What is the job market like in OR?

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Hello, I am looking to relocate to find work. The job market for nurses is dead in my area and I have not found a job. Oregon is one of the places I'm thinking about relocating to but I'm scared that I will move and I won't be able to find a job here as well. I don't have alot of experience so it makes it that much harder. I just wanted to get some advice about it from nurses who live in OR. Is is hard for new grads to find work here (I'm pretty much a new grad with only 6 months exp). Also, I'm an LPN, if that matters.

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Where are you coming from?

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Specializes in ICU.

The market is flooded here as well. Not much hospital work for LPNs, maybe long term care but even that is a long shot. There are 12 nursing programs in the Portland area, and even BSNs are having problems finding work... (for New Grads).

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

As stated above the market in Oregon is staturated. Hospitals have hirring freezes and one has started to lay off nurses. Then there are all the programs as wel

I have been looking for 7 months and I all I been able to get is a new agency doing home health.

One hospital I interviewed at had 40 spots they interviewed 546 people, most places I have interviewed at have 100 applicants for ever 1 spot.

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Lovemybugs- that is so discouraging.

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The market is flooded here as well. Not much hospital work for LPNs, maybe long term care but even that is a long shot. There are 12 nursing programs in the Portland area, and even BSNs are having problems finding work... (for New Grads).

Interesting you should say that about BSNs. A friend of mine works in medical recruiting, a former PA himself, and he told me to get the BSN or face perpetual unemployment. Too many AA degreed people looking for work he said. Hospitals are upping the requirement to BSN level.

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Does it matter how/where you got your BSN, in your experience?

I have a friend who is a BSN working in a local hospital. She graduated from a top-ranked BSN program a few years ago and got a (GREAT!) job immediately. She told me it was a good idea to fork out the extra dough for a top-ranked program because, in her opinion, it would be easier to get a hospital job with a diploma from X or Y university as opposed to Z programs....I'm taking her advice, but I've only heard her opinion about this particular question.

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Does it matter how/where you got your BSN, in your experience?

I have a friend who is a BSN working in a local hospital. She graduated from a top-ranked BSN program a few years ago and got a (GREAT!) job immediately. She told me it was a good idea to fork out the extra dough for a top-ranked program because, in her opinion, it would be easier to get a hospital job with a diploma from X or Y university as opposed to Z programs....I'm taking her advice, but I've only heard her opinion about this particular question.

Yes, it's about pedigree.

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Specializes in oncology.
Does it matter how/where you got your BSN, in your experience?

I have a friend who is a BSN working in a local hospital. She graduated from a top-ranked BSN program a few years ago and got a (GREAT!) job immediately. She told me it was a good idea to fork out the extra dough for a top-ranked program because, in her opinion, it would be easier to get a hospital job with a diploma from X or Y university as opposed to Z programs....I'm taking her advice, but I've only heard her opinion about this particular question.

I'm not sure if it's the actual school that counts - assuming that it's accredited, of course - but rather the actual degree you're earning. Where I work (a 1200 bed teaching hospital in the Midwest), only BSNs are hired - no LPNs and very, very rarely associate-degree RNs. The hospital's 2 remaining LPNs are working towards at least an associate's degree, if not a BSN. All associate-degree RNs are encouraged to get their BSN w/hospital financial assistance.

Given the current job market for RNs right now, I'd encourage anyone considering a nursing program to go for the BSN track only. Even then it's challenging to land that first job.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
does it matter how/where you got your bsn, in your experience?

i have a friend who is a bsn working in a local hospital. she graduated from a top-ranked bsn program a few years ago and got a (great!) job immediately. she told me it was a good idea to fork out the extra dough for a top-ranked program because, in her opinion, it would be easier to get a hospital job with a diploma from x or y university as opposed to z programs....i'm taking her advice, but i've only heard her opinion about this particular question.

that is the key part, a few years ago places where hirring. i not so sure it matters for the school, but rather the degree. if you look at the pass rates some of the more expenssive school are not has high as some of the cc. go where you can get into for nursing school, you can then bridge rn-bsn later. it is true that most of the hospital systems oregon or at least the north west part are making a swtich to bsn required. i have friends who got in the legacy program they have 5 years to finish their bsn and providence states in their job adds that bsn will be a requirment by 2018....however when ever i have applied to their jobs, having a bsn is one of their pre-qualifying questions now

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That is the key part, a few years ago places where hirring. I not so sure it matters for the school, but rather the degree. If you look at the pass rates some of the more expenssive school are not has high as some of the CC. Go where you can get into for nursing school, you can then bridge RN-BSN later. It is true that most of the hospital systems Oregon or at least the North West part are making a swtich to BSN required. I have friends who got in the Legacy program they have 5 years to finish their BSN and Providence states in their job adds that BSN will be a requirment by 2018....however when ever I have applied to their jobs, having a BSN is one of their pre-qualifying questions now

Also, Providence will pay your tuition ( up to 75%) for you to get that BSN if you are an employee there.

I am taking mine through Indiana Westlyn, amazing program, all online and it only takes 18 months.

I found, in my job search in OR that even through they say BSN, they are still more than willing to interview ASN's

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Also, Providence will pay your tuition ( up to 75%) for you to get that BSN if you are an employee there.

I am taking mine through Indiana Westlyn, amazing program, all online and it only takes 18 months.

I found, in my job search in OR that even through they say BSN, they are still more than willing to interview ASN's

B4RN that is great that you have gotten interviews!.... but as you stated in another thread you have 22 years experience behind you. 20 as an LPN and 2 as an RN, you have the training that employers want, it is so much harder for those of us who have not had the training that everyone wants.

It is great that Providence will provide tuition, but if you are a new grad without a BSN they will not touch you with a ten foot pole, there are those wonderful pre-qualifing questions and the question always is, do you have the BSN.

I have friends who worked for Providence as aides before NS, one, Prov paid for her NS and wasn't interested in hirring her and recouping their money, because they want BSNs, they have had a hard time getting the Prov Scholars jobs, which they are supposed to hire them for at least two years so the scholars are fullfill their loan requirment

The fact is, there are some jobs in Oregon, not a lot as Kaiser just laid off 20 ED nurses, the jobs that are open, employers want nurses with experience which you have, unfourtnantley for us new grads we are a dime a dozen with around 700 new grads every year looking for jobs

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