Any nurses out there who moved to CA from another state???

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Specializes in ER/Trauma/Critical Care.

To any nurses who moved to California after they graduated:

When did you start looking for a job/interviewing with hospitals? If I graduate in Dec, when do you think I should start looking and contacting hospitals?

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before dec!! look for new-grad programs in what you want to specialize in....talk to hospitals nursing recruiters to see when they start so you will be prepared to start at that time

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Oh, gurl! There is such a shortage out here in the L.A. area. I just got a card in the mail yesterday for a nursing career fair in Pasadena (Rose Bowl area) on June 8th being sponsored by 5 hospitals in the area. ( http://events.nursingspectrum.com ) I get cards from hospitals looking to recruit nurses around L.A. all the time.

Just get names of hospitals and start calling their recruiters and asking when you should apply. I think you can get a list of hospitals from the California Hospital Association. Want to do oncology? City of Hope is right down the road from me. Also, there is a cancer center at U.S.C.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma/Critical Care.

Iam actually looking more in the SF area, because I have family there. So should I startcontacting hospital recruiters thissummer?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Yes. In fact I would start making some calls now and get your name out there on the recruiter's notepads. Do not wait on this. Keep in touch with them periodically so they know you are still interested in a job. You will stick in their minds because you are coming from another state. They also keep unofficial files of people who want jobs but aren't quite ready to start yet. A lot of recruiters like "new blood". Believe me, they don't forget who want jobs. You're lucky to have family there. You should check into the websites for Nursing Spectrum and Working World. If there are hospitals looking for nurses, they should have the ads. They should also have information on any nursing job fairs. I have a long time friend who lives in San Jose who just cleans up by working all kinds of extra shifts.

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Iam actually looking more in the SF area, because I have family there. So should I start contacting hospital recruiters thissummer?

You can also do what I did. I was out in the SF Bay Area over the summer and I called and made appointments to see the nurse recruiters. It was very informal because it was too early, but they gave me some info, they got my contact info and told me about some upcoming job fairs. So then when it was time to interview, I already had a contact and that hellped establish rapport. If you cannot make it out to there in person, you can atleast call and establish a contact. Go to the specific websites and look at their online applications. They will often list the process for hiring new grads there. Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It is better to start searching now, but make sure you already know what area of nursing you would rather pursue. Some hospitals are specialized in certain areas...Trauma, Cardiac, Burn Units, Pediatrics. So it all depends on what you are interested in. Most of the SF hospitals have competitive salary, but do not overlook the other incentives. Look at the whole benefit package and the salary together. Some may offer a better salary, but benefit package (health/dental/retirement) may not be as great. Here are some listing of one of the highest paid RN in the SF Bay Area --- Washington Hospital in Fremont, Kaiser Permanente (across the SF Bay - lots of campuses), Stanford University. For excitement and great learning experiences, public hospitals are wonderful to start. So, its best to look around now. The earlier the better so that you can do you comparison, and see what best suit your needs.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It is better to start searching now, but make sure you already know what area of nursing you would rather pursue. Some hospitals are specialized in certain areas...Trauma, Cardiac, Burn Units, Pediatrics. So it all depends on what you are interested in. Most of the SF hospitals have competitive salary, but do not overlook the other incentives. Look at the whole benefit package and the salary together. Some may offer a better salary, but benefit package (health/dental/retirement) may not be as great. Here are some listing of one of the highest paid RN in the SF Bay Area --- Washington Hospital in Fremont, Kaiser Permanente (across the SF Bay - lots of campuses), Stanford University. For excitement and great learning experiences, public hospitals are wonderful to start. So, its best to look around now. The earlier the better so that you can do you comparison, and see what best suit your needs.

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I'll be graduating in June 07.... should I wait a little while before I contact hospitals in California? When exactly should I start doing it?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I'll be graduating in June 07.... should I wait a little while before I contact hospitals in California? When exactly should I start doing it?

I'd start around February or March of next year.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Perinatal, Float.

I moved to the SF area from out of state last summer. I found the hosp I wanted to work in, walked into thier human resources, and found they were busy, walked onto the unit and asked for the manager, she gave me an inpromptu short tour, and started me on the road to working there. I was orienting on the unit in 2 weeks (I did have to do some paperwork scrambling, driving to Sacramento to get my license, get fingerprints get my proof of RN from the other state, etc.). We are a small hosp and have an opening for a new grad, so I can imagine, with all the hosp in the SF area of all sizes, that there are numurous job openings for new grads to super experienced. When I graduated, I ONLY got a job because I tried everywhere (even places 2 hour drive from my home) but finally my bosss (I was a CNA at a hospital) gave pity on my and hired me per diem night shift as a float pool nurse and that got me in then door. things have changed... I wouldn't worry about a thing. You may not get your desired shift or specialty right away, but I wouldn't worry about getting in the door as a new grad nurse these days!!

Just my .02

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I would love to live and work in the San Diego area. Is there any area to live that is affordable on a RN and LVN salaries (myself and dh). Is Imperial close by. I noticed some very small homes in that area. They are still 2X what we pay here in the midwest!!!!!

Many thank you's!!!!!

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