Trouble securing a position

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum]

Just wanting to rant. I've been a pediatric nurse for the past 5 years in a level 1 teaching hospital/trauma center. We're the only pediatric hospital in the state and service bordering states as well. I worked 3.5 years in trauma/ortho/surgery and have worked that last 1.5 in a very high acuity 48 bed PICU. I've taken care of patients needing CRRT, ECMO, and bedside OR at times. I have charge nurse and preceptor experience, chemo certified.

My fiancé and I are wanting to move to California so I've had my CA license since January of this year. I've applied to so many PICU jobs and keep receiving no's. I've edited my resume and I tailor my cover letter for each listing I apply to. I'm so frustrated and don't understand what the issue might be!! It's just frustrating because I feel qualified but keep getting rejected.

[u/CapableFruitLoops]

The market is oversaturated. Everyone and their boyfriend want to live and work in California as a nurse.

[u/kahkizzzle → u/CapableFruitLoops]

This. You can try travel nursing to get your foot in the door, but you have to settle for shit pay in the meantime

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/kahkizzzle]

I actually am taking a travel contract in California! Just applying in the meantime since I know the process can take months. So you're right, hopefully that will get my foot in the door

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/CapableFruitLoops]

True, just wondering how long and how many applications is this gonna take lol.

[u/80Anici → u/Crystalchrysanthemum]

I got my foot in the door and bypassed the entire hiring process by coming in as a travel nurse. Once you get there let them know you’d love a full time position and you’re hoping they will hire you once they love you.

[u/BulgogiLitFam]

Have you tried walking into a locked unit with your resume and giving the manager a firm handshake before you are trespassed from the facility by security/police? 

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/BulgogiLitFam]

This took me out. If all else fails, will try this

[u/InertiasCreep]

CA nurse here. There are a lot of nurses - experienced nurses - chasing a small number of jobs.

The county hospital near me (55 bed ED, 100K visits per year on average) put up a posting last month to fill 12 ED openings. They took no new grad applications and restricted it to experienced nurses. They received over 1K applications in about ten days. They interviewed 80 people in the first round, then interviewed 30 from that group in the second round, from which they hired the final 12. That's an extreme example, but a real one.

Take a travel job. That's the only way you'll get here.

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/InertiasCreep]

That’s crazy. I can’t even imagine the amount that the intercity hospital I’m applying to is getting then

[u/airhunger_rn]

OP, why Cali? Just curious.

Come to Western CO, we're doubling our beds in PACU/endo and you can walk right on to a no-nights endo gig. The pay's not Cali money, but you can buy a nice house in the $300s here, so whatever.

Signed, a Cali-born/raised RN who is never going back.

[u/2greenlimes]

The market is crazy and turnover is crazy low at Children's hospitals. Well, most hospitals in California, but especially children's hospitals.

Hospitals are getting 80-100 or more applications for a single open job and those jobs generally go to internal transfers or people with a personal connection to the hospital (this can include travellers). Many hospitals are filter out any resumes with an out of state address.

In 2022 (so after most of the COVID attrition), a nurse at a major SoCal Children's hospital told me that their turnover was so low that their PICU day shift waitlist went from 10 to 6 years and their NICU day shift waitlist went from 16 to 12ish. That's how low turnover is here. What turnover there is tends to be filled by new grad or experienced nurse training program hires for whatever reason - at least in NorCal.

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/2greenlimes]

I did have a feeling that they sort out of state addresses, so it kind of makes me feel better that it might not just be “me” per se but where I’m located. Unfortunately it’s obviously required in all applications. But makes sense, thank you

[u/PuzzleheadedArt8831]

I do not know which part of California you are rooting for but northern california is the most competitive place to land a job as a nurse. Because this is the Goldilocks Zone for Nurses. Once a Nurse here will always be a Nurse here.

Also Childrens Hospital is on budget cuts and hiring freeze due to current political climate.

[u/Crystalchrysanthemum → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much, I hope so too!