antelope valley to UCLA medical center-is it doable?

jjjoy, LPN · Jun 10, 2008

Ouch!

I can't say from experience how long it would take and I'm sure there are some people doing it, but.... ouch!!! And with current gas prices... double ouch!!!

And if I recall, you have to pay for your own parking at UCLA which includes at least a 1/2 mile walk. I'll bet there are at least a few vanpools, though, from Antelope Valley... but hospital shift hours? Not so sure. You could probably ask at their HR office.

However, there are also MANY hospitals between where you'll be and UCLA so you might want to look into that. And they'd likely have some carpools set up, too. Yeah, they won't be as prestigous or part of a large teaching hospital but personally I hate commuting and the idea of an hour + commute (and it WOULD be an hour + for you without traffic/delays & not including the walk to and from the parking structure to the hospital) each way at each end of a 12-hour shift.... ouch! Though, on the bright side, never through a snow storm!

There's also a commuter train (Metrolink) that comes from the Angelope Vally into the San Fernando Valley. There might some hospitals along there that would be accessible by train. Employers often help cover public transit costs.

Music in My Heart · Jun 10, 2008

Oh my goodness, that would be horrid. Without traffic it's about an hour. With traffic it could easily hit two hours... or more.

If you work the night shift it might not be so bad. Trying to get from Acton to UCLA during rush hour would be really ugly.

If you're going to live in Acton you ought to consider working in Palmdale where you'd have a shorter commute and be going against traffic.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 10, 2008

I definitely would not recommend it even if gas prices were thru the roof. time that you will be spending commuting is not going to make for a safe day for you as more than likely you would be working 12 hour shifts.

You have to leave at least two hours before your shift begins to have a chance to get there in time as one can never tell what you will come across on the freeways heading down that way.

Whether it is for night shift or even day shift, the commute does not get better.

LA County does have facilities that would be closer to you if you are needing to stay in their system. Olive View in Sylmar, just off of the I-14 and very close to the I-5 is part of their system and people do commute there. You also have other facilities that are in the Palmdale/Lancaster area that should be considered before even thinking of a commute that far.

dijaqrn · Jun 27, 2008

I am possibly moving to Acton CA in January and I am looking for a new job. Do many RN's drive from the Acton area to the greater LA area? and if yes how much time does it take (ie. how many hours of my life will be in my car/or carpool?). I will hopefully be working the day shift.

It was $74.00 to fill my tank this week!!!!!

Try Olive View Med Center, Antelope Valley Hospital, Northridge, or Holy Cross!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!!!

suzanne4, RN · Jun 28, 2008

You are going to be spending much of your pay in gasoline. With costs of it expected to climb even more, even commuting to Olive View from there is going to be insane. It is not even just the miles, but the wait on the freeways when traffic is backed up.

Moving out there to get better rates in housing will actually cost you more than if you lived closer in to where you wished to work. Significantly so.