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A Nurse’s Guide on Preventing Career–Ending Back Problems

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

A Nurse’s Guide on Preventing Career–Ending Back Problems

Nursing can be extremely demanding on a physical level. Healthcare professionals spend long and grueling hours on their feet as they perform life saving care. Nurses are also expected to lift and transfer patients onto their wheelchairs/beds or transfer equipment from room to room. It is no surprise that—per the American Nurses Association–nurses rank fifth among all occupations in risk of strains and sprains. Left unchecked, these injuries can pose a serious threat to a staff nurse’s health. In some cases, nurses are even hurt into an early retirement. Thankfully, this can all be avoidable. With the right habits and support, you can preserve your body and increase your chances of a long, fruitful career. In this article, we will go over a number of good ways to prevent severe work-related back injuries.

Practice body mechanics

Poor body mechanics are a common catalyst for back injuries in healthcare jobs. Improving your body mechanics from top to bottom helps you prevent this while making physical tasks a little easier at the same time. Before a nurse or nurse assistant does anything strenuous, set your feet into a solid base slightly wider than their hips as they bend at their knees. Use the energy from your legs to lift, instead of your back.

Proper posture is also important for any healthcare professional. As you lift or bend, hold your shoulders back and keep your head upright to maintain a neutral spine. To do this, you need to bend or “hinge” from the hips, instead of the back. As you lift, you want to keep the object or your patient close to your center of gravity (or midsection) in order to minimize the forces at play.

Know your limits

Say you are a per diem nurse looking towards full integration, or a full time nurse eyeing a salary raise. In this case, you may be compelled to do some extra work in order to meet your goals. No matter how hard you try, some people or devices will simply be too heavy for you. Forcing any nurse assistant to shoulder such a burden is the perfect way to herniate one’s disc. Instead of injuring yourself, you can either use transfer boards or ask help from a teammate or fellow staff nurses. Remember that you are part of a team of capable fellow nurses who should be more than happy to lend a hand.

Regular exercise

Healthy healthcare professionals avoid injuries better. Stronger, more flexible muscles help you handle the rigors of an average nursing shift. At the minimum, you want to reach some minimum level of physical fitness. In particular, leg exercises and trunk stability workouts will give nurse assistants the base and the strength to maintain proper posture as you lift and carry things. Applying for a gym membership, employing a physical therapist or committing to your own garage workout routine are two very good ways to get fit for the workplace.

Better available technology

This is a solution that would require proper support and implementation from nursing facilities. Assistive lift technologies reduce the physical burden of healthcare jobs and greatly lowers injury rates as a result. This includes ceiling lifts, stand-up lifts, electronic transfer devices and other more advanced equipment. The American Nurses Association also recommends that nurses be involved in the process of choosing the right equipment. If your chosen facility has little to no such equipment available, consider bringing it up to HR or advocating for its use. Added costs are worth less injuries to staff nurses, in the long run.

Report any injuries immediately

Healthcare professionals can do everything in your power to avoid a back injury, but sometimes it is out of your control. Do not be afraid to notify your employer as soon as possible. Employers are responsible for taking care of their staffed nurses and your reports can set a precedent to avoid these events in the future. Even before anything happens, you want to contact your state’s or employer’s health department to inquire on their policies. Some places require that injuries be reported within 24 hours, while others do not. In most cases, you can even file a worker’s compensation claim from your employer. Keep in mind that this can only be availed within 30 days between the injury and the filing of the claim itself.

Nurses deserve the best

Everyday, nurses and nursing assistants work tirelessly to protect the ill, the battered and the broken. Healthcare jobs come with both a heavy physical and mental toll, and this damage can add up. An increased awareness of the importance of body mechanics and fitness can go a long way in preventing unnecessary injuries in the future. Nurses also require crucial support from their co-workers, their facilities and the government itself. By addressing the problem before it can get worse, we ensure that the future of the healthcare industry remains as bright as possible.

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Facilities HCP

10 important tips that all graduate nurses should know

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

10 important tips that all graduate nurses should know

Job hunting and working as a fresh graduate nurse can be difficult, to say the least. Nursing is a dynamic and high pressure profession with an increasingly competitive job market. You can have the highest marks in a classroom setting, yet there are some things that school cannot prepare you for. Before you set out on an exciting new chapter in your life, here are a few key considerations that every new grad RN should know.

