Slightly experienced NP having trouble finding job as an NP in the Bay Area, CA

Specialties NP

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Anyone know how the job market in the Bay Area, CA is?

From my point of view its pretty tough.

15 applications sent out. 4 interviews (3 of which I only got because I had a friend working there).

Interviews went fine. For 1 position I got beat out by a Spanish speaking doctor.

2nd position low balled the salary

- according to salary.com and payscale.com the average (highest part of the bell curve) pay in San Francisco should be $49-$50.

Since I'm currently an FNP at a big hospital with a very limited scope of practice (so limited I want to leave) I settled for $44 because I know I'm new, But now I'm not new (4yrs experience now) and now I want at least average.

Still waiting for the results of another interview but I'm losing hope because I have no dermatology experience. I landed the Derm interview because of my patient satisfaction awards from my current job (and I have a friend working there).

I landed an interview at an Occ health place but they worked my friend so hard he is usually able to return my calls / emails in about 1 week (we are at the same hospital) and he has gained ~30lbs from the stress. But he has way more skills than me because of the diversity in Occ health. I'm slow to follow up with them because 9-10 hour days (and getting paid for 8) are the norm.

I'm frustrated. Am I asking too much for average pay and a position that will actually let me diagnose something?

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

The salares you have quoted seem low. I was under the impression that NP jobs paid much higher in CA. Have you tried usajobs.gov ?

Government jobs based in bases and VA hospitals. Most job postings have salaries that are listed in the job info.

BTW, what Ducati do you have? I ride myself. :D

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Specializes in CVICU.

Ya I thought everyone in CA was having trouble finding a job!

As I know you know, your salary is horrible for a NP living in the Bay area. I thought they started new grad RNs in the mid 30s to low 40s an hour up there?

Still though, I guess youll have to be real diligent about looking if your gonna stay in the bay area and plan to obtain work. Its a nightmare out there now with the job market in general and I dont expect the NPs to escape the predicament either.

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The salares you have quoted seem low. I was under the impression that NP jobs paid much higher in CA. Have you tried usajobs.gov ?

Government jobs based in bases and VA hospitals. Most job postings have salaries that are listed in the job info.

BTW, what Ducati do you have? I ride myself. :D

Thanks TX RN, I'll look at usajobs.gov. I ride a Monster 696, I think I was turned down from a NP position at a Spine Rehab place because I mentioned I had a motorcycle.

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.
Thanks TX RN, I'll look at usajobs.gov. I ride a Monster 696, I think I was turned down from a NP position at a Spine Rehab place because I mentioned I had a motorcycle.

Ha! That's funny. My new employer has asked me not to get myself hurt! Actually thinking of hanging it up. :sniff:

Good luck with the job hunt. :up:

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Ha! That's funny. My new employer has asked me not to get myself hurt! Actually thinking of hanging it up. :sniff:

Good luck with the job hunt. :up:

Thanks TX RN. What do you ride? Some of my 50 year old patients say that your body will want to give up motorcycles (sportbikes) as you get older (they used to ride). It just gets too hard and no longer becomes fun. I'm going to wait for that to happen to hang up my helmet.

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.
Thanks TX RN. What do you ride? Some of my 50 year old patients say that your body will want to give up motorcycles (sportbikes) as you get older (they used to ride). It just gets too hard and no longer becomes fun. I'm going to wait for that to happen to hang up my helmet.

I have 3.

1. '99 Monster 750, lots of custom bits, I don't ride it. It was my wife's but she never rode it.

2. '04 Monster S4R, loads of fun on the street. This is my main street bike but in the last year I have only logged about 1k miles. :(

3. '04 749s, this serves some street duty but is mainly my track bike, that's when I can get out there. Sadly only did one track day in the last year. :(

I just haven't the time to do much riding. When I can I make it out to the local Ducati bike nights, but again the same old song; 3 or 4 outings in the last year. I love riding on the track and that's probably the extent of what will become of any future riding. Still, I don't think I can bring myself to selling my motos. If anything I'll just sit in the garage and stare, they're beautiful machines. :)

I haven't felt like my body is tiring just yet, but I have heard the same thing from older riders. Stay safe out there and keep the rubber side down.

I definitely envy the roads in your area. Houston is flatter than a tortilla. :p

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