relocating to Vancouver area

Published

I have been seeking employment in the Vancouver/Portland area for about 9 months now. I have applied for probably 100 jobs!!! Had ONE interview. What is going on down there? Lots of jobs posted....but no calls. I have a good work ethic...and have been an RN for 12 years~ I dont get it~:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice, corrections.

I am in the same boat, except I haven't even got a phone call! I keep hoping the job market loosens up soon. I've applied several times to all kinds of nursing jobs in every hospital in the Portland/Vancouver area. blech

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I live in SW washington and have many friends who are in the same boat...seems like this area is inundated with RN's right now. The schools around here have increased the amt of nurses they graduate and more and more displaced workers are going into nursing.

You may have to commute a little bit, look into Longview or South of Portland...

Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

I live in SE Washington and some of our newer employees are graduates from Portland/Vancouver area schools.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

The reason they are not hiring experienced nurses is salary, they have many new grads they can pay alot less. I used to live in Vancouver and had to move to Utah to find my first RN job, it still took me a year to finally land a job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ED.

In our hospital we actually look for experienced RN's before new grads...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.
The reason they are not hiring experienced nurses is salary, they have many new grads they can pay alot less. I used to live in Vancouver and had to move to Utah to find my first RN job, it still took me a year to finally land a job.

The opposite is true, New grads are very expensive. They cost a lot of "non productive hours" to train, And have a very high turnover rate. My hospital no longer hires news grads at all...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

I agree the upfront initial cost is more expensive to train a new grad, but this still does not explain why experienced nurses can't find work, I say it could possibly be the salaries.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The area has an unemployment rate over 10%.

I know that every opening in my department in the last year was filled from within by a pool or part time person.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

New grad from Vancouver, WA here. My cohort graduated 12/08. I've had rejection after rejection. Most job postings require 1+ yrs experience. Do I apply anyways? Heck yes. I get an immediate rejection email because I don't meet the minimum qualifications.

I'm applying all over to nurse residencies/ internships and crossing my fingers, but its looking like I will be going back for my BSN and looking for part time work wherever will have me just to get by! Its sad. I was a member of the nursing student government, top of my class, made awesome connections at my senior practicum.... they just don't have $60,000 to train me in their budget.

The job market is just tight. Its not the new grads' fault LOL!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.
New grad from Vancouver, WA here. My cohort graduated 12/08. I've had rejection after rejection. Most job postings require 1+ yrs experience. Do I apply anyways? Heck yes. I get an immediate rejection email because I don't meet the minimum qualifications.

I'm applying all over to nurse residencies/ internships and crossing my fingers, but its looking like I will be going back for my BSN and looking for part time work wherever will have me just to get by! Its sad. I was a member of the nursing student government, top of my class, made awesome connections at my senior practicum.... they just don't have $60,000 to train me in their budget.

The job market is just tight. Its not the new grads' fault LOL!

Wow, 12/08 and still no job??? I finally had to make the move out of state to land a job... The amount of nurse graduates unemployed in the Portland/Vancouver area is crazy..... I plan on returning as soon as I have that one year experience under my belt....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How is the nursing job market in whatcom county, especially in Bellingham or Lynden? I'm from New York, and unfortunately haven't landed in any nursing job yet since passing the NCLEX in July 2010. City life is not for me and I'm thinking of trying my luck in any US place which is nearer Langley, BC where my brothers live.

Thanks for any info ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion