California's 2010 New Grad RN Program

U.S.A. California

Published

2010 is fast approaching so I think there must be a new thread for 2010 new grad program. I hope the moderators will allow me to post this new thread. I'm currently working at Monrovia Memorial Hospital which is 40 miles away from our apt. We live here in Playa del Rey, near the LAX and unfortunately I don't drive yet. I'm looking for any hospitals that offers new grad program for next year. I'm not even sure if I'm still qualified for a new grad program because it will be my 8th month this Jan. working at Monrovia Memorial. Anyone could share any info..Thanks..

Specializes in School RN, Ambulatory, Public Health.
I am pretty new to this forum. I don't think I can PM. Is it possible to post the phone #? Thank you.

Sent you a PM. Not sure it went through. Let me know here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Got it. Thank you very much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi everyone,

I am planning to apply to a couple local Bay Area nursing schools (SMU ABSN and UCSF MEPN) this Fall, and these posts about the dismal employment outlook for new grads is pretty terrifying. Does anyone out there have advice for people who are hoping to graduate in the next 2-4 years and land a job in the Bay Area? Do grads from Bay Area schools have a better chance of getting a job over someone from out of state, or are we all in the same boat? Would a graduate from the MEPN program have a better chance of getting a job in a Bay Area hospital than an ABSN graduate?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Job hunt continues daily..found this one..didn't fit my qualifications maybe it fits one of you.

https://careers.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/psc/extapp/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/ROLE_APPLICANT.ER_VIEW_JOBS.GBL

Continue to send you all luck...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Med-Surg.
Hi everyone,

I am planning to apply to a couple local Bay Area nursing schools (SMU ABSN and UCSF MEPN) this Fall, and these posts about the dismal employment outlook for new grads is pretty terrifying. Does anyone out there have advice for people who are hoping to graduate in the next 2-4 years and land a job in the Bay Area? Do grads from Bay Area schools have a better chance of getting a job over someone from out of state, or are we all in the same boat? Would a graduate from the MEPN program have a better chance of getting a job in a Bay Area hospital than an ABSN graduate?

Hi Jaycee,

When it comes to new grad jobs in the Bay Area right now, they are few and very hard to come by. Now that being said, we are in a major job deficit. They say it will turn around, but not anytime in the new future. 2 to 4 years down the road you could only hope that there will be a multitude of jobs for new grads, but we'll just have to see. Retirement of older nurses and changes in the economy will hopefully improve the chances.

I've heard great things about both Samuel Merritt and UCSF. I myself am a bit biased towards the MEPN program at UCSF, because I just graduated from one of the neighboring MSN accelerated programs at USF, but the BSN program at SMU is fantastic if you want to go that track.

Right now, if you have an "in" with a hospital or facility in the Bay Area, you'll might have a greater chance at a new grad job. I've been looking for a year and still have yet to find anything in the Bay Area or California in general. I worked in 5 hospitals throughout the bay area during my rotations and each of those facilities is either not hiring new grads or they are extremely selective. It all depends on where you get your preceptorships and who you work with. That being, it is reasonable to assume that hospitals and med centers in the Bay Area know of the local schools and their reputations, so getting your resume picked out of a line up for at least an interview might better than someone from out of area or out of state.

Remember when you are applying for jobs in the future that the Bay Area has around 10 BSN/MSN programs and even more ADN programs at junior colleges or technical schools. It is always inundated with new grads regardless of the economic climate because each school creates around 50-100 new nurses every 6 months.

I hope that give you some good insight. Hopefully by the time you graduate the job climate will have improved. Good Luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks CaliAli for the detailed response. It's great to get some perspective from someone who is in the throes of the job search. Sorry to suck you in the thread again :), but if you don't mind could you describe how you knew what you wanted to specialize in for your MSN? Were you already an RN with tons of experience, or did you rely on research and networking? For the UCSF MEPN program, it sounds like they want you to be crystal clear on why you want to go into the specialty you are applying for. I'm concerned that my current experience/research does not provide me with that certainty. Just curious how others make that decision.

Thanks, and best of luck with your search!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been cruising through allnurses.com for a while and have learned about the difficulty of finding a job when you are a new grad. I was under the impression that nursing jobs were abundant, new grad or not. Now that I know that this is false, I want to make sure I am as marketable as I can be when I graduate and apply to new grad programs. (I'll be starting an ADN program this fall). Any advice on how I can gain an edge?

What do they look for when hiring new grads? I'm assuming they weigh GPA & NCLEX scores, volunteer experience, recommendation letters.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

Make connections along the way. It seems all my classmates who have gotten jobs got it through preceptors or people they know. I hate to think I meet someone for the purpose of using that connection in the future, but I guess that's how the world works, especially in this economy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I've been cruising through allnurses.com for a while and have learned about the difficulty of finding a job when you are a new grad. I was under the impression that nursing jobs were abundant, new grad or not. Now that I know that this is false, I want to make sure I am as marketable as I can be when I graduate and apply to new grad programs. (I'll be starting an ADN program this fall). Any advice on how I can gain an edge?

What do they look for when hiring new grads? I'm assuming they weigh GPA & NCLEX scores, volunteer experience, recommendation letters.

Thanks!

NCLEX scores - No such thing, at least here in Cali... pass or fail is all you get.

GPA - People are of different opinions. To some folks it matters, to some it doesn't. To some, a high GPA is looked down upon (believe it or not).

Recommendations - These do appear to be significant though I suspect you must make it through the first round of screening before they take the time to actually read your letters.

Volunteer experience - unless it's at the hospital where you're applying, it probably doesn't mean too much.

What does count? NETWORKING. The vast majority of the people (almost exclusively, actually) I know who've found jobs have done so because they know somebody on the inside... me included.

The new-grad job market just absolutely sucks right now (and has for quite awhile... and likely will for quite awhile).

Here's a sobering statistic from California: In the summer of 2009, the CINH issued a report (based on hospital surveys and nursing-school data) which found that 50% of CA grads will NOT find work as nurses. In some areas, it's much higher... the worst was Sacramento at 90%... The greater SF area was over 60%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is real simple. It is not WHAT YOU KNOW BUT WHO YOU KNOW. Or you have more experience/education that will be able to separate you from your competition. GPA, honors bla bla bla bla. They don't care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do an internship on a floor that you want to work at! That's my recommendation. It's tough out there right now, and to top it off, some hospitals are only taking BSN applications for new grads (Stanford, John Muir, etc.) I would recommend taking ACLS/PALS as well just to rev up your resume. I have a BSN, a BS in Psychology, I did 2 different internships for 6 months, have ACLS/BLS, and it's still difficult to even land an interview.

GOOD LUCK! It'll hopefully turn around soon!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Do an internship on a floor that you want to work at! That's my recommendation. It's tough out there right now, and to top it off, some hospitals are only taking BSN applications for new grads (Stanford, John Muir, etc.) I would recommend taking ACLS/PALS as well just to rev up your resume. I have a BSN, a BS in Psychology, I did 2 different internships for 6 months, have ACLS/BLS, and it's still difficult to even land an interview.

GOOD LUCK! It'll hopefully turn around soon!

Sounds like a lot of work but if you want to be employed in the Bay Area as a new grad, that is what you have to do. I have a ADN and BS in Biology, ACLS/BLS/PALS, and sacrificed a summer to intern in an ER that was not required by my school. With all this, I still had a hard time getting interviews yet a job. But it all paid off an I was able to work as a new grad in the ER.

Get your butt out there and be aggressive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment