What are the odds of getting a NEW GRAD job in California?

perioddrama · Mar 25, 2013

If you want to move to CA without a firm job offer, by all means. Just know that CA is overswamped with new grads, some from 2010 that still have not been able to get jobs.

You can still apply to a new grad residency since you have not had any PAID RN experience.

The major cities tend to have more hospitals that have new grad programs. It depends on funding. They are very competitive. Limited spots open, lots of applicants.

You just need to ENDORSE your license to CA, once you get it. OR you can just apply for the NCLEX in CA (you can take it in your current home state). Depends on how you want to go about it. Endorse or just do the examination.

Good luck job hunting with the rest of us.

angela1207 · Mar 25, 2013

Thank you for your reply. I've heard it is tough to find a job out there. Even one of our Tennessee professors mentioned that "out west it is hard to find a nursing job." I was hoping with my nurse intern experience and biology background I would maybe be more attractive to employers, but maybe not.

RNinC · Mar 25, 2013

1. Are there some areas of California where there are more nurse openings? maybe smaller towns?? cities that aren't on the coast?? I'm open to anywhere

I'm in San Diego, but from what I hear it's even worse up north (Bay area) and I don't know of any small towns where it's much better, since many from the cities have already ventured to smaller towns.

2. Is the only way to get hired in a nurse residency program? (I'm already in one as a student-nurse here)

Nurse residency programs are only for RNs that have passed their NCLEX and do not have paid experience, so your student-nurse experience isn't really the same. And, for the most part, yes to get a job in a hospital you must go through a residency program.

3. Are there any odd-ball nursing jobs that I might be able to get just to get over to the west coast? I'm thinking RN jobs in insurance, equipment sales, education, or something.....

I expanded my search to include non-traditional jobs about 7 or 8 months ago. Still no luck for me. Not to say there are not any, I just haven't had any luck even finding them to apply for.

4. I heard I will need to take an additional test besides the NCLEX? Is that correct?

I don't think so.... Maybe for the individual facilities that would be hiring. I graduated from nursing school in Ohio and all I took was my NCLEX.

5. When should I start applying? three months before graduation? (So, maybe in September??)

As soon as possible. Most hospitals post new grad jobs about 2 times per year. In the winter/spring and in the summer/fall. Keep your eye out in August/September.

I don't want to sound like a total Debbie Downer, but as a person that graduated out of state and moved to CA, I wouldn't do it again. I have passed my 2 year graduation anniversary and I still do not have a job. And now I have the pleasure of not qualifying for many of the new grad programs because I have been out too long. If I could go back, I would have stayed and gotten a years experience in OH before moving to be with my husband (even if it meant being away from him for another year). I've read that for in-state graduates the unemployment rate is around 47% at 18 months, or something very close to that.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2013

I was hoping with my nurse intern experience and biology background I would maybe be more attractive to employers, but maybe not.

I have approximately 7 years of paid nursing experience (four years as an LPN/LVN and the last three years as an RN). I was born and raised in California and lived there until 2005. I have spent my entire nursing career in another state.

Even with my 7 years of nursing experience I have had no luck with finding employment in CA, even in the most undesirable inland cities. For now I must remain in Texas if I wish to stay employed.

Look up Kaweah Delta Hospital. They hire new grads with BSN degrees because they are aiming for magnet status. It is in a part of California that is very hot, undesirable, and with high poverty levels.

angela1207 · Mar 25, 2013

Thanks for the tip on Kaweah Hospital.

RNinC - what a sobering statistic. 47% is horrible. Our rate of employment for nurses in our program at ETSU is near 100% because the hospitals here support new grads. I pretty much have a job when I graduate here, I just had my heart set on moving....I'm not even from Tennessee and I'm not married, so I would really like to move. Guess I may need to stay here another year to get some experience.

alr25 · Mar 25, 2013

I don't think you should get completely discouraged, nor should you move without a job. There are many biotech and medical device companies in San Diego who may be interested in hiring you. I know that Medtronic hires nurses (and they pay well).

Although the job market is grim in CA, many of those 47% do not have a BSN.

