so-cal job market and supporting my husband

Published

Hi everyone,

I am not a nurse, but I am trying to figure out a way to support my husband's career while still keeping my family a priority. My own career is somewhat geographically limited so I've always assumed that my husband would follow me to wherever I can get a job since as a nurse his career is a bit more flexible (nurses are needed everywhere). I just graduated and I have secured a temporary job in southern California. This means I am relocating from Northern California. Ideally I would like my husband to follow me and our child, but he is concerned that he wont be able to find a job down there. Is the southern California nursing market a lot tighter than Northern California? He has gotten a job in this area fairly easily and has worked for 3 years in a nursing home and county clinic. He is concerned about having to start all over (we will likely have to move from SoCal in another 2 years after my temp position) again and again. My suggestion is that he moves down to SoCal finds in about 6 months, finds a part-time job and concentrate on getting his RN. He is working on getting into a school down there, but he still has some hoops to jump through (a couple more pre-reqs and passing the TEAS test-already failed once).

My question is: What can I do to support my husband's nursing career and goals (he wants to become an RN and eventually get a MBA/MSN and transition into health care administration). Am I being unreasonable to suggest that he move down to So-CAL given my plan for him to focus on school? Is the market down there really that bad?

Thanks for your time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I found work in SoCal when I couldn't find work up north, but that was several years ago. It is not as easy to walk into a waiting job today. I would advise your husband to stay employed in northern CA for as long as it takes to line up something in the south. That is, unless you can do without his income. In that case, he can just move with the family. No sense in creating family stress if you can live without his paycheck for awhile. JMO

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

In Los Angeles both skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics have LVNs. All but the worst staffed nursing homes will only hire an experienced nurse, not a new grad or someone who hasn't been working for a few years.

Kaiser has a lot of clinics in California.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the replies so far...He has three years of LVN experience in nursing home and a clinic. Will this help or does it to really matter? This is giving me so much stress as I don't want my family to be divided just because of my job. We could make it on just my income, but it would be very tight and my h will go insane if he is not working (workaholic).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

With his experience he could probably be hired at a hospital associated skilled nursing facility, nursing home, or clinic.

Most nursing home openings are weekends and nights. As before the good facilities want experience. he will be more likely to be hired.

I don't suggest registry. I did that as an LVN but it is way too difficult to pass meds to so many patients until you know the residents.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would guess that he can easily find a job down there with his experience. Nursing home jobs are pretty easy to get compared with hospital jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion