Moving to California...

RN_true12, BSN · Feb 18, 2018

Definitely secure a job here before you move. And before that, endorse your out-of-state license - CA is notoroious for talking several months to endorse applicatns licences from another state. The coastal areas of CA as well as at and near Sacramento have a tough job market even for BSN grads and for those that live in the area. I would suggest you look into Central CA (Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton) and inland desert areas (Palm Springs) if you really want a chance at working in CA. These arent the most desirable areas to live in long-term, but they will give you a good chance of landing a job. In your case, the easiest thing to do would be to get a years expeirence in acture care where you currently are and apply to the desirable areas of CA (Bay Area, Southern CA), but even for those areas a BSN is highly recommended (but still not required). Ideally, do not move to CA with the hopes of landing a job after you get here.

Source: Myself (I graduated with a BSN in the Bay area in Dec 2014 and started a new grad program a few months later at a major teaching hospital in the Bay Area. I'm still working there)

futureRN_22 · Feb 18, 2018

Definitely secure a job here before you move. And before that, endorse your out-of-state license - CA is notoroious for talking several months to endorse applicatns licences from another state. The coastal areas of CA as well as at and near Sacramento have a tough job market even for BSN grads and for those that live in the area. I would suggest you look into Central CA (Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton) and inland desert areas (Palm Springs) if you really want a chance at working in CA. These arent the most desirable areas to live in long-term, but they will give you a good chance of landing a job. In your case, the easiest thing to do would be to get a years expeirence in acture care where you currently are and apply to the desirable areas of CA (Bay Area, Southern CA), but even for those areas a BSN is highly recommended (but still not required). Ideally, do not move to CA with the hopes of landing a job after you get here.
Source: Myself (I graduated with a BSN in the Bay area in Dec 2014 and started a new grad program a few months later at a major teaching hospital in the Bay Area. I'm still working there)

I guess I'm stuck here for a while!!!!

Black Coffee, RN · Feb 19, 2018

I second what RN_true12 said above. The job market in the Bay Area and Southern CA is very competitive. It is very hard for a new graduate RN to get a job in the hospital as every acute care position requires one year of experience. The cost of living is also extremely high in those area as one shared bed room in a house can be from 800-1500 (from postings on Facebook and Craighlist). My advice is not to move here unless you already have a job lining up. Otherwise it will be cash-burning to live in the Bay Area and Southern CA.

Good luck,

Source: ICU RN in a major teaching hospital in the Bay Area.

futureRN_22 · Feb 19, 2018

I second what RN_true12 said above. The job market in the Bay Area and Southern CA is very competitive. It is very hard for a new graduate RN to get a job in the hospital as every acute care position requires one year of experience. The cost of living is also extremely high in those area as one shared bed room in a house can be from 800-1500 (from postings on Facebook and Craighlist). My advice is not to move here unless you already have a job lining up. Otherwise it will be cash-burning to live in the Bay Area and Southern CA.
Good luck,
Source: ICU RN in a major teaching hospital in the Bay Area.

How long do you think I should wait??

Vegas Volt · Feb 19, 2018

I think if I were you, I would work for a year in MA in your preferred specialty. Once you get to the one year mark, I suggest you start applying to jobs in whatever part of CA you'd ideally like to move to. I also suggest endorsing your license from MA to CA way before you start applying so it doesn't add any additional waiting time, maybe at the 6 month mark. You could get your BSN during this year to make yourself more competitive.

I third not moving here until you have a job offer in hand.

futureRN_22 · Feb 19, 2018

I think if I were you, I would work for a year in MA in your preferred specialty. Once you get to the one year mark, I suggest you start applying to jobs in whatever part of CA you'd ideally like to move to. I also suggest endorsing your license from MA to CA way before you start applying so it doesn't add any additional waiting time, maybe at the 6 month mark. You could get your BSN during this year to make yourself more competitive.
I third not moving here until you have a job offer in hand.

Thank you so much! To be honest, cost of living in Boston is really high too. My main reason for moving is the damn weather. I can't take the snow anymore lol.

opalbee · Feb 19, 2018

Thank you so much! To be honest, cost of living in Boston is really high too. My main reason for moving is the damn weather. I can't take the snow anymore lol.