Tailor your CV to specific facilities

Sending the same documents to multiple employees may seem efficient but you are only making things harder for yourself. Instead of sending the same CV and cover letter repeatedly, create documents that can serve as base templates. From there, you can edit to suit the specific facility, specialization or position you are applying for. For example, new graduate nurses looking for pediatrician roles should stress communicating with children, patience, empathy and other similarly relevant attributes. By doing this, employees will see how you are a unique and perfect fit for the role. This lets you stand out amidst a sea of applicants for new grad nurse jobs.

Establish a support network

Between the unique challenges, stressful nature and advanced knowledge and training needed for base competency, nursing can overwhelm anyone. Building a support network lets you get in touch with fellow graduate nurses who understand your struggles. Talking to people who understand your experiences can lift some of the burden. Your friends can also provide invaluable professional advice and even nurse job leads if you are lucky. Do not be afraid to open up and ask help from your peers, provided that you are willing to do the same. Nurses who are still in school can build this network early by staying in touch with their classmates, professors and mentors. Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn help a lot in this regard. Facebook in particular is rich with new grad RN communities.

Do not be afraid to be discerning

You may end up going through dozens, if not hundreds of applications before your first graduate nursing job offer. Be that as it may, you should not accept the very first job offer that comes to your table. Every offer deserves consideration but if possible, you want to find jobs that fit your desired career path, personality and priorities. Even if you do not know where you want your career to go, you definitely have a good idea of what you dislike. If you have a strong aversion to the ER or the ICU, you do not need to accept an opening or offering immediately. Conversely, if you are interested in telehealth or physician’s offices, then you can give priority to those nursing job openings.

Be ready for anything

Healthcare can be a volatile line of work. No one can predict every sudden patient behavioral shift or flattening heart rate perfectly. Even graduate nurses need to be prepared for the worst when the time comes. All nurse jobs demand composure and adaptability from HCPs. ER nurses make a living off of getting quick, high pressure cases and quickly identifying the problem, before starting treatment in order to stabilize their patient conditions. Not every department is as high pressure but all nurses will be expected to deal with sudden adversity, when the time comes.

Do not be too hard on yourself

New grad RNs are not expected to be experts in their field on day one. Even with years of top education and clinical rotation experience, there will be times where you make mistakes. Acclimating yourself to your facility or profession’s workflow while providing lifesaving care is difficult for even the best new graduate nurses. Instead of beating yourself up after every little fumble, use this as an opportunity to learn. Forgiving yourself is the first step in learning from your mistakes.

Learn from your peers

If ever you find yourself unsure about something, do not hesitate to ask a question to your superiors or peers. Even if it seems obvious, your bosses are responsible for giving clarifications to freshly-graduated nurses who just entered the workforce. You will also gain a lot from simply observing the professionals around you. There is a lot of value to their wisdom and insights.

Build winning habits

A certificate in nursing alone does not prepare you for how unpredictable nursing can be. Establishing a good routine and positive working habits lets you gain some control over your surroundings. For example: regularly getting up and going to work early helps you avoid any tardiness and subsequent complications. Making sure you have all your supplies and double checking your itinerary is also helpful. When excellence becomes a habit, even the most difficult nursing jobs get a little easier.

Work on your time management

Nurses are usually trusted to complete a number of tasks within a single shift. For the uninitiated, juggling all these priorities can be a daunting task. New grad RNs need to learn how to manage their time by setting their priorities straight. Determine what tasks need to be completed more urgently than others. From there you can create a list that can lend some structure and direction to your working day.

Take care of yourself

Sometimes a little self-care is all you need to decompress and new graduate nurses are no exception. Treating yourself comes in many different forms. Sometimes this can mean indulging in the finer things in life: buying clothes, watching movies and eating a good meal can do wonders for your psyche. Self care can be going on a diet, regularly exercising or even taking deep breaths Though not immediately gratifying, over time they will pay their dividends. A graduate nurse who is physically and mentally fit is better prepared for the rigors of hospital work.

Consider continuing education

When you pursue further learning, you are moving towards higher and better paying nursing positions. Alumni from entry level MSN programs can take on advanced practice roles as nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and more. You can even find roles in non-clinical spaces such as nurse education, informatics and research. Graduate nursing programs are often considerably expensive and require a certain amount of bedside experience, so you do not need to start immediately. Once you can pool the resources and can study while you work, this is a route well worth considering down the line.

