Moving to Cali

I currently live in San Francisco and love it here! I moved about six months ago from Kansas. Have you been out here yet? The best advice I could give you is come out and look around before you make the move.

I believe I have one of the best nursing positions in the country compared to where I came from. There are a lot of great hospitals in this area with new grad pay starting somewhere between $35/hr to $41/hr(without shift differential). The cost of living is high, though. I have a one-bedroom apartment that costs me $1500/month BUT I have a spectacular view of the ocean right from my living room!

What area of nursing are you interested in? If you want ER, you most likely want to go to a level 1 trauma center such as San Francisco General Hospital. If you want a teaching hospital, UCSF Medical Center would be the place to go. If you want to be involved with transplant patients, go to California Pacific Medical Center. There are others in the area, too, such as St. Mary's and St. Francis (Catholic Healthcare West facilities), Kaiser, and Seton Medical Center. These are just hospitals in the SF area. Someone from Oakland could give you more information on hospitals in the East Bay area.

Hope this helps...

Beware. Many parts of Oakland are high-crime.

Thanks for the info. SherBerRN. I'm planning to move to the Bay area as well after I graduate in May 2007.

I was born and raised in the bay area, and wouldnt want to leave. Its a great place to live and work.

There are so many hospitals in the bay area! In Oakland/Berkeley alone there is Kaiser, Alta Bates, Summit, Highland (Alameda County), ect.

If you are planning on living in one city and commuting to another, just keep in mind that traffic here can be the worst! What looks like a 10-15 minute drive on the map, at the wrong time of day, can take an hour. I suggest a reverse commute.

While Oakland has been labeled "murder capital of the world," please don't let that scare you. That is media drama. It is a very very large city and is extremely polarized. True, there are parts of Oakland that I am nervous driving through during the day. However some of the most beautiful homes and neighborhoods in the greater bay area, are in Oakland. I can only dream of ever living in the Oakland hills or Piedmont, Montclair area. Amazing homes, views, schools, small town feeling, ect.

If you expand upon what you are looking for, you will get different advice. What is important to you? Being close to work? Good schools for your kids? Are you looking to rent, share rent, or buy? Apartment or house? Do you want to be in the city or a family friendly neighborhood? ... as far as nursing jobs, do you want county or HMO or private?

Sorry to bombard you with questions. Every city, and neighborhood within cities, are vastly different. I happen to live in a ridculously expensive city, Albany, so my kids can go to school here. If I were a single person, I would stay in the bay area, but probably jump neighborhoods.

I would be glad to expand further if you have specific questions about cities and neighborhoods! Best to you!

...ok, I just realized this was an old thread ...

Hello Berkeley Mom,
I'm a philly RN looking to relocate somewhere in CA this summer. I want to apply to ICU positions in southern cali. I heard San Diego is beautiful. I've visited San Fran 4 yrs. ago and loved it all, except for cold, rainy days in the winter! I'm currently single and will be renting an apartment. I'm paying $900/month for 1-bedroom in philly. I'm making $27.63/hr in my current job as a tele/oncology nurse.
What hospitals are reputable for ICU nursing in bay area, southern cali? How long have you lived in Berkeley? Don't know anything about berkeley. I guess I'm confused now as to which cities I should consider moving to!

Any advice would be helpful!

Hi pumpkie!

I wish I had more info for you, but I don't know much about Southern Cali, and I am not yet a nurse. ... still waiting to hear back ... You are right that it is warmer in the winter in LA and San Diego. However, we still do have a temperate climate. This last weekend was nicer than a summer day--clear skys, warm, but not too hot--I took a walk on the beach actually In Berkeley, the average day temp range all year long seems like 55-80. It will never get uncomfortably hot.

I have read on these threads that Northern Cali nurses do get paid more, for whatever thats worth. And I know you could find a one bedroom apartment, or if you are willing to have a roomate--a house--for less than 900/month in Berkeley or Oakland. SF is much more expensive! If you work in SF you can live in the East Bay and communte if you dont mind traffic--but as a nurse, you may not have as much traffic with different work shifts.

One thing I can tell you is that there are so so many hospitals in this area. In Oakland and SF alone, I can come up with--Children's Hos Oak, Summit Med Center, Kaiser Oak, Highland (Alameda County), Alta Bates (in Berk near Oak), UCSF, SF General, Saint Mary's, Kaiser SF, the list goes on. You may want to research the ICUs, but I am sure UCSF and Standford med center have excellent ones.

My friend just started off as a new nurse in an ICU at Stanford making 35/hour and she said she is garunteed a raise in 6 months. I wonder if you just made a list and called the HR departments, if you could get some quotes?

We need RNs here in the bay area, so come on over! If you like temperate climate year round, fresh farmers markets year round, an appreciation for small business, being a fairy boat away from SF, Tilden Park--beautiful nature areas, cultural diversity and liberal politics, off leash dog parks with bay views ... well, I think you will love Berkeley.

... I have always wanted to experience San Diego too ... you can't go wrong either way.

I would start a new thread asking about ICUs.

Good luck!
BerkMom