Yeah, no kidding. My husband and I moved to Minnesota back in October. :cyclops: The snow can be pretty, but I'm sick of having to worry about digging out my car and being afraid that I'll have to wake up several hours in advance for work to do that, and what do I do if the snow plow hasn't come through? ... Class maybe or maybe not getting canceled and not finding out until right before I'm supposed to leave, worrying about slightly warmer days (because the snow melts, then freezes, so everything is a slippery, ice-y death-trap)... I'm tired of it being brown, and I'm tired of not being able to see the ground or anything at all because it's just snowwwwwwww. Tired of wanting to go places, but having to worry about whether or not we're going to be stuck in traffic because someone slid off the road or hit someone, and the mess that snow makes... I'm so dry and itchy all the time, and I feel like the dry cold air makes me feel ill- not sure if that's a thing or not. Every time I go outside and there's even a slight breeze, I have tears pouring down my cheeks because it irritates my eyes... Oh, and I hate having to dress up really warmly, and then having to take it all off when I go into warm buildings so I end up having to carry my jacket and scarf, etc., around all day because I'm burning up, and trying to use a public restroom without having my jacket and whatnot brush up against the stall wall or toilet. :barf02:

Ughhhhh, I needed to rant. Minnesota is a great state and I love the culture, but I don't want to live somewhere with so much snow. I like seeing the textures of natures and bright colors, and being able to easily leave home. Unfortunately for me, I'll probably stuck here for another 5 years or more. :grumpy: Hang in there, at least you are on the path to being able to move, now that you've almost gotten your degree.

futureRN_22 · Feb 19, 2018

Yeah, no kidding. My husband and I moved to Minnesota back in October. The snow can be pretty, but I'm sick of having to worry about digging out my car and being afraid that I'll have to wake up several hours in advance for work to do that, and what do I do if the snow plow hasn't come through? ... Class maybe or maybe not getting canceled and not finding out until right before I'm supposed to leave, worrying about slightly warmer days (because the snow melts, then freezes, so everything is a slippery, ice-y death-trap)... I'm tired of it being brown, and I'm tired of not being able to see the ground or anything at all because it's just snowwwwwwww. Tired of wanting to go places, but having to worry about whether or not we're going to be stuck in traffic because someone slid off the road or hit someone, and the mess that snow makes... I'm so dry and itchy all the time, and I feel like the dry cold air makes me feel ill- not sure if that's a thing or not. Every time I go outside and there's even a slight breeze, I have tears pouring down my cheeks because it irritates my eyes... Oh, and I hate having to dress up really warmly, and then having to take it all off when I go into warm buildings so I end up having to carry my jacket and scarf, etc., around all day because I'm burning up, and trying to use a public restroom without having my jacket and whatnot brush up against the stall wall or toilet.
Ughhhhh, I needed to rant. Minnesota is a great state and I love the culture, but I don't want to live somewhere with so much snow. I like seeing the textures of natures and bright colors, and being able to easily leave home. Unfortunately for me, I'll probably stuck here for another 5 years or more. Hang in there, at least you are on the path to being able to move, now that you've almost gotten your degree.

Hahaha!! Omg 1000% correct! I've been wanting to move California for almost 10 years now...

Are you done with your degree??

opalbee · Feb 19, 2018

Hahaha!! Omg 1000% correct! I've been wanting to move California for almost 10 years now...
Are you done with your degree??

I lived in Washington State for a little while, and really enjoyed the west coast while I was there. I'm wondering if maybe I'd like living in Hawaii, though? Now THAT would be a perfect climate for me, though my husband doesn't care for the tropics, unfortunately.

And no, I don't have my degree yet. I'm working on pre-requisites for my nursing program right now. Hoping I can get in by next year, if I manage to kick my butt into shape and work harder on my pre-reqs.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Feb 19, 2018

Well, it's 10 years out but I graduated into the breaking wave of the new-grad glut and I managed to stay in NorCal by getting a job at a little critical-access hospital. The pay sucked and the location left much to be desired but it did ultimately let me leap-frog down the interstate until I ended up with a good job.

Everyone wants to hook up with Kaiser or UC or Stanford or the like but there are other opportunities out there if you're willing to sacrifice.

futureRN_22 · Feb 19, 2018

I lived in Washington State for a little while, and really enjoyed the west coast while I was there. I'm wondering if maybe I'd like living in Hawaii, though? Now THAT would be a perfect climate for me, though my husband doesn't care for the tropics, unfortunately.
And no, I don't have my degree yet. I'm working on pre-requisites for my nursing program right now. Hoping I can get in by next year, if I manage to kick my butt into shape and work harder on my pre-reqs.

It's ok! You got this!! Take your time and just make sure to get As in science classes. I had to take anatomy twice lol