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!!), 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).
Just so you know, when I graduated from nursing school in 1993, it was at a time when drg's and all that came out and lengths of stay were really getting shorter and consequently, it was nearly impossible to find a job. (I have constantly warned my co workers that even nursing has its' down times but no one believed me until today when our CEO emailed everyone in the hospital and said there will be lay offs)
Anyway, since I could not get a hospital job I took the dreaded nursing home job. Was it my ideal job? No. But I went with a good attitude, did the best job I could, and at least made enough money to pay bills. 4 years later, the hospitals were desperate and were willing to train someone like me and I have been in the hospital since.
I'm sure this will get few reponses, but I am wondering (as I look at job postings out of curiosity) why new grad openings/programs start in FEB/MARCH when schools don't graduate until MAY (at least I won't until MAY)
I'm sure this will get few reponses, but I am wondering (as I look at job postings out of curiosity) why new grad openings/programs start in FEB/MARCH when schools don't graduate until MAY (at least I won't until MAY)
GRRRRRRR!!
:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire :madface:
Because some schools graduate students in December and getting a license isn't always a quick process. I'm sure you'll notice that new grad positions will also start in July/August for the May graduates. Nurse recruiters are pretty upfront with when positions may be posted so you can get the jump on other applicants.
Well, it seems the shortage doesn't exist here in northern Virginia either. HCA has just laid off some nurses, mainly educators, but I think this just speaks to their idea that nurses aren't worth spending money on for contining ed.
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!
Wrong. Go apply to a few. Most travel agencies have devoted themselves to keeping the RNs the likey employed until things improve. They have stopped bringing in new people. There are travel agencies hiring. Some have automated email responses stating they arent though.
Friend of my wife wanted out of CA and decided travel nursing was the way to do it. Applied (mind you, she is an experienced ICU nurse. She would have been grabbed up the second she hinted she was looking about 5 months ago) and didnt get good responses. I'll ask my wife what companies declined to even interview her or put her contract out cause they cant find work for their own people.
There is HOPE! I graduated in Dec. '08 in the Bay Area too but took a very long break. I thought at first that it would be easy to find a job. But NO..it took me four months of seriously searching for a job. I applied online, sent out my resumes, attended job fairs, and even had interviews done. Managers were vocal that they liked me but they are only hiring a few positions. It is very competitive out there since there are a lot of new grads. And with this economy, hospitals usually have limited funds for training new grads. But I took charge of my job search. I went to the hospital here in the East Bay and talked to the manager. I got an offer after a month! I'm very excited to start this February! So, there are jobs in hospitals..just keep on looking and meet the managers! :)
Yes, Eden Hospital I think has a new grad program too. I heard that Kaiser cancelled some of their new grad programs. But just focus first on graduating and passing your NCLEX!
Best of luck! :)
BTW, I still keep on receiving updates from UCSF. It tells you that they have openings for Clinical Nurse 1 position. So I wonder if they do really are hiring new grads.
There is HOPE! I graduated in Dec. '08 in the Bay Area too but took a very long break. I thought at first that it would be easy to find a job. But NO..it took me four months of seriously searching for a job. I applied online, sent out my resumes, attended job fairs, and even had interviews done. Managers were vocal that they liked me but they are only hiring a few positions. It is very competitive out there since there are a lot of new grads. And with this economy, hospitals usually have limited funds for training new grads. But I took charge of my job search. I went to the hospital here in the East Bay and talked to the manager. I got an offer after a month! I'm very excited to start this February! So, there are jobs in hospitals..just keep on looking and meet the managers! :)
Yes, Eden Hospital I think has a new grad program too. I heard that Kaiser cancelled some of their new grad programs. But just focus first on graduating and passing your NCLEX!
Best of luck! :)
BTW, I still keep on receiving updates from UCSF. It tells you that they have openings for Clinical Nurse 1 position. So I wonder if they do really are hiring new grads.
Thanks, lucky. I feel a little more at ease. Hopefully things will look up around June.....
I live in Michigan and the hospitals here also have a hiring freeze. I think there is a nursing shortage...but the hospitals are just trying to get by with the nurses they have due to the economy. Of course, this means the nurses who are working are probably being asked to do more with less help and no increase in pay. When I graduated in 1981 (wow!) I couldn't get a job in acute care due to a hiring freeze. I started my career in a psych hospital part time. After 6 months I was able to get a full time job in acute care. Hopefully, the economy will improve with new leadership (Obama) and things will turn around.
I have been trying to get back into acute care for a couple of months with no success. You would figure a Public Health Nurse was a no brained leaper or something. I am just happy to have a job, pretty nice job actually, but am still dreaming of someday being in ICU or ED. Hope for better economic days sooner rather than later.
I have applied to nursing accelerated programs for the summer 09.For 5 years I have volunteered at John Muir. I just called them to ask about the reality of new grads getting hired. She said for MArch they had 10 openings and had 100's of applicants. If I could find a cheap school then it wouldn't be so bad , then if I couldn't find a job in the bay area could go somewhere else at lower pay to get experience then come back. The problem is is that I applied to private schools, the public ones I have had no luck with and they are expensive. With that amount of debt you need to work where the pay is good. I have been accepted at MSMC in Los Angeles ,, they have 25 Kaiser scholarships and if you get one then you are guaranteed a job,, I think these days any sort of job offer should be considered and then later do what you want.. This is terrible times .bad timing I guess..
I'm on the same boat. I graduated with my Master's in nursing in December 2008 and I'm having difficulty landing a job in the bay area because of the economic hardships. It is so disappointing and dispiriting to get into the new grad program. All the Sutter health hospital, Kaiser facilities, government hospital including UCSF are on the hiring freeze. Most of the winter grad program are all canceled as well. I feel so hopeless...
:madface:
Quaffetti
76 Posts
Just so you know, when I graduated from nursing school in 1993, it was at a time when drg's and all that came out and lengths of stay were really getting shorter and consequently, it was nearly impossible to find a job. (I have constantly warned my co workers that even nursing has its' down times but no one believed me until today when our CEO emailed everyone in the hospital and said there will be lay offs)
Anyway, since I could not get a hospital job I took the dreaded nursing home job. Was it my ideal job? No. But I went with a good attitude, did the best job I could, and at least made enough money to pay bills. 4 years later, the hospitals were desperate and were willing to train someone like me and I have been in the hospital since.
You do what you have to do.