SoCal New Grad Friendly Hospitals?

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Hello, Everyone!

I am not from the Southern California area, but I am looking into moving that way. So far I have found hospitals in the area follow one of two philosophies: 1. We hire new graduates through our new grad residency program -or- 2. We hire experienced nurses who have been through a new grad residency program.

My question is this: Are there any hospitals in the Southern California area(LA or SD), which are new graduate friendly and will hire new graduate nurses without going through a residency program?! While I would love to be in a residency program, it just isn't possible for every one of the 10,000+ new grads applying for the same position to be so fortunate and be accepted. Also, I have found most of these residency programs require you to have at least 2 recommendations, and that gets to be troublesome when you are asking instructors and/or managers for recommendations for dozens of residency programs! Haha. So if anyone knows of a hospital hiring new graduates for Registered Nurse I positions, I would greatly appreciate you listing it here!! Thank you! :redbeathe

Prime Healthcare hospitals frequently post openings for new grads. They have hospitals in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego counties.

http://www.primehealthcare.com/

Skeen,

I just wanted to congratulate you on your hard work and accomplishments. You had a goal and a solid attack plan that got you results.

I am in Southern California. When it comes to new grad RNs, I want to tell every starry eyed idealistic soul who wants to move to California to get a job... NO DON'T DO IT ABORT MISSION SAVE YOURSELF lol!

You clearly are the exception.

Super kudos to you.

Wow, i actually never thought of this. Thank you for such helpful tips to all the us new grads.

I graduated in May 2010 from a college in Georgia, and I moved to Orange County a few days after graduation. I didn't go to school in California, did not yet have CA endorsement (had a Georgia RN), and knew no RNs in the area, and had no clue where to start looking, yet I managed to find a job by June 2010. Here's what I recommend:

Think of where you would like to work (particular unit, ie: Med Surg, Tele, Oncology, ICU, ER, etc) and target your resume and skills toward that field.

For example, I always knew I wanted to work in ICU, so I did the following: (And I was hired in ICU)

-ACLS

-BLS

-PALS

-EKG Cert

-Basic Wound Care (just a one day class)

-IV Starts/Blood Draws (another one day class)

-Joined ANA (American Nurses Assoc)

-Joined AACN (American Assoc of Critical Care Nurses)

-Joined ENA (Emergency Nurses' Assoc)

1) I didn't really waste my time applying to countless new grad programs for several reasons. One, I didn't go to school here. Two, I had NO connections (these days, it IS who you know). Three, THOUSANDS of new grads who went to school here were applying, some of whom had probably even done clinicals at those hospitals and therefore had connections.

2) I went where the crowd of new grads didn't go: Community Hospitals (200 beds or less). I called those hospitals (direct number), asked to speak to the unit manager of (insert floor here). I did not immediately blurt out that I was a new grad. I would instead discuss my certifications, goals (MSN, CCRN, etc), and skills. Inevitably, the question of how much experience I had would arise. I would answer honestly. I got interviews that way.

I interviewed for one ER job and one ICU job. I chose the ICU job. Although I work for a local community hospital, I went through an awesome residency. They supported me, gave me an awesome preceptor, and told me to take as much time as I wanted. They also agreed to pay for any education classes I wanted to take, such as a Critical Care Course, etc. Although they told me it would probably take me 3 months of orientation, they told me I could take as much time as I wanted. It is an amazing opportunity. Having worked almost a year for them, I have been oriented in ER as well as Tele so I periodically float to both those floors, so it is great experience. Being a small hospital, there is a small number of employees and therefore I have a HUGE opportunity to advance very quickly if I want. I also work beside some nurses who work PD or PT and some FT at other huge hospitals, so now if I wanted to, I could work for a big hospital. Also, because this is a small hospital and our care is limited, my residency was not a really overwhelming experience. I got the basic skills to build on in order to be comfortable without going through sensory overload. BEST OF ALL, the hospital is THREE MILES from my house! No freeways!

My particular hospital has hired numerous new grads in different areas in the hospital, though they don't advertise a formal new grad program. Many community hospitals operate this way.

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, HERE IS WHAT I'D RECOMMEND:

1) Join your local AACN, ENA, or other specialty area, and ATTEND A CHAPTER MEETING. You WILL meet people

2) Attend a Magnet meeting

3) Take a lot of classes (nurses attend those, and it's a great way to network!)

4) I have not had any luck applying online to job applications (this is just my experience)

5) I did have luck calling floors directly

6) If there is not an opening currently, KEEP CALLING the unit director every week. Send a thank-you card. Send a Holiday card.

