The shortage is still strong in SoCal..

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So I'm reading through this nursing magazine that i have a free subscription to. i don't know how they got my name, i suppose the bon sent them it after i passed nclex. anyway. this magazine is like all the other ones, and so it has RN nursing job advertisements. So I'm flipping away and I see it! The hospital I work for took out an ad for RNs! I'm reading the article, and it says you don't even have to schedule an interview.... WALK-IN interviews are OK during their business hours. Seriously, just walk in whenever you want and hopefully the manager will be there to interview you.

They also need RNs in specialty areas, so they're offering a $10,000 sign on bonus to some areas. I must say they're good about the sign on bonuses because with mine, they paid me above the amount the sign on bonus was for to cover all of the taxes - so that i got the full amount of the bonus in a check.

This ad made me laugh, and then realized just how much of a shortage we really have. Walk-in interviews....he...he...he.

Oh, the magazine also stated the average median income around here was $76,000 per year - which is exactly about what i'm making working the bare minimum 3 shifts per week with no overtime.

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Hi! I came across your post and would like to know where in Socal is that hospital? It's so hard to look for a job in Northern Ca. I'm hoping you could help me i'm willing to go there. I'm desperate to have a job. Please pm me.

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Hi there Please pmme too. Is that just in Norther cal how about southern calif? ty

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Hi i am in Socal but , like the rest i would like to know which area are you pertaining to?im here in SD thank you for sharing that article and insights!:D

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Wow, I live in Minnesota, where there currently is not a nursing shortage (at least in the Mpls-St. Paul metro area). Sign me up! I'll move to SoCal!

:) lola

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Not all of southern Ca has a nuring shortage. And if look at what you quoted, it states Specialty Areas. And this means at least two years of experience in one of these areas as a start most of the time.

New grads there are still having issues with finding new grad programs. But the next item is that CA has one of the highest rates of unemployment now, more and more lay-offs are announced on a daily basis. So there are going to be quite a few nurses that had chosed either to stay at home and raise kids or something away from the bedside that are going to be returning to the bedside.

You are still going to be responsible for whatever they paid you on that check and when it is non-earned income, it can be close to 50% in some cases. You are still going to be responsible for that at the end of the year. No matter what they gave to you. You are the one that will need to account for it.

And most of the ads that are in the magazines were placed months ago, never anticipating what would be happening the past month or so. Things have changed considerably. Please check things out closely before packing up your bags to move west.

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Thanks suzanne4 for the dose of reality...I wasn't seriously planning on moving west in the near future; it was just fun to dream and hear about places that need RNs, which is not the case in my neck of the woods. However, you make a good point that thorough research is required before moving somewhere for a job. Good reminder.

:) lola

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All of the hospitals within my region are hiring nurses. They are hiring like crazy. As far as specialty goes... They specify they are seeking both experienced and new grads. I really don't think RNs around here are suffering. There are always extra shifts to pick up on my unit. THey are looking to hire. It's craaaazy. As far socal San Diego goes, I have no idea.... but the LA/orange counties are booming

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All of the hospitals within my region are hiring nurses. They are hiring like crazy. As far as specialty goes... They specify they are seeking both experienced and new grads. I really don't think RNs around here are suffering. There are always extra shifts to pick up on my unit. THey are looking to hire. It's craaaazy. As far socal San Diego goes, I have no idea.... but the LA/orange counties are booming

Sorry, but again, you are speaking of your area, and not all of Southern CA. Most of the facilities only have new grad orientation two to three times per year, so they may mention that they have openings but when they start their new class again.

Picking up extra shifts is always a given in most facilities, you are already there and have experience in their facility and are familiar with the facility. As fas as them training new nurses now? That is another story all together as well as the fact that by the time that one gets thru all of the verifications and HR stuff, it will be close to the holidays and you do not see anyone usually starting anyone then as they will have to pay holiday pay but they will not be counted in the census.

What may seem like alot offering jobs, when it comes down to what they actually have available are two very different things. And this is the point that I am trying to make. And there is no facility that is hiring like crazy, there just are not that many openings and if there are, that should be telling you something as well. That you do not want to work there because they have a very high turnover.

Be careful for what you wish for.

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Well if this is how you see things, then I'm happy for you. Unfortunately I can't say the same. I meet nurses all the time who are not happy in their employment or lack thereof. I personally only think things are rosy if I am happy and able to get any job I desire. Have yet to find that happy place. So it is all relative, like most things in life.:wink2:

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

uscstu4lfe what are some of the names of the hospitals? I think it would be okay to post them so we can do a search for their websites just to see job opportunities etc. I like to browse hospital websites in my spare time just to dream LOL!

This isn't the first time that I've heard that there are nursing opportunities in Orange County. It does seem like there are many opportunities in San Diego as well but I've also heard that there is no shortage here. My hospital will train nurses for various specialties but they have to already be employed as nurses at the hospital but they have been training new hires in some areas.

I think the nursing shortage will soon be disappearing because of all the nursing programs that are spawning. Here in San Diego County alone there are Community Colleges: SouthWestern, Grossmont, City, Palomar (did I miss any?) State: UCSM, UCSD, Private: National University, Point Loma Nazarene, and Kaplan. There are several which just award the LVN but I wasn't counting those.

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Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Still know a good number of gals and guys I graduated with in June, who are still unemployed and not by choice! Most of the hospitals here hire new gards by annually (summer and spring) most of them are waiting to hopefully get a job for the spring internship. Anyway, uscstu4life are you referring to USCUH or USC-LA county hospital? I figured it might be one of those two given your screen name.

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