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Nurse Champion of the Month – Vhem

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Nurse Champion of the Month – Vhem

VitaWerks is a large team of employees from different departments and specializations. Together, we work to offer the best healthcare staffing services available. This issue, we want to take time to thank our amazing team of Nurse Champions. As members of the support team, they help our healthcare professionals with any concerns, issues, or questions they may have, with regard to the official app or the booking process. While the HCPs ultimately choose where and when they want to work, our Nurse Champions play a vital role in securing the best per diem rates available for them. Using their own healthcare experiences, our Nurse Champions are an integral part of the VitaWerks process.

In recognition of their contributions to the company, this issue will highlight one of the brightest Nurse Champions on our team. For February, we are proud to announce Vhem as our HCP of the Month. Since she joined the VitaWerks family in 2021, she has not looked back. Anyone who has worked with her endlessly praised her for her kindness and reliable support services. “Working as a Nurse Champion has been such a rewarding experience,” she shared with us. “Oftentimes, I talk with my HCPs like they are my friends. “

At work, Vhem has been a joy to work with. Almost immediately, she built strong relationships with her colleagues and co-workers. “Across different departments, everyone I work with is so friendly and supportive,” she detailed. “It really makes working in VitaWerks feel like being part of a big family.”

In her free time, Vhem has always been an outgoing and family-oriented person. She has a vegetable garden in her backyard that she continues to tend to and cultivate. She will browse the internet on her phone or personal computer, to find interesting articles or shop around online stores. When her schedule allows for it, she takes fitness walks to burn calories in a sustainable, low-intensity manner. Above all else, she would love nothing more than to spend time with her husband.

As it was for most people, the pandemic threw a wrench in her plans. Back in 2021, remote healthcare jobs were not as commonplace as they are today. Now, she can continue working in the industry in the safety of her own house. “Being with the company has been an amazing experience, since day one. I have been able to continue working, without having to leave our house! I am thankful for the opportunity that VitaWerks has given me.

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Facilities HCP

WHO: For top-quality patient care, we must invest in nurses

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

WHO: For top-quality patient care, we must invest in nurses

In 2020, the World Health Organization projected that a serious global nursing shortage of 4.6 million nurses will ravage healthcare, if left unchecked. Turnover was already an issue—mostly due to the aging patient populations and workforce—but COVID-19 undoubtedly exacerbated it. During the pandemic, hospitals were filled to maximum capacity, hired HCPs worked grueling hours and facilities contended with supply and labor shortages. Unsurprisingly, countless nurses dealt with burnout, fatigue and planned to retire earlier than expected.

Registered nurses make up 30% of American healthcare staffing. They are the backbone of the healthcare system and they are irreplaceable in making the world a better, healthier place. A long and sustained nursing shortage would kneecap both the industry and public safety at large. If we expect them to provide care under historic circumstances, then governments have to start investing in nurses and nurse staffing.

What does this investment entail, exactly? Luckily, this WHO report provides a list of key suggestions. One of the biggest priorities on this list is investing in nurse education and job creation. By developing aspiring nursing students and providing enticing nursing job opportunities, hiring HCPs to fill shortages will be far easier. The WHO also stresses the importance of analytics. With more resources, nurse organizations can better collect, analyze and interpret data from the healthcare world. Using this information, companies can have a clearer picture of the current state of healthcare and how to improve nursing outcomes.

Legislation that promotes safe and productive work environments will also be important for investing in nurses. Safe healthcare staffing, adequate salaries and gender-based workplace policies are just a few pertinent examples. In particular, legal maximum patient-to-nurse staffing ratios have historically been effective in improving patient outcomes and increasing mutual satisfaction between patients and staff. Policies that address gender discrimination will also be crucial in protecting and retaining talent, especially considering that 90% of nurses are women.

In the bigger picture, investment also entails enacting policies related to the globalization of healthcare staffing. Responsibly and ethically monitoring nurse migration, for instance, will make sure international HCPs get hired safely and securely. International harmonization of education and training standards also allows governing bodies to accept nursing credentials across different countries. Implementing these laws will not be easy, but it would give nurses more freedom, mobility and incentives to stay.

Nurses of all kinds play an invaluable role of containing epidemics and maintaining our collective health. Failing to retain and develop the nursing workforce would put the safety of mankind at risk and that is in no way hyperbolic. For the future of healthcare staffing, governments and facilities alike have no choice but to pour resources into nurse education, creating nursing jobs and promoting positive work environments. In doing so, they will ensure a sustainable, satisfactory and productive healthcare system.

