Distressed Please Help

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Hello everyone! Thanks for reading this; hopefully you all can offer some advice.

When my fiance and I graduate nursing school, we want to move from Tennessee to California (SoCal, maybe Huntington Beach). I'm confused as to how to go about getting a job set up before I go. It would be quite difficult to attend interviews, but is this not required? It sounds great and exciting to just leave here and move to Cali with neither an apt. nor a job even set up (I'm spontaneous like that), but when livelihood is at stake in a foreign state, it's probably not the best idea.

Any comments on how we should go about getting a job and an apartment will be greatly appreciated! I'm completely new to all this, but I do know we want to move to Cali just months (possibly weeks) after we graduate.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I would call the nurse recruiter and explain the situation. You may be able to interview over the phone or at least schedule all of your interviews over a 2-3 day stretch and fly out for a few days. Also, be sure to do your research re: cost of living and transportation costs to be sure your salary offer reflects this. My bil interviewed in the Santa Barbara area and thought he highballed them @ $50,000/yr. He was making about $25K here. Boy, was he surprised!:lol2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I agree, a good nurse recuiter can offer you guidance. Many hospitals will pay or reimburse the move too, be sure to ask for that.

When I moved out of state I interviewed in person, but I know for travel nurses they nearly always interview over the phone. I'm not sure about the practice for new grads though.

When I moved to Florida, I vacationed for a week and took that week to interview.

Good luck. It sounds exciting.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Several Nurse Recruiters will fly you out for an interview.

You could check into that.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

When I moved to Florida, I vacationed for a week and took that week to interview.

Good luck. It sounds exciting.

I did a similar thing when I moved to Texas. I scheduled as many interviews as I could in a week, then rented a suite so I could buy my own groceries and cook while I went on those interviews.

I'm spontaneous like that too. If someone offered me a job on the other side of the moon I'd be on the next plane - or space shuttle - to get there. My Mom said I have an itchy foot just like my grandma did.

Anyway, I think travel nursing will be right up my alley. But first things first. I have to make through nursing school and get some experience first. It's good to have a goal though.

Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll have fun in your new home wherever that may be.

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:icon_hug: Thank you all so very much for your encouraging and helpful advice! I know this will be a huge, though thrilling, time in my life, so when it comes, I want all the preparation I can gather.

Taking a week to fly to CA to do several interviews (plus to look for a nice place to live) sounds like a very doable option. Them covering the cost of us moving sounds even more appealing!

I'm sorry for my ignorance, but how exactly would I go about contacting a nursing recruiter? I haven't chosen any hospitals yet, though I've looked at numerous amounts, but I'm on the verge of choosing Kaiser (actually, hoping they'll choose me). I plan on conducting an internet search on hospitals in the Huntington Beach area, so hopefully I'll have a good list.

Thanks again, everyone! Any and ALL comments are always welcome. Please keep them coming, because there is nothing like experienced advice to guide my way.

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:icon_hug: Thank you all so very much for your encouraging and helpful advice! I know this will be a huge, though thrilling, time in my life, so when it comes, I want all the preparation I can gather.

Taking a week to fly to CA to do several interviews (plus to look for a nice place to live) sounds like a very doable option. Them covering the cost of us moving sounds even more appealing!

I'm sorry for my ignorance, but how exactly would I go about contacting a nursing recruiter? I haven't chosen any hospitals yet, though I've looked at numerous amounts, but I'm on the verge of choosing Kaiser (actually, hoping they'll choose me). I plan on conducting an internet search on hospitals in the Huntington Beach area, so hopefully I'll have a good list.

Thanks again, everyone! Any and ALL comments are always welcome. Please keep them coming, because there is nothing like experienced advice to guide my way.

Go to the website of the hospital or place you want to work. They typically have an online application or information on how to apply. Then there will be a phone number and/or email of the nurse recruiter or human resources for you to call. You'll probably need to cut and paste your resume to submit your application online. Some hospitals get so many applicants that they will not schedule an interview until you've filled out all the forms and gotten the letters of reference and transcripts. Check with the hospitals you are interested in. Good luck.

Smile123

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg.

I, too, am relocating to CA after graduation in December. I'm lucky that I have a relative over there that I can stay with while job/apt hunting. In fact, I'm going next month to check things out.

Just thought I'd let you know that Kaiser told me they don't offer incentives like sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance because they have a lot of new grads applying and don't have to. I hear they're wonderful to work for, though, and will probably eventually apply once I'm out there. I need some help getting there, though!

Good luck to you!

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I will not cease to thank you all, so I must say that first. THANK YOU!

I was reading on another thread about "working registry." What exactly does that mean? Reading the context made it sound like by working registry, I would get to try out many different hospitals.

Also, I did a hospital search around Huntington Beach and found Hoag to be high on the ratings list. Although someone had a very unfortunate experience there, it overall seemed to be well liked. My plans are to work in the ICU for about two years, then look into CRNA school. Would this be a good hospital to fit my plans (for the two years)?

One last question...my fiance has been talking of army (military?) nursing. He's heard a lot of older classmates tell him that's what they would get into if they were his age (since they have great benefits and pay for school). How do you all feel about this? I'm afraid of being stationed somewhere I don't want to be or having to go into the war.:uhoh21: Are my concerns of pure ignorance (which is perfectly fine if you say they are since I know nothing about this topic)?

Thanks again!!

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Ok...I just thought of another question, (after thinking how ridiculous it was to take 2 points off my final grade in a class for missing a video day in lab, which caused me to go from an A to a B...I've called the Dean and made an appointment with a "higher up") anyway, how much do grades matter when trying to get a job? At what do employers look?

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
Ok...I just thought of another question, (after thinking how ridiculous it was to take 2 points off my final grade in a class for missing a video day in lab, which caused me to go from an A to a B...I've called the Dean and made an appointment with a "higher up") anyway, how much do grades matter when trying to get a job? At what do employers look?

Just so you know, I had high honors in nursing school, and a perfect attendance. I always tried to highlight these facts in interviews. They usually didn't give a damn about my grades, they just were eager that I had the license. They were also usually more excited about my school attendance. So, I'd say they wonb't even glance at your grades.

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