some point and when nurses begin to retire the hospitals will be left with very few experienced rn's. the hospitals will be scurrying to hire old new grads that may have their license, but have not been able to keep up on their skills. hospitals are losing money right and left these days because of the huge unemployment population. everyone gets their health benefits from their employer. 12% of the population is unemployed with no benefits, but they still get sick and have health issues. it’s true, we have new grads sitting on a shelf waiting for a job because of the california nurse education initiative. arnold addressed the "shortage" and schools started cranking out new grads, but no one expected the market to tank the way that it did. hospitals are reluctant to hire new grads because we cost more to orient. we are probably more of a liability also. hospitals and schools would be wise to develop clinical residencies for the new grad. this way we could get some training before we get on the floor, and there would be less of a sink or swim environment. the hospitals should be integrating the new grads. this way when our beloved experienced nurses retire we (the new grads) will have had some much needed time with the nurses who know their job well. unfortunately the hospitals can't absorb every new grad each semester. i think given that cali is the only state that has legislation backing nurse to patient ratios, other out of state nurses may be more attracted to california (i dont know this for sure, it is an assumption). hang in there new grads!!!! we knew this was not an easy job, we are just having to jump through one more hoop like when we were trying to get accepted into school. instead of focusing on this "shortage" meg (if elected) needs to focus on bringing all jobs back to the state.

that is my rant.........

allnurses Guide · Jul 20, 2010

"also the boomers will be retiring soon. i think there will be another "shortage"
you know i have to agree with this statement. the economy is going to pick back up at some point and when nurses begin to retire the hospitals will be left with very few experienced rn's. the hospitals will be scurrying to hire old new grads that may have their license, but have not been able to keep up on their skills. hospitals are losing money right and left these days because of the huge unemployment population. everyone gets their health benefits from their employer. 12% of the population is unemployed with no benefits, but they still get sick and have health issues. it's true, we have new grads sitting on a shelf waiting for a job because of the california nurse education initiative. arnold addressed the "shortage" and schools started cranking out new grads, but no one expected the market to tank the way that it did. hospitals are reluctant to hire new grads because we cost more to orient. we are probably more of a liability also. hospitals and schools would be wise to develop clinical residencies for the new grad. this way we could get some training before we get on the floor, and there would be less of a sink or swim environment. the hospitals should be integrating the new grads. this way when our beloved experienced nurses retire we (the new grads) will have had some much needed time with the nurses who know their job well. unfortunately the hospitals can't absorb every new grad each semester.i think given that cali is the only state that has legislation backing nurse to patient ratios, other out of state nurses may be more attracted to california (i dont know this for sure, it is an assumption). hang in there new grads!!!! we knew this was not an easy job, we are just having to jump through one more hoop like when we were trying to get accepted into school. instead of focusing on this "shortage" meg (if elected) needs to focus on bringing all jobs back to the state.
that is my rant.........

we will need you!

and i think private duty and any other nursing experience is worthwhile. but hospitals will still need to orient inexperiences nurses long enough for them to become proficient.

orange juice · Jul 20, 2010

The economy will probably pick up but not enough to absorb the new grads. You think there will be more and more new grads each year? Yes. More than jobs available? yes. 3 times that amount in 5 years. You think old new grads will ahve a shot at these jobs in 5 years? Probably not. Just look at the statistics of how many nursing grads there are each year across the country getting licensed in each state. Its quadrupled since 5 years ago. There is no nursing shortage.

rockenmomRN · Jul 21, 2010

Honestly I'm thinking there never was a nursing shortage, but a shortage of good paying jobs.

Testa Rosa, RN · Jul 22, 2010

There is a shortage of jobs for new grads period. I would accept a low paying job; I would accept anything at this point.

apoppyfield, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2010

Meg Whitless is not a friend of nurses. She is not being honest about why she is spending $200 million for a job that pays $200 thousand. She can't be trusted.

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2010

whitman's line about the definition of insanity is a comment on consultant-driven candidates who read lines written for other consultant-driven candidates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw_0a54s8po&feature=player_embedded

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2010

That video is "why I am voting for Jerry" in a nice neat little package! :) I'm not sure anyone can rescue the state at this point, but I do know that Jerry (@JerryBrown2010 on Twitter) has actually thought through his positions on issues, is innovative and not a mindless repeater of talking points. I was a supporter of Jerry Brown for Pres back in 1992 when we lived in Colorado, and attended one of his rallies at CU. I'm not a doctrinaire liberal by any stretch, either. I like imagination and the ability to reevaluate prior positions on issues not because you did a "flip-flop", but grew as a person and as a politician.

Just the fact that Meg's stupid truthfornurses.com website is still up and running despite many of us writing in to "Talk to Meg" is quite emblematic of her shortcomings overall. Worst GOP candidate for governor ever.