Moving back to the Bay

[3KittiesRN]

Hello fellow nurses! I want to move back home to the Bay Area where all of my family lives. I was born and raised in the Bay Area. After nursing school (graduated in 2008), I landed a job on a Med/Surg unit VERY FAR away. I have been there for almost 3 years. Can you guys tell me about the job situation in the bay right now for an experienced Med/Surg nurse. I want to do either meg/surg, telemetry, oncology, L&D, or post partum. I was never really into ICU or ER, but would be willing to give ICU a try. What is the job market like right now? Which hospitals are the best? I was looking into the east bay area, preferably Antioch or something close-by (I am really looking into Sutter Delta). What are the wages like for Bay Area nurses these days? Can someone survive working part-time, 64 hours a pay period? I see a lot of part time openings. Thanks so much in advance!!

3KittiesRN

[caliotter3]

You will find many, many posts about the Bay area nursing situation, almost all of which are negative. Difficult to find work there, but if you can stay with family, that should work out eventually. Good luck.

[Rabid Response]

Since you have experience and want to work med/surg, it's not entirely hopeless. If you are willing to work night or evening shift, you will have a better chance of landing a job. Most Bay Area RN positions are part time, but you can make over 100K/yr working a .8, and most hospital systems offer full benefits for RNs working at least a .6.

You will probably have no success dealing with any HR departments. I can't think of a single nurse who was hired at my hospital in the last 3 years by going through the "proper channels.". Contact everyone you know in the Bay Area who might have some connection with a hospital. The idea is to get your resume into the hands of someone who can CREATE a position for you (not advertised to the public), which you can then apply for (praying that no qualified internal applicant wants it).

Another good option is to sign on with a travel nursing agency and take assignments in the Bay Area. Nearly all of my unit's newer hires have been travelers who stayed on as permanent hires after their contracts ended. Again, management liked a few of them enough to create the positions for which those nurses could apply.

If you went to nursing school here, your old classmates will be your best networking option. Whatever you do, don't move back here unless you already have a job lined up; you have no idea how long your employment search will take, and you already know how expensive it is to live here.

Good luck.