Graduating in Oct from NV but relocating to Ventura County!!

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I am a California native but currently attending nursing school in Nevada. I will be done with my BSN in October, and I plan to take my NCLEX in November. I will be relocating to Ventura but I have no idea which hospital to go to!

I feel like I'm at a disadvantage because I am graduating at such an awkward time! I would like to work in Mother-Baby, PP, NICU, or L&D, but i don't know which hospitals will offer me a position in any of these units or which hospitals will provide a great learning environment. I am currently looking at St Johns Regional, Los Robles in TO, and Ventura County. I have not looked into Community Memorial, although I read about their high delivery rates. Does anyone know how long the new grad programs are at any of these hospitals? when they start? when i should start applying? which ones will throw me to the sharks after 6 weeks of orientation?!?!? i am soooo scared! i'm going to be done with nursing school in 2 1/2 months...and i still feel completely incompetent! is this normal?!?

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

It's completely normal to feel incompetent. It took me more than a year after starting my first RN job to feel like I finally "got it."

The specialties you are looking into are very popular, so expect a degree of difficulty while pursuing them - especially as a new grad. You can pretty much kiss those specialties good-bye at St. John's (read some of my posts on this thread: https://allnurses.com/forums/f137/st-john-s-regional-medical-center-new-grad-283498.html). Most new grad programs are different according to specialty - some will take a new grad at any time of the year, some only twice a year after traditional graduation times. Some provide longer training than others. You will need to contact the different units you are interested in to find out for sure.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Oops! I posted re: this thread on the other one. Check out my post on https://allnurses.com/forums/f137/st-...ad-283498.html).

Good luck with your move!:)

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I called Ventura County Hospital and they said that their new grad programs only run every 2 years and most of their slots this year were filled up by the students that did their rotations there.

I called Community Memorial and they mentioned a new grad program in Maternity starting in January of 09. Do you happen to know anything about this hospital? I'm really trying to stay away from St John's because their new grad program didn't seem organized or coordinated. And if I have to do Med Surg at their hospital...then i'd definitely want a good preceptor and mentor! What about Los Robles? Do you know if their new grad program is any better?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I called Ventura County Hospital and they said that their new grad programs only run every 2 years and most of their slots this year were filled up by the students that did their rotations there.

I called Community Memorial and they mentioned a new grad program in Maternity starting in January of 09. Do you happen to know anything about this hospital? I'm really trying to stay away from St John's because their new grad program didn't seem organized or coordinated. And if I have to do Med Surg at their hospital...then i'd definitely want a good preceptor and mentor! What about Los Robles? Do you know if their new grad program is any better?

Things change with time, and it has been 6 years since I worked in Ventura county. At that point, St. John's was always short staffed and would NOT utilize agency - but that was until we (they) unionized. I moved right as the union contract went thru, and things may (or may not) have improved. CA staffing rations have gone into effect since then as well. Community Memorial had an overall good reputation, as did Los Robles.

As a new grad who needs to work in a specific location for now, you might have to take what you can get until you get a year or more experience under your belt. Not sure what your ambitions are long term. I certainly knew nurses who would drive down to UCLA for work (takes about 60-75 minutes early a.m. from Camarillo, less from T.O., etc.) Some also drove to Sta. Barbara. Personally I wouldn't do either at this stage in my life, but have done such things when I was younger. Sta. Barbara seems like an easier drive, tho the PCH /101 highway runs right along the coast there. Pretty, nice drive overall, but at times can be exceptionally foggy/dangerous as a result.

Have you considered Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo? Smaller, not so exciting, but you will get experience and can go from there. I don't remember where you are living/planning to live specifically?

Best wishes!!!!!

:rolleyes:

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

Community Memorial Hospital has a great reputation, in my opinion. Their maternity department is hopping, and you will learn a lot and be very busy! They are generally very good about sticking to the ratios, despite being the only hospital in Ventura County that is not union represented. They treat their staff and patients very well.

I'm not all that familiar with Los Robles. Thousand Oaks is a very nice area, though.

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