California RNs???????

Nurses General Nursing

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I would like to hear from anyone who has worked in California or is currently working there.

What is the statewide job market like and what are the salary ranges? I know the cost of living is high, but would still be interested in your opinion.

I may be moving to the Modesto, CA area soon.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

1) check out http://www.salary.com

2) do a google search of healthcare facilities in that area

Salaries vary depending on the area of CA, so I agree with sjoe's suggestion to check out www.salary.com . Their info tends to be reasonably accurate. As far as the job market, I can only speak for SoCal, but I get something in the mail every day from some health care organization within L.A., Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, or Riverside County, looking for nurses and offering some sort of bonus or referral fee to RNs.

Specializes in Everything but psych!.

It's been a few years since I was there, but I know that in the SF Bay area, there was an abundance of nurses. They were pretty picky about who they were interested in. I ended up working agency nursing. There's always a need there.

Just within one hospital system, the University of California system, the pay ranges from six-figures at UC San Francisco, to about $60,000 per year at UC Sacramento. Of course, the same hospitals also offer a $200 bonus, tax free, on top of your regular pay, when you work extra shifts -- it can add up damn fast.

For more information on the California nursing environment, go to this web site daily. Everything written about nurses in the Golden State is posted daily. :D :D

Specializes in NICU.

I live in the central valley, a couple of hours south of Modesto. California is very short of nurses, I don't think you would have problems finding a job. There are several hospitals in and around Modesto, depends on how big and how far you would want to drive. Registry might be a way to start.

Starting pay for new grads at the place I work is $25 per hour, if that helps.

Get a map and start looking at some of the web sites for ideas, including the small towns.

It varies I say between 24-40 an hour depending what part of California and shift differential. I tell you this you wont starve. I have seen an advertisement for a need for nurses in Modesto http://www.salary.com does work. good luck and welcome. :-)

Specializes in Everything except surgery.

Try a travel assignment to Cali and "try" out the hospitals there. You can do a temp to hire even! They're constantly offering bonuses for travel assignments there, and openings are all over CA...and Modesto is one of those areas in constant need!

I got an offer for a staff position in the LA area and the pay was around 24/hour, in my opinion, not NEAR enough to LIVE there, my advice, take a travel assignment, the pay for modesto is around 35/hour plus living expenses paid, and travel expenses paid. The jobs are there but the pay doesn't compensate for the cost of living

OBNurseShelley had a great suggestion. If you're new to California, try travel nursing first. It will allow you the opportunity to try several different regions and facilities before you "settle down."

I know one ICU nurse formerly from South Africa that is a travel nurse in Woodland, a small farming community near Sacramento. She found she enjoyed the small town life and travel nursing benefits so much, she's been a traveler at the same facility for SEVEN YEARS!

That's California, if you're not familiar with it. From "Baywatch" to "Green Acres" faster than you can say "travel nursing.":roll

I will not have the option of moving around. I have 2 small kids and my husband will be working in Tracy, CA. So we will want to live either in Tracy or within 25 miles or so.

MichelleRNIL,

That's apparently the beauty of travel nursing -- go where you want, as long as you want. Moving to another state can be a hassle (finding a place to live, locating a job, etc.). With most of the travel companies, they arrange everything -- and with the California nursing shortage, you can live anywhere.

There is a small hospital in Tracy. You'd want to avoid accepting an assignment in the nearby East Bay however -- that corridor commute through Pleasanton from either San Jose or Walnut Creek has become impossible.

Where are you from in Illinois? I grew up in Godfrey, near Alton, and my father transferred to the Bay Area with Owens-Illinois -- both their Oakland and Tracy facilities -- when I was 17.

Is your husband transferring with Owens by chance (not a lot else in Tracy!)?

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