LVNbayarea · Mar 30, 2013

I have approximately 7 years of paid nursing experience (four years as an LPN/LVN and the last three years as an RN). I was born and raised in California and lived there until 2005. I have spent my entire nursing career in another state.
Even with my 7 years of nursing experience I have had no luck with finding employment in CA, even in the most undesirable inland cities. For now I must remain in Texas if I wish to stay employed.
Look up Kaweah Delta Hospital. They hire new grads with BSN degrees because they are aiming for magnet status. It is in a part of California that is very hot, undesirable, and with high poverty levels.

I am from the Central Valley (Fresno) and am very familiar with Visalia. Kaweah Delta is actually one of the top paying hospitals in the Valley. OP, I don't want to come off as rude, but if the only area you've seen in CA is SD, you're getting a rather skewed view of the whole state. The best places to find work, and also some of the only affordable places to live now in this state are in the Central Valley. Look into areas like Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, Sacramento...those places would be your best bet to start. Only down side is what TheCommuter already mentioned...the heat (110 degrees is normal in the summer), horrible air quality, and very high crime rate with areas of concentrated poverty.

I now live in the Bay Area (Contra Costa county) and it is TOUGH to find work here. I'd love to trade places with you actually. CA isn't what it used to be, the state is always in some sort of financial trouble, and the taxes can be a bit high here. Best of luck in your search though.

thth21 · Mar 30, 2013

Very, very difficult to get jobs in California even in inland areas. I work in Fresno, Ca (one of the "undesireable" areas of California as mentioned above), and basically only got my job because I had already worked per diem as a PCA at the hospital over winter/summer breaks. I attended a well known BSN program in the SF, graduated in May 2012, and probably half of those I graduated with are unemployed or working jobs that don't really involve nurse-to-patient care outside of the hospital. I really recommend getting some real hospital experience as a RN before trying to relocate to California. I am not sure if the gamble is worth it.

deliverator, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2013

Is there a VA hospital where you live? If there is, apply to it. There are 8 VA hospitals in California. If you can put in 1-2 years at the VA hospital in your area, you shouldn't have a problem transferring out to a VA Hospital in California. The San Diego VA is nice.

onehonestb · Apr 7, 2013

Im from CA, san diego area, and work as a MA/phlebotomy.. I have worked in the medical field for years and know a lot of nurses in different areas of the health care and good luck to you finding a job, there are nurses that have years 10+ of experience that cant find a different job if searching for better hours, or benefits, I intern for a couple hospitals here and hear nothing but complaints from the nurses about the hours and lack of benefits they recieve not to mention work load and shortage of help because the hospital keeps cutting down on the nurses. I myself am moving from CA to TX to get my nursing because the schools here are so impacted and to be honest because I just cant afford to live here..I grew up here and love love love san diego area but its just too much money, Most of the nurses that I know live up in the "hot" areas because its more affortable to do so...but then for me its Cali is all about the beach..i might get flack for this but I grew up on the beach so im partial..I have also heard that to get a job u have to be in a program, The internship im in has a LOT of new grad nurses as well as "old" nurses that are doing the internship in hopes of getting a job... No luck from what ive heard so far... Def get a job secured before you move in my opinion..good luck!

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2013

Questions:
1. Are there some areas of California where there are more nurse openings? maybe smaller towns?? cities that aren't on the coast?? I'm open to anywhere
West Covina, Monterey park, El Monte, Pomona, chino hills, Ontario, Bakersfield, Lancaster, Palmdale, antelope valley---away from the coast, some of them FAR from the coast---small community hospitals.
2. Is the only way to get hired in a nurse residency program? (I'm already in one as a student-nurse here)
Good luck! Thousands of applicants for 10-40 spots
3. Are there any odd-ball nursing jobs that I might be able to get just to get over to the west coast? I'm thinking RN jobs in insurance, equipment sales, education, or something.....
Haven't heard of any
4. I heard I will need to take an additional test besides the NCLEX? Is that correct?
HR may require a test, but that depends on them.
5. When should I start applying? three months before graduation? (So, maybe in September??)
Wait until you get your license. There are many licensed people, you won't stand out.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)