East Coast vs West Coast Nursing

[VioletaRockos]

Hey guys!

So I searched this topic on here, and got relatively old topics from '08 and was wondering if there was any fresh perspectives on this topic.

I've been a nurse on the east coast (more specifically PA) for a little over a year now. I'm a new nurse, having graduated last May and it seems my boyfriend might be getting a job in the California area since he's in computers. I told him that, of course, I would follow him there and find local work close to where he ended up working.

I know that the state of California has mandated ratios, which is something I am very not used to here (working day shift, I have anywhere from 5-7 on a Med Surg floor), but what about rotating shifts? Management? General nursing (I heard it's a little more holistic on the west coast)? For those who have worked in the east and west, which do you prefer?

I would be grateful for any insight. Thanks a bunch!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I worked in the Midwest....Chicago, Indiana... before I moved to the east coast...it was better in the Midwest ...low cost of living, great pay, collaborative MD's.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

If I ever had to leave Michigan I would be pretty selective as to where we would move to. For sure not down South for the same reasons KelRN mentioned. I could see myself on the east coast or Upstate New York (visited and it is nice). I could even see myself in Washington State or Oregon, maybe Northern CA.

[Dranger]

Cali nursing is one of the hardest to get into and the cost of living/taxes will kill you.

I just like the west coast more though

[runningcrazy]

I prefer the nursing culture of the west coast, strictly Cali, as the the environment is more positive. The stress and physical demands of taking care of patients for 12 hours is understood, and nurses are given breaks recharge, and the role of the nurse is understood in the area better.

[Dranger]

Well, coming from Massachusetts and being a passionate ally, I won't live in a state that writes discrimination into their constitution by banning same sex marriage for one and that alone automatically eliminates all of the south.

Dang I literally don't care enough I would go where the opportunity is. With that being said a breath of air that isn't 100% liberal all the time ( I live near Portland Oregon) would actually be nice. It wears on you after a while and I consider myself rather neutral in politics....

The South literally shouldn't just be written off though, while the weather blows the landscape is very picturesque in parts and the people are a lot friendlier than the hippy dippy NW.

[VioletaRockos]

Kinda seems like it's up in the air. I am very aware that even though California nurses get paid a lot more, the cost of living over there is insane. The job he's currently looking at is in Sacramento (dunno if that really makes a difference.)

I've worked as a nurse in PA for a little over a year and I'm just... tired. Tired of being mandated, tired of 6-7 patient assignments, tired of not getting breaks when I should. Some people say this is a universal nursing thing as of right now, because of the national shortage.

Very I'm just optimistic that the change of scenery might make me like nursing again. Or maybe it's time to try a different field *shrug*

[featherzRN, MSN]

I moved from CA to NY. Much higher pay in california, most of the hospitals are union and they really did have those ratios and mandated lunch breaks. :) I do like my NY position, although it's hard to get used to the severe pay cut. :)

[SoCalGalRN]

I will suggest you take a look at the California board. With one year of experience, you may not be able to get a job in Sacramento. If you do, the pay is incredible and the COL is lower than most other areas in California. I'm from California and we are considering a move in 3-4 years to my husband's home state of Missouri. It terrifies me that I would no longer be protected by mandated patient ratios. I can barely provide safe care for 5 patients now so I can only imagine how subpar the care would be if I were given 7-8 patients. I'm thinking I will need to transition to nonacute nursing if I do leave California.

[jennafezz]

Sacramento has pretty good pay vs. cost of living. Patient ratios are a wonderful thing and I've never not gotten breaks.

[gunrock]

I just moved from the east coast and started at a large hospital in the SF Bay Area.

There are positives and negatives, I'm in a hospital that is very physician oriented, I have a lot less autonomy than I did back on the east coast.

As far as work satisfaction, it's great. We have a charge and break nurse who rarely (I've only seen the break have to take a patient twice) have patients. We get two breaks that we have to take, 15 and 45 minutes. I always get my breaks, I've never felt rushed, if anything people ask me why back so early.

I was getting burned out on the east coast as well. Barely getting a breaks and feeling run down.

Good luck if you make the transition, just keep in mind there are always positives and negatives to everything (and not just the high taxes or high cost of living, but other nursing / job related downsides)

[VioletaRockos]

I have no idea what a break nurse is. Is that just someone who fills in for the charge when they're on break...?

I've heard fantastic things about the mandated ratios, but I'm also being told I might not get a job in San Francisco based on my "only one year" of experience.

How many years did you have under your belt before you moved?

[VioletaRockos]

Having patient mandated ratios sounds like a fantastic thing. I'll have to look into whether or not I could get a job with one year of experience, though. Is that actually a thing?

Good luck in Missouri! I'm sure you'll be fine =)