Where is the "nursing shortage" still going strong?

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Specializes in ICU.

Heya,

My wife is graduating in December, we were looking at the Bay Area in California but that's a cross-country move and it looks tough for new grads there. I'm got 3+ years ICU, so not worried about me, but can some of you folks who are living in REAL nursing shortage areas (AKA you get out of school and there's jobs aplenty for new grads) let me know where you are?

We're willing to try anywhere in the country really...if there's any part of California that still has a shortage, though, feel free to chime in! :typing

Thanks!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I grew up in Ohio, left 2 years ago to go to school in PA, and stayed. However, from what I keep hearing, Ohio is the place to be. One of my classmates went to Ohio, new grad, got a job in an ICU, starting out at $27.hr, $10,000 sign on bonus for 2 years, and started sending him to CCRN classes immediately. I routinely here of hospitals in Ohio offering $10,000 sign on bonuses and even 100% tuition reimbursement.

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Specializes in Woundcare.

As far as I can tell, Arizona is still hurting for nurses all across the board. In Tucson it looks like the average starting wage for new grads is $24/hr-ish but of course the cost of living here is much lower than most parts of the country. We're right next to California so it could be a good place to stake your tent for a couple of years and hey, you might decide you love it here. It's a nice place to live.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Gotta agree with Wicked. Lots of jobs in S.Az for newbies.

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South Texas also known as "the valley" has a severe nursing shortage. I've heard of some large bonuses to try to attract nurses. Knowing Spanish is important.

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Just graduated in LA and I already had a job lined up since Feb. Most of my classmates who waited to apply after graduation in May now have jobs already and there was no wait for them either. Try UCLA or Cedars, most of my friends referred eachother and were hired almost immediately to start orientation. Good luck looking, but as far as I can tell, los angeles is the place to go!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

try the small desert towns or valley towns in california that are away from the coast. some are so far away from the coast they are very close to arizona but not in arizona. from my understanding there are plenty of hospitals in in those rural areas hurting for rns.

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Christine,

I live in Ohio/NKY! Please PM me the info for the hospitals that you are speaking of that has these wonderful benefits. I will be graduating in December!

Thank You

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Columbia, South Carolina has a huge shortage! The trauma level one teaching hospital there needs ICU nurses. It is a nice place to live, and the beach is only 1 1/2 hrs away. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I live near central IL and currently OSF Saint Francis Med Center has 25+ openings in the ER for RNs....level one trauma center with 65,000 visits/year.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I live near central IL and currently OSF Saint Francis Med Center has 25+ openings in the ER for RNs....level one trauma center with 65,000 visits/year.

*** I went to their web site. They list 170 RN and advanced practice jobs open. It's no wonder with starting pay for RNs $19/hour and advanced practice nurse starting pay at $31/hour.

May be a good place to go for good experience before moving on to a place with more normal pay.

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PMFB-RN:

I wonder about this too...how can you get them to raise starting nursing salaries? I live in a large city in the midwest, there are 5 nursing schools churning out grads,December and June every year. Starting pay is in the 19-20.00/hr range at most hospitals with no prior experience. From what I can gather the younger nurses or those without kids will work a year or two, get experience, then travel to get better pay. Granted, the cost of living here is probably among the lowest in the country...in fact Missouri was just named the State with the lowest gas prices(I paid $3.39/gal today...and that's "high). Our housing costs are considereably low etc. Short of traveling how can a nurse get paid more an hour? THanks!(OP didnt mean to hijack the thread but this is something that has been bothering me for months!) :D

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