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Facilities HCP

McKinsey: Nurses stay motivated with “meaningful work”

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

McKinsey: Nurses stay motivated with “meaningful work”

The pandemic has deeply affected the healthcare world. COVID cases have brought upon unprecedented workloads and stress to nurses worldwide. There was already a shortage of nurses, but these conditions have sped up this trend, especially in America. According to McKinsey, surveyed HCPs who intend to leave the industry shot up by 10% in the US, between February 2021 and November 2021. Among the thousands of nurses interviewed across six countries, between 28 to 38% of professionals wanted to leave their direct patient healthcare jobs.

More than half of correspondents noted that their intentions had “nothing to do with the pandemic.” In countries like Brazil and Singapore, 20% of nurses reported that they were less likely to leave. Though the effect of COVID on nurses’ professional decisions are “variable,” these trends still point to a widespread fatigue with the industry. It is clear that facilities and nursing staffing agencies will have their hands full in the coming years.

Yet CNAs, RNs and nurses of all levels carry on with their work. What drives these people to stay in the face of such adversity?

The McKinsey survey highlights a number of motivating factors. Interestingly, compensation was not the top motivation across correspondents. Of the six countries, Japan was the only area where it even cracked the top 3. The most important motivating forces, across all countries, were “meaningful work, a positive, engaging work environment and feeling safe/healthy.”

It makes a lot of sense.. Healthcare jobs are already demanding without a historic pandemic disrupting the workflow. When you feel that your work is contributing to something meaningful and important, it motivates you in a way that money alone cannot. “Just” compensation will not convince nursing assistants when they can make money outside the clinical setting. A positive work environment feeds into this, as it unites like-minded individuals under a singular vision and shared goal.

Now more than ever, facilities must work to retain, grow and draw nurses if they want to fill their nurse staffing vacancies. Though not comprehensive or unquestionable, the McKinsey survey gives us a good idea of what that might entail.

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Facilities HCP

Thinking for the Future: Supporting nurses across different settings.

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

Thinking for the Future: Supporting nurses across different settings.

According to the US Health Resources and Services Administration, one-third of nurses will retire within the next 10 years. This turnover, combined with the rise in nursing demand, is going to create a drastic and lengthy nursing shortage. 200,000 annual nurse job openings are expected, between 2016 and 2026. All healthcare facilities must step up to support their nurses to survive. The exact healthcare setting does not matter: with the right measures, any facility can retain and develop a strong HCP workforce.

Intelligent Talent Planning

Planning proactive talent pipelines will be essential for any healthcare facility. Creating programs and incentives helps you attract and develop young CNAs and nurses early on. A good example of this is collaborating with universities, community colleges or other training programs. This lets you fill healthcare job vacancies with talent who are prepared for the demands of your specific facility. In turn, they will be more likely to work there long term.

Facilities can also benefit from attracting young nurses early on. Part-time shifts, holiday pay and tuition reimbursement are particularly attractive to younger demographics. Understanding what young nurses want out of their careers is essential, if you want to create competitive offers that

Addressing mental trauma

Nursing jobs are already stressful, but COVID-19 has magnified this tenfold. The increased workload, long and demanding hours and the fear of infection led to symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress among some HCPs. Healthcare facilities must take responsibility by providing their nurses with the emotional support they need. Unfortunately, many HCPs do not talk about their mental issues or take the necessary time to rest, when possible.

Mental health problems are still wrongly viewed as signs of weakness or something to be ashamed of. To address this, a culture of understanding and empathy must be established to encourage a more open and honest dialogue. From there, facilities can provide helpful programs and resources like workshops or communication activities.

Making nurses feel valued

Showing gratitude may seem like a formality, but it can mean the world. When you feel valued, you become more committed, manage stress easier and gain more work satisfaction. For example, nurses in long term care facilities are 10% less likely to feel “recognized” or “thanked,” compared to HCPs in other healthcare facilities. It is no surprise that the annual turnover rate for LTC nursing jobs is double that of an inpatient setting.

