ADN w/ no experience moving to California

caliotter3 · Apr 29, 2020

Come with a job lined up or plenty of savings to tide you over until one or both of you do get a job. That’s about all the advice I can give unless you want to consider looking for work in less desirable locations.

Sour Lemon · Apr 29, 2020

6 hours ago, dgreen2030 said:
Hi everyone. Wife and I are both starting nursing school in fall. We will getting our ADN in Florida. We would like to immediately move to California after graduation. So first license in Cali moving from FL without any experience besides clinicals. I've read that this could be an issue since we would only have ADN and no experience, plus out of state. We really want to be in Cali and would prefer to not even have to get a year of experience in FL.
Is finding a good hospital to work at even going to be an option for 2 ADN's w/o experience? Please let me know yalls thoughts. We appreciate it!

California is a big state. It might help to know where you're interested in moving to. And while it's never bad to plan ahead, things could be very different after the passing of 2+ years.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Apr 29, 2020

17 hours ago, dgreen2030 said:
Hi everyone. Wife and I are both starting nursing school in fall. We will getting our ADN in Florida. We would like to immediately move to California after graduation. So first license in Cali moving from FL without any experience besides clinicals. I've read that this could be an issue since we would only have ADN and no experience, plus out of state. We really want to be in Cali and would prefer to not even have to get a year of experience in FL.
Is finding a good hospital to work at even going to be an option for 2 ADN's w/o experience? Please let me know yalls thoughts. We appreciate it!

Yes, this will be a very steep uphill battle. Given the ridiculously high cost-of-living, plus the cost of moving cross-country, I absolutely would not move out to CA until you have a job in hand (which could lead to some tough decisions if one of you gets a job offer and the other doesn't). It would be very bad if you moved before getting a job offer, then found yourselves in a lease you couldn't afford while unemployed for several months of job hunting.

It doesn't hurt to apply in CA right out of school; however, it would be prudent to also apply to local jobs with the realization that you'll likely need to get a year or two of experience before applying in such a competitive market. I don't mean to offend you, but as an ADN with no experience and no local connections (clinicals, CNA experience at the local hospitals), your application is unlikely to stand out against several dozens of others. I've known people who earned their BSNs in CA, then had to move to the south to get new grad jobs after applying unsuccessfully in CA for several months.

Granted, it also depends on where you want to apply. If you're looking at desirable areas like San Diego or San Francisco, your chances become exponentially smaller; if you're looking at places like Bakersfield (farther from the beach/cities, relatively lower salaries than the NorCal nursing unions, still a relatively high cost-of-living compared to other states), your chances might be better because it's a less desirable place to live than SD/SF.

You could also greatly improve your chances by applying outside of hospitals at LTACHs, SNFs, prisons, etc.

You could consider both applying for jobs in FL (or anywhere else) in highly-specialized areas like ICU, OR, etc. and then travel nurse together after you both get two years of experience. You could likely find very lucrative travel contracts in CA, and it would help you build connections with local hospitals/managers.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2020

6 minutes ago, adventure_rn said:
You could also greatly improve your chances by applying outside of hospitals at LTACHs, SNFs, prisons, etc.

California is always looking for nurses in the prison system. I have been in correctional nursing for almost 20 years, and it is an area that can be very rewarding. The tradeoff is that prisons (anywhere, not just in California) tend to be in isolated, often rural, areas. If you are thinking about a 20-minute drive to the beach, that probably won't happen if you work for CDCR. Since you would be direct employees of the state (California doesn't use a contract agency), once you make probation you would have job security that just doesn't exist in the private sector, plus a pension program.

I am an ADN nurse, and I have been a DON in my system in a western state for the past 13 years. Advancement is definitely possible. Many hospitals will only hire BSNs, but corrections is more flexible.

I am originally from Florida, but I did not get my ADN there.

amoLucia · Apr 29, 2020

Orca - interesting post re correctional nsg. TY

OP - you most prob will have a tough road ahead of you two. PPs comment what has been posted before by MANY, MANY other respondents.

I've been a member here for a few years and from my readings, they speak gospel.

Good luck to you. Stay safe & stay strong.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2020

Currently, job openings for new grads are more plentiful in Florida than some areas of California. When you have achieved your education, things could be completely different.

All you can do is, start applying in CA as soon as you pass your boards, see if you get an offer.

Best Wishes.

allnurses Guide · Apr 30, 2020

California is one of the hardest markets in the nation. I would not move there until you have your BSN and a couple of years of experience and a job lined up.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2020

Would recommend concentrating on passing your courses and then the boards before worrying about anything else.

Particularly with the recession that's going to be hitting the world. Hard.