Looking to move to LA area...

[amurphy2637]

So I currently work in CT in a sub-acute rehabilitation facility, dealing mostly with orthopedic injuries and surgeries. I was thinking about moving to LA and I'd like to hear your opinions about the job market, pay, etc. Ideally, I would like to work in a hospital, a medical surgical or orthopedic unit, but is it hard to get a job there? When I research hospitals I get a little overwhelmed at the lists I'm finding. I have a friend that lives in LA, but not in the healthcare field, so she's a little unhelpful as far as hospital locations and things like that. Also, is traffic there really that bad?

BTW, I seriously considered this last year too, but things didn't pan out. Needless to say, I do have a CA nursing license, so that wouldn't be a hindrance.

Thanks, everyone!

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Honestly, now is probably not the best time to move. I would definitely line up a job prior to moving out here, you will see lots of threads from unemployed nurses who thought they would be able to find work here, but were unable to and had to return home. While you are not a new grad, you don't really appear to have a lot of experience. Even nurses with several years experience in an area such as critical care are struggling finding work.

Good luck to you.

[Blackcat99]

I use to live in LA. I have heard a lot on this site recently about many nurses who are having great difficulty in finding jobs in the LA area. This group included experienced nurses.

[caliotter3]

Come prepared with plenty of money to tide you over until you get a job, if you get one. And yes, the traffic is that bad.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am originally from Southern California and moved out of the state in 2005. While I really want to move back to my home state, I know that I must remain in my current state of residence if I wish to remain employed in nursing. My experience in LTC and acute rehab is too general to take any chances on relocating back to where I came from.