I still actively follow these new grad threads because I feel your pain. Though I was fortunate to not spend months and months looking for jobs, I understand how hard it is.

I hope this helps someone.

Skeen

Thank you so much. I have been out without a job for 1.3 years. I graduated 2011 with a BSN. My licence is about to expire. I actually decided to go back to college to change the career. It sucks because loan companies get back to ask for loan repayment when one does not even have a job. Thank you for your motivating message.

Thank you so much. I have been out without a job for 1.3 years. I graduated 2011 with a BSN. My licence is about to expire. I actually decided to go back to college to change the career. It sucks because loan companies get back to ask for loan repayment when one does not even have a job. Thank you for your motivating message.

Specializes in ED, trauma.
I graduated in May 2010 from a college in Georgia, and I moved to Orange County a few days after graduation. I didn't go to school in California, did not yet have CA endorsement (had a Georgia RN), and knew no RNs in the area, and had no clue where to start looking, yet I managed to find a job by June 2010. Here's what I recommend:

Think of where you would like to work (particular unit, ie: Med Surg, Tele, Oncology, ICU, ER, etc) and target your resume and skills toward that field.

For example, I always knew I wanted to work in ICU, so I did the following: (And I was hired in ICU)

-ACLS

-BLS

-PALS

-EKG Cert

-Basic Wound Care (just a one day class)

-IV Starts/Blood Draws (another one day class)

-Joined ANA (American Nurses Assoc)

-Joined AACN (American Assoc of Critical Care Nurses)

-Joined ENA (Emergency Nurses' Assoc)

1) I didn't really waste my time applying to countless new grad programs for several reasons. One, I didn't go to school here. Two, I had NO connections (these days, it IS who you know). Three, THOUSANDS of new grads who went to school here were applying, some of whom had probably even done clinicals at those hospitals and therefore had connections.

2) I went where the crowd of new grads didn't go: Community Hospitals (200 beds or less). I called those hospitals (direct number), asked to speak to the unit manager of (insert floor here). I did not immediately blurt out that I was a new grad. I would instead discuss my certifications, goals (MSN, CCRN, etc), and skills. Inevitably, the question of how much experience I had would arise. I would answer honestly. I got interviews that way.

I interviewed for one ER job and one ICU job. I chose the ICU job. Although I work for a local community hospital, I went through an awesome residency. They supported me, gave me an awesome preceptor, and told me to take as much time as I wanted. They also agreed to pay for any education classes I wanted to take, such as a Critical Care Course, etc. Although they told me it would probably take me 3 months of orientation, they told me I could take as much time as I wanted. It is an amazing opportunity. Having worked almost a year for them, I have been oriented in ER as well as Tele so I periodically float to both those floors, so it is great experience. Being a small hospital, there is a small number of employees and therefore I have a HUGE opportunity to advance very quickly if I want. I also work beside some nurses who work PD or PT and some FT at other huge hospitals, so now if I wanted to, I could work for a big hospital. Also, because this is a small hospital and our care is limited, my residency was not a really overwhelming experience. I got the basic skills to build on in order to be comfortable without going through sensory overload. BEST OF ALL, the hospital is THREE MILES from my house! No freeways!

My particular hospital has hired numerous new grads in different areas in the hospital, though they don't advertise a formal new grad program. Many community hospitals operate this way.

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, HERE IS WHAT I'D RECOMMEND:

1) Join your local AACN, ENA, or other specialty area, and ATTEND A CHAPTER MEETING. You WILL meet people

2) Attend a Magnet meeting

3) Take a lot of classes (nurses attend those, and it's a great way to network!)

4) I have not had any luck applying online to job applications (this is just my experience)

5) I did have luck calling floors directly

6) If there is not an opening currently, KEEP CALLING the unit director every week. Send a thank-you card. Send a Holiday card.

I still actively follow these new grad threads because I feel your pain. Though I was fortunate to not spend months and months looking for jobs, I understand how hard it is.

I hope this helps someone.

Skeen

Thanks for posting this, I graduate in June 2013, and really want an ED position as a new grad. I plan to take ACLS & PALS for my resume. (already have an ED nursing course and an EKG course listed on my resume)

Hoping to interview at all the level 1 trauma departments because I pretty much won't settle for anything else, I'd rather be homeless, in all honesty!

Specializes in ICU/Medical/Surgical.

hi! May I ask which hospital you work at? I plan to move back to Orange County after i graduate from my accelerated nursing program in Saint Louis in May 2013. I received a nursing scholarship through HRSA and I am required to commit a service of two years at a critical shortage facility.

-Lillie

thanks for the advice!!!!

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