Facing the challenges ahead

Even as we head to a “new normal,” there is seemingly no slowing down the inevitable nursing shortage. The stress of the pandemic has already taken its toll on nurses around the world and many are resigning as a result. Per diem nurses are extremely valuable but they cannot be the sole solution. From CNAs to NPs, nurses on all levels need to be supported and taken care of, if hospitals have any hope of weathering the storm. Facilities must go above and beyond to develop and continuously support the talent that remains. By creating a positive culture, crafting detailed development plans and sensitively addressing the struggles they have faced, healthcare facilities can succeed in creating a flexible, resilient and capable workforce that will carry the nursing world into the future.

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HCP

All you need to know about California CNA CEU renewal

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

All you need to know about California CNA CEU renewal

The nursing world is constantly changing. Evolving technology, new scientific discoveries and unpredictable medical trends forces HCPs and facilities alike to stay on their toes. To ensure that their training is up-to-date, state licensing boards make nurses fulfill continuing education requirements before they can renew their licenses. Exact requirements vary by state and California is no exception to this.

To help you stay on top of your certification renewals, we will go over all the CEU requirements for California nurses.

Contact Hours and CEUs

For the uninitiated, a couple of terms need to be defined. State boards of nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) count continuing education requirements in two ways: contact hours and continuing education units. Although they are commonly used interchangeably. They are not the same.

Contact hours are 50 to 60 hours of nursing lessons. Continuing Education Units (or CEUs) are roughly equivalent to 10 contact hours. How many CEUs you will need (along with other miscellaneous requirements) is dependent on your profession and location. Below, we will go over various HCPs and their CEU requirements in California.

Certified Nursing Assistant: California CNA In-Service training entails 48 contact hours. Only 24 of these hours can be completed online. For CNA CEU renewal, at least 12 contact hours must be completed annually, within the 2-year certification period.

RN/LVN: CEU requirements in California are similar across these professions. These HCPs must complete 30 contact hours in two years.

Accepted Courses

To fulfill your CEU requirements, your classes should be relevant to your specialty, approved by the California Nursing Board and accredited by a school, employer or recognized institution.

These are courses that meet this criteria, per the California Board of Nursing.

Home Study Courses

CME Category 1

University or College Credit:

  • 1 quarter = 10 contact hours
  • 1 semester = 15 contact hours

To fulfill California’s CEU requirement, the course must be above the knowledge needed for licensure. Examples include:

  • Physical, Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Physical sciences-pathophysiology
  • Basic physical, social and behavioral science courses
  • Direct Patient Care
  • Skills courses (stoma care, etc.)
  • Patient education strategies
  • Cultural/ethnic diversity
  • Indirect Patient Care
  • Nursing administration
  • Nursing education
  • Statistics
  • Legal aspects of nursing

For a full list, refer to the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Exemptions

You are exempted from CEU requirements in California in your first two years as a nurse. You also qualify if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • The licensee is requesting inactive status for the license
  • Employed overseas for 1 or more years, or overseas residence for 1 or more years and currently employed.
  • Employed by a Federal Institution or Agency or one of the Military Services (USA), where that person is practicing nursing outside of the state of California on a California license (see Renewal Fee Waiver for Active Duty Military Personnel)
  • Experienced one of the following hardships for 1 or more years:
  • Total physical disability for 1 or more years, along with verification of ability to return to work.
  • Total disability of an immediate family member that you are responsible for, for 1 or more years.
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How to Search for LVN Jobs in California

  • Vitawerks • February 8, 2023

How to Search for LVN Jobs in California

Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse jobs are rising in demand. The BLS projects a 9% growth in employment from 2020 to 2030, which translates to 60,700 annual job openings within that time. Thanks to aging populations in need of long term care, and older LVNs retiring or resigning, the need for skilled LVNs is expected to be felt in the coming years. This is especially true of CA, where demand for these nurses was expected to rise to 11%, which is higher than the national average. Between the high demand, higher salaries and scenic location, there are a number of reasons to find LPN jobs in California.

Acquire Your Licensure

Since CA is not part of the Nursing Licensure Compact, all LVNs must have licenses from the California Board of Registered Nursing. If you have a license in another state, you can apply for a California LVN License by Endorsement. Provided that you have an active LPN license and have passed either the NCLEX or the SBTPE, you can acquire this with no further examination and start looking for Licensed Vocational Nurses jobs. Additionally, you also have to submit the following requirements:

  • Two Fingerprint Cards
  • Proof of 12th Grade Education
  • Clean Criminal History Report
  • Verification of Licensure
  • Current Licensure in Another State

Conversely, California natives can simply apply to a local program. Students must complete 1,530 hours of lessons at California Nursing Board-approved schools. Make sure the program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) to ensure that it meets quality standards. Once you graduate, take and pass the NCLEX-PN before you get licensed and hunt for LPN jobs in California.

