The Narrowing Nursing Shortage in the Bay Area

Who would ever thought that, after a year being out of Nursing School, getting one’s BSN, and passing the NCLEX, one may still find themselves jobless? This is reality here, folks! I have spoken to some newly licensed nurses who know other RNs who still have not landed their first RN job. As a result, I have taken the initiative and interviewed a number of nurses and some nursing faculty and found out several reasons why there are a growing number of newly graduated RNs who are jobless in the bay area:

Reason 1: Many senior students delay applying for New Grad Training programs. They often look for theirjob after they graduate and get their RN license. Some decide to take a year off for vacation and relaxation.

Reason 2. There have been several budget cuts from different hospitals across the Bay Area where New Grad Training Programs have been reduced.

Reason 3: The hospitals in the Bay Area are one of the highest paying institutions for RNs. We attract scores of RNs from different states and countries, hence open positions for New Grads continue to taper.

Reason 4: Many “senior” RNs who previously considered retiring have decided to continue to work. It is sad but true. A lot of students these days are having a hard time getting their first RN job. It is getting quite competitive and complicated! As Frank La Fontainne, BSN, RN said, “San Francisco seems to be fine with the number of nurses they’ve got. I’ve applied to several hospitals around San Francisco and only heard from one of them”. Whether this situation remains true or not in other parts of California, and even in different states, students must be proactive and assertive in getting organized and applying as early as possible. Some of the interventions students may employ include:

Solution 1: Apply for a part-time or per diem hospital position early while in nursing school (i.e. Nursing Assistant, Unit Clerk, Administrative Assistant, etc.) Get to know the institution you want to work for eventually. Get your feet wet! Establish connections, especially with Nurse Managers.

Solution 2: Apply for the New Grad Training Program as early as the first few months of your senior year. Apply to more than one hospital and consider different units (i.e. Med-Serg, PACU, ICU, CCU, etc.)

Solution 3: Make your credentials stand out! Get certification classes (i.e. ACLS, PALS, Emergency Room certificate, etc.) If you are certified in some areas, many hiring managers may see your application more appealing. This will separate you from other applicants.

Gone are the days when they said that once you have graduated from nursing school, life will be so much easier.

For students like us, we must all continue to be vigilant and persevering. Never stop searching until we have secured our jobs.

Good luck to all!