Moving to Northwest Oregon

Argo · Jan 10, 2011

My idea.... if you can get a job locally and get a year of experience then do it. Being military I'm guessing this is a lifestyle your used to, somewhat. When your done with your year of experience go get a job out there. I would guess it would make his check bigger too, seperation pay.

scaredtorelocate · Jan 10, 2011

Well, I'm in Southern California now and the market for new grads here is also 100:1 so I don't know how much luck I would have staying here either. Plus, my husband is in a branch that doesn't "deploy" much and I don't think any amount of money is worth spending a year away from my family and I am sure he feels the same. Thank you though. Your advise is appreciated.

lindarn · Jan 11, 2011

Hi all!
My husband is in the military and we have gotten notice that we are being transferred to Northwest Oregon (Astoria area) and I am wondering if anyone knows what the job market is like up there? I am a new grad with no RN experience (have two years M.A. experience though). I have been following a few threads related to the "new grad flood" in the Portland area (California is EXACTLY the same!) and am terrified that I will get up there and be trapped in a tiny town with no jobs for new grads which would devastate me! I am a mother of three (7, 3, and 6mo) who has worked very hard through nursing school to graduate with honors and my BSN. I don't want moving to Northwest Oregon to ruin it all for me! Please if you have any idea of what the market is for new grads in Northwest Oregon I would love to know. I have been looking in Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook, and some southwest Washington hospitals. The area is so small there isn't a lot to choose from (I've basically have been open to anything an hour or less away from the Astroia area). Thank you!

Have you tried Southwest Hospital in Vancouver, Washington? I believe that they offer a new grad internship. (I think that is the name of he hospital). They are right over the boarder from Washington to Oregon. You should try there, and see. Hope that helps.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

JulieB71 · Jan 11, 2011

Hate to be a buzz-kill but the job market in Oregon stinks! Graduated in June, live in Portland (the biggest city in Oregon) and I'm totally freaking out. In the past a new nurse might have to work in a SNF for a while before moving to a hospital but there are so many of us looking it's become a matter of luck and who you know.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 11, 2011

Hate to be a buzz-kill but the job market in Oregon stinks! Graduated in June, live in Portland (the biggest city in Oregon) and I'm totally freaking out. In the past a new nurse might have to work in a SNF for a while before moving to a hospital but there are so many of us looking it's become a matter of luck and who you know.

ditto, have been looking for 6 months, by chance I got a home health job and now I think I may have SNF position in WA there is nothing in OR, I live in Portland and have been looking at places up to 2 hours away. I have worked in a hospital for 3 years as a CNA and they wont hire new grads, pretty much all the hospitals in the area will not hire new grads, the only way in is through an internship program but those so competive. one I applied to had 40 spots with over 700 applicants:eek:

JulieB71 · Jan 11, 2011

ditto, have been looking for 6 months, by chance I got a home health job and now I think I may have SNF position in WA there is nothing in OR, I live in Portland and have been looking at places up to 2 hours away. I have worked in a hospital for 3 years as a CNA and they wont hire new grads, pretty much all the hospitals in the area will not hire new grads, the only way in is through an internship program but those so competive. one I applied to had 40 spots with over 700 applicants:eek:

I hope I don't sound horribly negative but it is so frustrating and when I see so many posts about people coming here to work I just want to scream NOOOOO!

I'm glad you found something. I'm having a horrible time looking for a SNF too and that seems to be everyone's advice when they hear you're not working. Everyone says

But I heard that there was a nursing shortage

and I say well not around here and then they suggest I work in a SNF and I want to say duuuuh it's not like I'm not totally for that but nobody is leaving their job so there are very few openings.

Hopefully something will happen, I just have to stay positive and that just seems to get harder and harder each day. :uhoh3:

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 11, 2011

I hope I don't sound horribly negative but it is so frustrating and when I see so many posts about people coming here to work I just want to scream NOOOOO!
I'm glad you found something. I'm having a horrible time looking for a SNF too and that seems to be everyone's advice when they hear you're not working. Everyone says and I say well not around here and then they suggest I work in a SNF and I want to say duuuuh it's not like I'm not totally for that but nobody is leaving their job so there are very few openings.
Hopefully something will happen, I just have to stay positive and that just seems to get harder and harder each day.

The SNF I got hired at is in Vancouver and is only on call, so yeah I hear ya Oregon is saturated, people tell me to look to southern Oregon and I have as far as Klamath Falls and there is still nothing for new grads

next1 · Jan 14, 2011

As a new resident to Oregon (experienced RN), I would like to add the fact that the atmosphere that I experienced in two hospitals, Tuality and Providence Newberg is extremely oppressive for new hires. There is a constant pressure on the senior staff and they feel that they have to get rid of the "new guy" to eliminate "competition". They have no union representation and they pretty much have a "buyer's market" when it comes to retaining staff or properly orienting to their system. As unbelievable as it sounds, I was fired from a hospital after three days b/c I questioned the reason to work in an area that I was forced to work... and I was not hired to work in that area. I just said: "it's not my cup of tea but if I have to work here, I need some orientation..." I was fired in 15 minutes!

Good luck getting a job in Oregon, I know you are not going to like it.

JulieB71 · Jan 14, 2011

Wow what an experience. During my senior practicum I heard a lot of nurses tell stories of how a new RN is often thrown to the wolves, so to speak. It's really sad because with the type of work we do we should all really support each other not enjoy watching novice nurses suffer. I hope you're happy where you are now.

next1 · Jan 15, 2011

Wow what an experience.

Yeah, that's what I said!

I'm not a new grad, I have 16 years of experience and being "thrown to the wolves" is not a problem, I have enough experience to stand on my feet. The problem is that if you are coming to Oregon, don't expect the same job market as in East Coast or California. That is accentuated by the minimal union presence throughout the state, numerous unemployed nurses and a general state of malaise that a polarized economy is shadowing over this state.

scaredtorelocate · Jan 21, 2011

Thank you all for your replies. I just can't believe the craziness we have to go through to get work. I have been applying for jobs since October 2010 from Central California to San Diego California and haven't even had one email, phone call, nothing! So, I understand what you are all going though. Unfortunately, we don't have a say in the matter (as far as where the military sends us) as long as my husband is enlisted (I am not coming specifically to Oregon looking for work). We have considered getting out but he doesn't really have "outside" skills (won't make more than min. wage) and we can't afford to live on my salary alone (we have three kids). :confused: