What is it like to be a california nurse?

U.S.A. California

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hey all! So recently me and my boyfriend have been talking about moving to california... mostly san diego. I'm currently a nurse in NYC on an onco floor. I just guess I'm asking since us new yorkers are fighting for it too.. how is the 1:4 ratio? And did the hospitals cut back in other ways to be able to afford extra nurses, such as less nurse's aides? I guess over all if you were a nurse in cali and in another state...did it really make much of a difference, which do you like better.. and just an over all experience/stories of california nurses would be appreciated. Trying to make an informed decision before i leave my current job and make a move all the way across the country. thanks!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Bear with me, as I'm a new grad that hasn't actually started working, and I'm in the San Francisco area, but I can share my own observations.

Aides really depend on the unit and the hospital. When I did clinicals in med/surg, there was 1 CNA for about 20 patients (RNs 1:4). In other units, I rarely saw aides. We didn't oncology, so I can't speak to that specialty if that's what you plan to stick with. 1:4 still had the RNs on the run the entire shift.

I'm sure you understand the difficult market in CA, particularly in the major cities. Experienced nurses haven't been hit AS hard, but are still definitely experiencing their own challenges. Be sure to get something lined up before making the move, should you choose to do so.

As someone who's lived in San Diego, it's a great city! I really enjoyed it and miss it. If you like getting outside, great place!

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You can have 4 patients and still have 2 total cares. You also have to consider unions, here in sd it's a mixed bag, I know techs in other facilities can prioritize more patient care due to more auxiliary staff like clean outs etc. Kaiser doesn't usually use techs I think, and here at UCSD it may be the trend with more RN resources. I work in the ICU so I can't say much about ratios overall, but I do know we try to accommodate the best we can giving available staffing etc. There are times we break ratios but not without prior effort run things up management. We are the lowest paying metropolitan in California, but it's because people are relatively happy and ok with it.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

We have ratios, yes. But a lot of the time it's primary care nursing--you're incredibly lucky if you get a CNA or LVN to help you out. You may only have 4 patients, but get used to doing it all for those 4.

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that's what we figured it would be like.. and honestly i know having even one complete could like take up your ENTIRE day.. just changing them and bed baths.. soo idk i don't think it's all it's cracked up to be, right now we have 7 patients but can get 9 if we're short, but we also have one CNA per nurse.. so yeah idk

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Specializes in Tele, Medsurg, Stepdown.

Try 1-8 with occasionally no PCT/Aide here in NJ, and when we do have one it is one for the entire floor (about 30 patients). And of those 8, I frequently have 4 or 5 total cares (I wish I were exaggerating), so even when we do have that one aide, they are usually busy so we end up doing our own care anyway.

I haven't even mentioned how frequently we get restrained patients: Very frequently.

Moving here was the biggest mistake of my life. I'd take 1-4, and living in the Bay Area in a heartbeat.

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It's never as good as they try to make it seem.

Also encourage you to have something lined up before you move, or come with a very large savings egg built up.

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