Nursing shortage my !! (Bay Area)

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There is, BY FAR, absolutely NO nursing shortage in California (at least, not where I live - in the Bay Area).

I am graduating in May and I am SO SO SO SO SO anxious that I will not find a job. Especially with the economy the way it is.

The hospital I used to work at (UCSF) and that I dream of working for when I graduate is currently on a hiring freeze (until who knows when). :( Although I will be doing my preceptorship there (YES!!):yeah:, I am still fretting to the point of - I swear - developing an ulcer. I owe waaaayyyyy too much $$ on loans to not work.

Coincidentally, I work as a unit secretary at a different hospital, but even that's no guarantee (I would rather work at UC, to be honest - I loved it when I worked at UC and I love academic hospitals).

A girl in the cohort that graduated last year still hasn't found a job....and she speaks Russian!!!!! (huge bonus points here).

Anyone else in the Bay fretting?:confused: :banghead:

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I'm north of you . .. . in the mountains above Redding . . but the same holds true for Redding. One of the hospitals laid off a lot of nurses and no one is hiring new grads. Only experienced nurses.

Welcome to California - home of the broken budget.

steph

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It is also this way in Ohio. I graduated in May and had to take a job an hour away from home!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Not the case in Indiana, I have 2 part time jobs 1 with full benefits only working 2 days a week and 1st of the year I just started a a 3rd part time PRN job where I will make about 14.00 more an hour!!! FYI that new PRN job is in Ohio--

If I answered my phone every day I could easily work 7 days a week, every day I am off I get a call asking if I can work!!

I might add these are not prime day jobs--2 are night jobs one in an ER and one in an ICU and the other is vaccinations at the public health clinic from 12-4 4-6x a month.

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Shortage doesn't mean everyone gets to have the exact job they want. If you want to work and you can't find anything else then consider enlisting.

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Specializes in Tele.

there in no nursing shotage in chicago, some hospitals on hiring freese and the other want just experienced rn

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It is not easy in New York City...Especially, when you are a new kid on the block!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, L&D, Postpartum.

Hi there! I graduated in the Bay Area in May 2008. Me and many of my classmates had difficulty finding jobs. However, I do know for sure that some hospitals are starting their new grad programs soon (Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley and San Leandro Hospital), there are a ton of new grad positions listed on their website so try there. SO START APPLYING NOW! I know it is only January, but I wish I had received this advice when I was in school, you need to start looking for a job NOW!Eden is a good hospital and they pay well. I really wanted to work in med/surg, so I took a position far far away!! I am no longer in the Bay, I don't miss the traffic by the way! I made a good choice, I am getting great experience at the hospital I am at currently, and I may return to the Bay eventually! Good luck and please keep us posted!

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I am just starting nursing school in a few weeks here in the Bay Area, and our Dean of Nursing said that it's true - there are hiring freezes everywhere right now in the Bay. She suggested to look out of this area and you should be able to find a job. I'm hoping in 2 years that things become better! Good luck!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
There is, BY FAR, absolutely NO nursing shortage in California (at least, not where I live - in the Bay Area).

I am graduating in May and I am SO SO SO SO SO anxious that I will not find a job. Especially with the economy the way it is.

The hospital I used to work at (UCSF) and that I dream of working for when I graduate is currently on a hiring freeze (until who knows when). :( Although I will be doing my preceptorship there (YES!!):yeah:, I am still fretting to the point of - I swear - developing an ulcer. I owe waaaayyyyy too much $$ on loans to not work.

Coincidentally, I work as a unit secretary at a different hospital, but even that's no guarantee (I would rather work at UC, to be honest - I loved it when I worked at UC and I love academic hospitals).

A girl in the cohort that graduated last year still hasn't found a job....and she speaks Russian!!!!! (huge bonus points here).

Anyone else in the Bay fretting?:confused: :banghead:

I'm having the same problem and I have almost 19 yrs. of experience. I live in the bay area too.

Just also remember managers tend to be too busy and will ignore you. Keep bugging them!! Make an appearance at the hospital! Don't just leave messages for people. You may have to take a slightly lower paying position such as home health or something first. Travel agencies are hiring. That's also part of the problem, a lot of travelers come to the bay area.

Good luck. I feel your pain!

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Trust me....If I have to start on a SNF (or whatever "least favorite" unit) - I will do it because I know beggars can't be choosers and I need to start paying off loans! I absolutely dread SNF (someitmes I get floated there from the ICU where I work) and it sucks. I hate it. :no:

But hey, if I need to, I will take the job at a SNF just to get some experience and pay bills.

It's just frustrating going into the nursing program (2nd degree for me) thinking I will have little problem finding work and I now know that couldn't be farther from the truth. I realize that the Bay Area is attractive to some people (myself included - it's my home), but it just sucks right now. :banghead:

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Once the economy is improving, they will hire again!

Anyhow, does it has to be the Bay Area!

Anyone has tried the L.A. Area?

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