Consider Location

To find LVN jobs, you need to know where to look. The BLS reports that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area has the second highest employment level nationwide. However, facilities in need of LVNs can be found across the state, as they are hired by a variety of different facilities. At the time of writing, these are the facilities that are most likely to hire LPNs:

  • General hospitals
  • Academic Institutions
  • Long term care facilities
  • Home care services

Browse Online Job Listings

HCPs can Licensed Practical Nursing jobs on a number of different sites. Glassdoor, Indeed, Linkedin and Ziprecruiter are just a few examples of sites that list LPN jobs in California. You can also visit hospital websites directly and see if there are any job openings listed.

Book Per Diem Shifts

Per Diem nursing has gained prominence over the years, as an effective way to search for LVN jobs. When you are employed “per diem,” you are only booking shifts temporarily in order to fill in for gaps in the workforce. Thanks to recent nurse shortages, this has never been more important Thanks to this high demand, salaries are incredibly competitive with even full-time rates.

When you work per diem, you still want to find the absolute best Licensed Practical Nursing jobs. You cannot settle with just any staffing agency. Vitawerks utilizes advanced AI-matching technology to match you with the highest paying, top quality facilities in the state. The platform provides unmatched flexibility, diversity and earning potential that cannot be found elsewhere.

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HCP

3 points to consider when choosing a nurse staffing agency

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

3 points to consider when choosing a nurse staffing agency

Between evolving medical technology, aging populations and a pandemic that has changed everything, healthcare as we know it is continuously adapting to changing demands. In the midst of all these changes and trends, medical staffing agencies have risen to prominence. For the uninitiated, these companies secure nurses to contractual gigs, for facilities who need to fill out temporary or permanent shortages. This per diem nursing offers HCPs unparalleled flexibility and diversity. In essence, nurses can book as many shifts as they need while working in a variety of different settings.

While this all sounds nice, you want to be sure that you find nurse recruiters that will do right by you. To help you with this, we will go over everything you need to consider when choosing an agency.

Look for References and Reviews

To find the best nursing jobs you want to be absolutely sure that you are joining an upstanding organization. Checking site reviews is a good start, but you want to take things a step further. Sites like Linkedin, online nursing forums or even some Facebook groups could give you a clearer picture of what it is like to work with the company. To take it a step further, you want to look for references from HCPs actively working with that nurse recruitment agency. These are as trustworthy an account as you can get, in today’s working environment. You ideally want one from someone you are familiar with, but that is optional.

Find Agencies That Offer the Right Jobs

Part of the magic of per diem nursing is the diversity. HCPs will find themselves working in multiple different facilities and specializations. As a result, their experiences are far more diverse than your typical full time nurse. However, there is still a possibility that you want to narrow your focus on a specific field of interest. Maybe you want to build experience to further your education or stay in your lane. If that is the case, you want to see if jobs within your specialization are offered. Some agencies cast a broad net, while others prioritize certain areas.

Find Agencies With Ongoing Support

Different institutions have different environments, cultures and priorities. When a nurse works multiple side jobs, they need to learn to get acclimated with new facilities in an instant. Ongoing support from your nurse staffing agency can make all the difference in the world. Ideally, there is staff that will answer any questions you might have, regarding your assignments and bookings. Should any complications arise or if you need any clarifications, you want to be sure that your agency will provide mid-assignment assistance when needed.

A world of opportunity

A good nurse recruiter will expand your horizons as a nurse. Per diem nurses can essentially try out different specializations and gain experience in various environments while earning highly-competitive salaries. It comes with its fair share of challenges, but. Provided that you remember these three key considerations, you will be rewarded with career flexibility or opportunities you cannot find anywhere else.

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How to Search For RN Jobs in California

  • Hello • February 8, 2023

How to Search For RN Jobs in California

California is among the top destinations for registered nurses. Per California Board of Registered Nursing, it currently accounts for 458,717 registered nursing jobs. For reference, the BLS reports that there are 3 million nursing jobs in America. As the top paying state for RNs, it is not hard to see why. Currently, the RN average salary in California is as high as $124,000. This article will go over everything you need to know about finding the best possible RN positions in the Land of Milk And Honey.

