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.
Well guys, I am gonna reiterate what Suzanne says-I am in OC and work at Saddleback (Laguna Hills). We keep having to send nurses home, it is hard to get a fourth shift, and the new grad programs only hire a few times a year and only hire a handful of them at that. From my experience here in the last few months the following hospitals DON'T have a shortage (but are hiring occasionally, just like normal): Hoag, Saddleback, Mission, Kaiser, Western Medical, UCI. Also keep in mind many of these hospitals have nursing students that do clinicals there and get priority on being hired if you are thinking about new grad programs. As for experienced nurses, I can say Saddleback uses a whole lot of travelers, which I think is the norm here (in CA). So if you are thinking of moving here and you have experience, why not try a travel position? It took me personally 4 months to find a job. But I was an out of state new grad.
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.
Beware of the sign on bonus...its a trap in most facilities. Yes you get the $$$, but you are mandated to work certain shifts or with TEAM nursing pattern (RN/LPN/CNA). At the hospital I worked at with sign on bonuses, those individuals where given 8 to 10 patients (Since its TEAM nursing the nurse to patient ratio's are excluded cause there are "more" nurses)
So, uscstu4life, where again did you say you were--specifically? I'd be very interested to know since I've been looking for work for 8-plus months in the San Diego area and am getting extremely frustrated! I'm looking for a new grad program and it seems next to impossible in my area. From your name, I might guess L.A. ???
As several posters said, "no job is recession proof." Many people though, if willing to compromise, there are jobs.
In most fields, people don't necessarily get their dream job. They get a job to pay the bills and hopefully are at least content.
I am located in an area of California that many people do not wish to reside, and because of this, there are abundant new graduate opportunities. The salary may not be the best when compared to areas such as orange county or san francisco. But housing is very affordable and I don't spend half the day sitting on a freeway.
Many of my classmates up in the bay area are surprised that I don't plan to move up here after graduation. While they are scrambling for jobs and applying at the very limited new graduate opportunities, I already have several job offers pending my passing NCLEX.
I believe my willingness to work in a variety of departments and any shift further assisted these opportunities. I do not believe a new graduate RN should be very specific in their wants. Put some time in, how can one know what they really want til they've actually worked a few departments anyway?
PetuniaRN
59 Posts
Well guys, I am gonna reiterate what Suzanne says-I am in OC and work at Saddleback (Laguna Hills). We keep having to send nurses home, it is hard to get a fourth shift, and the new grad programs only hire a few times a year and only hire a handful of them at that. From my experience here in the last few months the following hospitals DON'T have a shortage (but are hiring occasionally, just like normal): Hoag, Saddleback, Mission, Kaiser, Western Medical, UCI. Also keep in mind many of these hospitals have nursing students that do clinicals there and get priority on being hired if you are thinking about new grad programs. As for experienced nurses, I can say Saddleback uses a whole lot of travelers, which I think is the norm here (in CA). So if you are thinking of moving here and you have experience, why not try a travel position? It took me personally 4 months to find a job. But I was an out of state new grad.