Bay Area Dreaming!

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Specializes in OR.

Hello Everyone,

This is my very first post, but I have been frequenting allnurses.com since my nursing school days. Since graduation, the PeriOp Nursing forum has been a source of great inspiration and comfort for those nights that I wanted to cry as a new grad in the OR. Lately, I am shamelessly addicted to the California forum. Great source of information!!!

I am an OR nurse with two years experience wanting to make a move to the Bay Area (Concord or Walnut Creek). I have read many, many threads about how expensive it is to live in the Bay Area, but I ask you to consider this- $35/hr wage $1400/mo rent east coast vs. $45/hr wage $1400/mo rent in the Bay Area.

From what I have read so far, I can make about $45/hr in the bay area with my two years experience.

I intend to visit the Bay Area for the first time in the next couple of weeks to check things out.

SherBearRN- I'd like to hear from you especially. From your posts, you live in Concord and work for one of the hospitals that I am interested in.

Thank you.

EastCoastOR

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Hope your dreams are not shattered when you come out to the Bay Area. Good luck in finding what you are looking for. Enjoy your trip and take time to have a good time in between checking out employment and housing!

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Hi -

I'm not sure what you are asking -- but it *is* wonderful out here :)

I do think you could find a one bedroom place for $1400 - I like Walnut Creek better than Concord. Good luck!

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Hello Everyone,

This is my very first post, but I have been frequenting allnurses.com since my nursing school days. Since graduation, the PeriOp Nursing forum has been a source of great inspiration and comfort for those nights that I wanted to cry as a new grad in the OR. Lately, I am shamelessly addicted to the California forum. Great source of information!!!

I am an OR nurse with two years experience wanting to make a move to the Bay Area (Concord or Walnut Creek). I have read many, many threads about how expensive it is to live in the Bay Area, but I ask you to consider this- $35/hr wage $1400/mo rent east coast vs. $45/hr wage $1400/mo rent in the Bay Area.

From what I have read so far, I can make about $45/hr in the bay area with my two years experience.

I intend to visit the Bay Area for the first time in the next couple of weeks to check things out.

SherBearRN- I'd like to hear from you especially. From your posts, you live in Concord and work for one of the hospitals that I am interested in.

Thank you.

EastCoastOR

Welcome to California! Yes, you can make it with 2 years of experience in the OR $45/hr and $1400/mo rent in the Bay Area. The question is whether you would have enough money saved from each paycheck to BUY a house or condo (more likely) on a nurse's wages. Most nurses find they can not because condos typically go for $350K to $575K, depending on the neighborhood and number of bedrooms.

However, lots of nurses come out to the SF Bay Area because of the weather, cultural venues, outdoor activities (beach, foothills, mountains), night life, and wonderful diverse population. You could always share an apt (a lot of nurses do that) to save on the rent, take BART (rapid transit) into work instead of drive, and choose to buy a used car instead of a new one to save on car payments. Plus, you could invest your money in mutual funds and/or savings plans at work (403 b, etc.). There are plenty of people who rent and enjoy living here in the SF Bay Area. Do look at local area maps (do you belong to AAA?) so you can get an idea of where everything is. Good luck!

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Specializes in OR.

Thanx everyone!!

Does anyone know about ORs in the Bay Area?

1. Do the nurses scrub and circulate or just scrub? I prefer to do both.

2. Do they rotate through all the services?

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I don't know about OR's in the bay area but I do know John Muir has several OR positions. You should call and talk to a recruiter and they should be able to give you a good idea of what your responsibilities are.

I live about 20 mins from Walnut Creek, we just moved here a month ago. It's a nice area. The downtown area is really nice. I think rent in Walnut Creek can be pricey. Concord is probably more reasonable but depending on where you live in Concord, traffic can be a beast.

Good luck and Welcome!

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Specializes in OR.

I did try to call the recruiter at John Muir today, but was told she was gone for the day. I am definitely interested in that facility since they have branches in both concord and walnut creek. Their on-line ads are not dated, so I do not quite know how old they are.

It's nice to hear from someone who just moved. Nursing has so many negatives, but isn't it wonderful to pack up and move knowing that you can get a job anywhere?!!!!!!!!!!

So, thank you, ManyRN2B.

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What hospitals do you have in mind? Do you want to do travel nursing or a permanent move?

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Specializes in OR.

John Muir, CPMC, Seton, UCSF, San Fran General and any other hospitals in or around East Bay.

I want to do a permanent move.

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I recommend that you do a 13-week travel nurse assignment in the Bay Area. This allows you to "test drive" hospitals until you find one you like. You will also get to know the local nurses and ask them about other hospitals. Be warned that the Bay Area has a VERY VERY high cost of living. Apartment rent is sky high.

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Interestingly, I just had this conversation today. I was told that Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto uses RNs to scrub. Most of the others use surgical techs in the scrub position. Good luck!

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Specializes in OR, and more recently PACU and SDC.

Stanford, Palo Alto also has alot of travellers. Try an assignment there before considering a permanent position. They tend to pay travellers a little less. Make sure a recruiter includes housing in the area, free paid, of course. Fun area to live and play. And, as mentioned before, very expensive.

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