You'll never make it in California

U.S.A. California

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I am sick of people telling me this!! Its realy discouraging and when you hear it so many times you start to believe it. I'm going to be graduating from nursing school in may and I plan on moving to CA sometime before september to work as a new grad.

I live in pa right now and I'm going to pack up all my stuff and relocate. I might be moving with 2 friends, but I'm not really sure about it. I might end up just living by myself for a while. A lot of people tell me that I'll never make it because its sooo expensive.

I'm going to be living in the orange county area. When people start with all this negative talk about how expensive CA is and how congested it gets on my nerves.

It is possible for someone to live in an apartment and work at a hospital in Orange county and live comfortably correct? I won't be pinching pennies will I?

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Its the beach

Obviously it is a city so not all of it is beachside but the whole city is within less than ten miles from the beach. I have friends who live in an apt just less than a mile from the beach at a very reasonable price.

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Young, single and renting as an RN in Cali? I think you will have a lot of fun, and will be able to afford to live fairly comfortably (depending on your car loans, cc debt, student loans etc...). If you are taking home 3k per month, you can live very well on that as a renter according to my friends that are down that way. Check on Craigslist or find an online local paper for the area and check their rental ads. Looks like you can find something decent for around 1000-1500/month.

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Go for what your heart desires. If you really want to do it, then do it. No one should deter you from moving to CA if that's what's really in your plan. Other people might say negative things about it but you can't please everyone.

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Hi to everyone, I'm new to this thread so please bear with my ignorance.

I'm an RN in one of the NE states. Been to CA thrice (San Diego to LA to Sacramento/Elk Gove but never beyond that). I would like to move to northern part of the the State, and most probably, Chico, and be with Enloe - but never been there (as mentioned earlier). I don't care about my job (paycheck or otherwise) since I will always love nursing - but I do care about my living environment (physical, social, ect). Any comment from you guys who know CA inside-out? Thanks.

BTW, I read about the proposed nurse-patient ratio in CA, and for Med-Surg, it's 1:3; is this actually being practiced?

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I live in Orange County and there are some very expensive areas. However, it is very possible to make and not have to pinch pennies. You have to be smart with your money, like always. I rent an apartment, support my husband who is in school and we have two kids- I am not pinching pennies. I have worked as a RN for two years now. You will be fine. Orange County is really nice. It has its not so nice areas like everywhere else, but make sure you look around. Don't just do research on-line. I would definitely suggest craigslist for roommates, if you are going to go that route. Here 1 bedroom apts are anywhere from $850-$1150/month. Good Luck

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BTW, I read about the proposed nurse-patient ratio in CA, and for Med-Surg, it's 1:3; is this actually being practiced?

The ratio for Med Surg is 1:5 not 1:3 and yes, it's actually being practiced. The ratio will go down to 1:4 for Med Surg in 2008.

:typing

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Thanks for your reply, lizz. I'm currently on the floor day shift with 1:4 (here in CT), but probably this is only a hospital policy because CT has not mandated yet of a staffing ratio due to the shortage. Didn't verify with other facilities within NEng states re ratio since I prefer to settle down in north CA if the environment is pleasurable. If CA med-surg will be 1:4 - that's wonderful! Again, thanks for your info - I owe you one.

The ratio for Med Surg is 1:5 not 1:3 and yes, it's actually being practiced. The ratio will go down to 1:4 for Med surg in 2008.

:typing

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at least 30% for taxes...

don't listen to anybody. listen to your heart and follow your dreams. at least you tried, right? alot of foreign graduate nurses make it anywhere in the world, so why can't you? it's all a matter of reaching for your dreams. don't let anyone get in the way of what you want to do. if you are single and childless, live frugally and save up so you can afford the best later.

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I live in Orange County and there are some very expensive areas. However, it is very possible to make and not have to pinch pennies. You have to be smart with your money, like always. I rent an apartment, support my husband who is in school and we have two kids- I am not pinching pennies. I have worked as a RN for two years now. You will be fine. Orange County is really nice. It has its not so nice areas like everywhere else, but make sure you look around. Don't just do research on-line. I would definitely suggest craigslist for roommates, if you are going to go that route. Here 1 bedroom apts are anywhere from $850-$1150/month. Good Luck

Where are you living that you can find apartments for 850-1150 a month?! I want to live there! lol

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Okay .. well i just moved away from orange county.. specifically .. san clemente.last yr. It is beautiful.. but alot of things are centered around money...people can be very two faced .. but again .. its beautiful... if you really like it there.. you'll make it work.. but yes.. you will probably have to pinch pennys .. especially at first ..

in my area ... where i lived you could not find a 1 bedroom apartment for under $850 a month... and utilities are higher..

but.. you dont have to ever deal with snow!

see i lived there all my life so my family and i were sick of the expensive.. way of life.. and no snow on christmas..

it all depends on what you want...

good luck!!

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If you want to live on the beach in a posh area, yes, it is very expensive. I have lived in New York City, San francisco, Boston and Los Angeles as a single person - this is very possible.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Okay .. well i just moved away from orange county.. specifically .. san clemente.last yr. It is beautiful.. but alot of things are centered around money...people can be very two faced .. but again .. its beautiful... if you really like it there.. you'll make it work.. but yes.. you will probably have to pinch pennys .. especially at first ..

in my area ... where i lived you could not find a 1 bedroom apartment for under $850 a month... and utilities are higher..

but.. you dont have to ever deal with snow!

see i lived there all my life so my family and i were sick of the expensive.. way of life.. and no snow on christmas..

it all depends on what you want...

good luck!!

I will miss that I do miss the snow on Christmas. The good thing is not having it the rest of the winter, either, lol!

I do think it is harder to connect to people here, but I really don't feel that there are any more two faced people here than there were in PA, where I grew up. I know many people idealize small town life, but those people must have never visited the one where I lived!

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