Further Your Education

You can currently become a Registered Nurse with your Associate’s Degree in Nursing. However, getting at least your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing makes finding RN jobs in California far easier. Nurses with BSNs are tied to higher success, and lower mortality and failure-to-rescue rates. As the nursing world grows more competitive, healthcare facilities are looking to staff the best personnel available. In particular, Magnet hospitals looking to retain their status will be looking for nurses with a higher educational background. The Institute of Medicine has even recommended that 80% of RN positions should be filled with BSN graduates by 2020.

Acquire your California License

CA is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, nurses who operate there must have a license authorized by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN). This is the case for part time RN jobs and full time positions alike. Do not expect to start your RN job straight away, since the process of acquiring your license can take a long time. The board has to collect and analyze documents from agencies, schools, other states or countries. On average, it will take around 10 to 16 weeks to acquire your license, while the renewal process is a 2 to 8 week affair. Do not be surprised if it takes even longer.

If you are obtaining your first RN license, you can acquire your license by examination. For nurses from other states, apply licensure by endorsement before applying for RN jobs in California. Both routes have an application packet you must fill out and submit, along with a list of requirements.

Finally, you can acquire a 6-month temporary license for a fee of $50. Simply fill out the endorsement packet, sans college transcripts. This lets you fill an RN position while waiting for your permanent license.

Refer to school resources

Finding new grad RN jobs can be a tricky proposition. Luckily, there are things you can do early to start hunting for job opportunities. Schools offer a host of career resources to their students, to aid them in their job search.

  • Career presentations from representatives of various healthcare facilities
  • Faculty who will help you find entry-level RN job opportunities.
  • Feeder internships with an affiliated healthcare program. This lets you gain experience with the chance of integration.
  • I-person career fairs where you can present your CV or answer questions to prospective employers.
  • Alumni networks made up of graduate nurses where you can build connections that may lead to entry-level opportunities.

If you study in California, you should be able to search for an RN position in-state without much issue. If you are from a different state, consult with clinical instructors or career counselors finding entry level jobs in CA.

Account for Location

Some areas in California have more career opportunities than others. In general, most RN employment is concentrated in major city areas. According to the BLS, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area alone has the second highest employment level in the country with 113,890 jobs and a median salary of $ 116,110. Within the San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles metro areas alone, there are around 500 hospitals. As a bonus, the 10 highest paying metropolitan areas for RN positions are all in California:

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: $ 155,230
  • San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward: $151,640
  • Vallejo-Fairfield: $146,360
  • Santa Rosa: $141,440
  • Napa: $139,680
  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $139,590
  • Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade: $135,490
  • Salinas: $130,520
  • Modesto: $127,730
  • Hanford-Corcoran: $124,790

An RN job offer’s salary is not the only concern. Cost of living, travel and other miscellaneous expenses need to be considered, and applications for jobs in these areas can get competitive. Between the high pay and large number of employment opportunities, however, California’s metropolitan areas are a good place to start your search.

Search Online

There are a number of online job searching sites RNs can use. Indeed, Onward Healthcare, Nurse.com and Nursing Network are just a few examples of sites that list a host of full time and part time RN job offers. However, there are often so many job listings that it can be hard to sift through them all. Visiting the websites for facilities or hospitals in order to find open RN positions is a viable alternative.

Consider the Highest Paying Specializations

Some RN positions are more on-demand than others, in California. These nurses tend to find employment and higher salaries easier, as a result. At the time of writing, these are the most highly-demanded Registered Nursing specialities:

  • ICU
  • Emergency
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Medical-Surgical
  • Oncology
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Legal Nursing
  • Operating Room
  • Progressive Care
  • Telemetry

Book per diem nursing shifts

While it is not a speciality, Per Diem RN jobs have grown in recent years as a valuable alternative. Per Diem nursing serves as a valuable stop gap solution to the nurse shortages that have affected healthcare facilities. Since demand is at an all time high, their salaries are highly competitive with many full time rates.

Platforms like VitaWerks will link you with the highest paying shifts in California, with the help of advanced AI-matching technology. With the flexibility to set your own schedules and work in different facilities, all while earning more than some traditionally-employed nurses, per diem nursing is a bold and promising way to find the best RN jobs in the Golden State.

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