Looking for job in Southern California

U.S.A. California

Published

I live in OKC right now and I graduate with my RN (ADN) in May 2013 and I am needing some advice. I will be moving to the SoCal area (Costa Mesa or Long Beach) so I was curious if

1. anyone has made this move and knows if I should take my NCLEX here and transfer it to California or just take my NCLEX in California.

2. Where should I apply for a job? I want to work at one of the hospitals either adult or childrens but need a little input on where to apply.

Any info would help. THANK YOU!

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
When you say "apply ASAP," I'm wondering how that pans out when employers are asking for a license (I graduate in May and will be taking the NCLEX in June), coupled with the fact that I won't be graduating until May. Should I still try and apply? I imagine it may be too early to apply.

For some of these new grad programs, you may not have any choice but to apply early, because when the openings are posted online is when they're posted. They don't have rolling applications but usually only advertise new grad spots 2-3 times a year...providing the programs are not cancelled or rescheduled. When asked, tell them that you are graduating in May and expect to take the NCLEX in June (or whenever).

Otherwise...yes, a lot of employers won't consider your application until you are licensed. Still, it doesn't hurt to apply because at least you can start making your name known to them.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Please don't put your relationship ahead of your career if you're young and inexperienced. Find the thread about "what would you tell your younger self?" And 90% of the posts voice regret in doing EXACTLY what you're thinking of doing.

Look it up. Learn from it.

I agree. This job market in CA is no joke. And to be honest, even 1 year isn't enough to cut it with a lot of employers here. Most of the good non-new-grad jobs in my hospital require at least 2 years' worth.

Yes, I know it's tough to choose between love and career. Only you can decide what is best for you...but do your best to educate yourself on what you're facing on both fronts, so you can make an informed decision. Don't do anything--staying in OK or returning to CA--in haste.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Step Down ICU.
Please don't put your relationship ahead of your career if you're young and inexperienced. Find the thread about "what would you tell your younger self?" And 90% of the posts voice regret in doing EXACTLY what you're thinking of doing.

Look it up. Learn from it.

Normally I would agree about putting relationship before careers but I have been with my boyfriend now for almost 9 years, he was there for me when I was put in foster care and many other issues, so I know he isn't going anywhere and of course I put my relationship with him first. I am also very aware of the current issues in California about nursing job, that is the reason I started this thread to see if I could get some information about how to go about finding a job. If worse comes to worse, I will work here in Oklahoma for a year and then move out there but it is obviously not my first choice and I would kick myself if I did not try to get a job out in California.

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Please don't put your relationship ahead of your career if you're young and inexperienced. Find the thread about "what would you tell your younger self?"

Maybe I'm too idealistic, but I'm 39 years old and I would tell my younger self (and my current self), "Better to try and do something and regret it later than wonder for the rest of my life 'what if'?"

katielyn, it sounds like you already have a California address to use (your bf's). I imagine you would stay with him? If you have a car in OK, can you drive it to CA? Do you have some money saved up? Does he have enough money to support you if you can't find work right away?

You have my empathy--as I stated previously in this thread, I am from California and I'm going to school out of state and am annoyed that it'll be that much harder to go back home. But life is short and we should not live with "What if" regrets. Well, that's my personal philosophy.

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For some of these new grad programs, you may not have any choice but to apply early, because when the openings are posted online is when they're posted. They don't have rolling applications but usually only advertise new grad spots 2-3 times a year...providing the programs are not cancelled or rescheduled. When asked, tell them that you are graduating in May and expect to take the NCLEX in June (or whenever).

Otherwise...yes, a lot of employers won't consider your application until you are licensed. Still, it doesn't hurt to apply because at least you can start making your name known to them.

Great, thanks! I am in the process of applying already!

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Hi Katielynn,

I graduated in FL with my BSN back in August, and I relocated to CA afterwards. My husband took a really good job in CA while I was still in school, and we are both natives of CA.

I obtained my initial licensure from FL and then endorsed to CA. It costs more to do it this way, but it would have taken longer to get my authorization to test if I applied directly to CA. The NCLEX is administered by Pearson, and you can take it in CA even if you are seeking licensure in another state. Once your license posts, you can then apply for endorsement to CA. I took the NCLEX very end of September, and I had my permanent CA license by mid-October.

However, I am actually going back to FL next week for my first RN job in a really good residency program. I have applied to well over 200 RN jobs in CA (new grad and "experience preferred"), and have only had one hospital interview, a long term care interview, and an offer at a blood center. I was going to take the blood center job, but it was 3 hours from home and I worried that it would have limited my career. I noticed that you are graduating with your ADN, and several of the new graduate programs in CA either require or prefer BSN, so that may make it more difficult. Also, one of the new grad programs in my area was required to only hire those who graduated from a local school.

I know having to be separated isn't ideal, but the hospital where I will be working allows self-scheduling, and when I have enough days off in a row, I will fly home to see my family. I need to get some experience, and in this economy it isn't good for me not to be working in case something were to happen to my husband's job.

Good luck with what you decide to do, and congrats on your upcoming graduation!

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It is definitely hard to get a new grad position in SoCal right now, but not impossible. I'm part of the interview panel on my unit and its in SoCal. We interview about 10-20 new grads for 2-4 positions. We run 1-2 new grad programs every year. We don't have to advertise because we get thousands of applications each year. To be honest, you need to have a connection in the hospital or be a standout to hr to get an interview. Then you need to ace the panel interview. You may want to consider trying to get a position in a less saturated area to get some experience first before moving here with your boyfriend.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I have an ADN and worked in another state for 2.5 years before moving to the LA area. I did manage to find a job, but I didn't think I was going to for the first 6 months I was here. Hospitals with any nursing jobs at all listed wanted a BSN minimum and at least 2-5 years of experience on top of that.

I now work at a small hospital that does hire a few new grads every year. I chatted them up out of curiosity. One had a MSN and the others had BSNs. The master's nurse looked for her first job for almost a year, and they all had classmates who had left the state to find work. The position I was hired for actually specified BSN as a minimum, too. I didn't notice until I hit "send", but they ended up liking me for other specific reasons and hired me anyway.

My boyfriend also lives in the area which is why I wanted to move here. Good luck to you!

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I moved from Oklahoma to CA immediately after graduation. My husband got stationed here with the Navy. We had been apart for 15 minths when the kids and I moved here. It has taken me 9 months to find a job. And even then I believe I only got it because I am currently enrolled in a BSN program (forget about getting a job as a new grad with an ADN out here it won't happen). Also I had previous hospital experience as well as a previous career (work experience). I would advise you to work in OK in an acute setting for at LEAST a year if not more. Also I advise you get your OK license and endorse to CA.

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Specializes in Step Down ICU.

Thank you everyone for all your info! You have helped me a lot! Although it isn't what I wanted to hear I am not looking at the possibility of staying in Oklahoma for a year or so until I can get work expereince. I am going to still fill out some applications in CA thought ;) Does anyone know if it is the same way in Northern California or is it easier to get a job there?

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Specializes in Step Down ICU.
It has taken me 9 months to find a job. And even then I believe I only got it because I am currently enrolled in a BSN program (forget about getting a job as a new grad with an ADN out here it won't happen).

What BSN program are you in? I would like to get my BSN I was just hoping I could start working somewhere and they would pay me to get it so I didn't accumulate any more student loans.

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All of California is like this. Even the small rural towns in the Central Valley where I live. I am going to Oklahoma Panhandle State University. They have an online RN-BSN program. Very affordable too.

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