Contra Costa SNF

suzanne4, RN · Aug 1, 2007

Patient ratio of 30 patients for someone new to the US that is not familiar with how they do things here is not good. That salary is also very low for the Bay Area, and Contra Costa is part of that area.

You also will only get a couple of days of orientation, no matter what is promised. So much higher chance of losing your license.

Suggest that you check out some threads on this topic on the International Forum. Things are quite different when you did not train in the US.

arys1075 · Aug 23, 2007

I heard that Contra Costa is a nice county somewhere in East Bay area. Which hospital or nursing home are you planning to work? There is no 1:30 patient ratio here in any hospital in USA. Average ratio is about 1:5. In SoCal, $30.5/hr is acceptable but not in Bay area. I also plan to move in Bay area but I carefully study & observe first the lifestyles & workplaces over there.

Hi everybody! Anyone here working in a SNF in or near Contra Costa County? PLease give advice regarding your working conditions, the acceptable starting pay for a newly grad RN in this area. Is $30.5/hr a good rate? Is a nurse to patient ratio of 1:30 ok? Thanks in advance.

turbohound · Aug 31, 2007

Hi, I used to work as a CNA in a Contra Costa county SNF (in Walnut Creek), and we used to staff about 1 RN/LVN to 25 residents. The lower accuity in SNF/LTC allows the higher patient/nurse ratio. The RN/LVNs dispense meds, the CNAs take care of all patient ADLs. I used to have 30-45 residents on nightshift, and we would staff 3-4 RN/LVNs for the facilty (100-120 patients). The CA nursing ratio law only applies to acute care facilities (aka HOSPITALS). NOT SNF/LTC

Our facility used to post jobs for starting RNs at $36/hr, plus diff.

$30/hr will get you a decent apartment in the Bay Area (maybe). Very high cost of living. Average home price in the Bay Area just broke $700K for a small starter home. Same home in Dallas will cost $100K max.

New RNs at Kaiser start at $42/hr base.