Mercy General Sacramento

scotnurse · Feb 16, 2005

Hi thought I would ask if you took your job in California?

We fly out in March.

There seems to be a few positions comming up in the west more so than the east.

Hope everthing works out for you and your family.:rotfl:

midwife sarah · Feb 16, 2005

No I turned down the position in Sacramento hoping for something nearer the beach. I had an interview this week for a job in Santa Ana (Orange County). Sounds much better for me - near beach 35 miles south of LA and around 70 miles north of San Diego. Just waiting to hear if I get offered the position. Where is your job??

Hi thought I would ask if you took your job in California?
We fly out in March.
There seems to be a few positions comming up in the west more so than the east.
Hope everthing works out for you and your family.:rotfl:

Cmyst · Feb 16, 2005

Well, it figures I wouldn't check the Allnurses forums for weeks and during that time someone had a question on Sacramento!

I am familiar with MGH, but not with their OB floor. I did a bit of per diem work there in cardiac tele a couple years ago. There are four main hospital systems in Sacramento: UC Davis Hospital, Sutter General and Sutter Memorial, Mercy General and Mercy San Juan, and Kaiser. Most recently, I worked for 3 years with Sutter. Basically, all hospital systems in Sacto are going to offer very similar benefits and wages. They have to, there is too much competition for nurses. :nurse:

Mainly, I just wanted to put in a good word for Sacramento. While we aren't close to the coast, we are within a 2 hour drive of some of the most interesting and scenic places in California: Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Mountains, the Napa/Sonoma wine country, San Francisco (some people go there every weekend, and it's a lot less expensive to live in Sacramento and visit there whenever you want!), and the beautiful, foggy and rugged Central and Northern coasts. There is Old Sacramento to explore, with it's Wild West atmosphere and Sacramento sits where the American River and the Sacramento River come together -- they call it the River City. There is a beautiful park that extends well over 15 miles along the American River from downtown Sacramento all the way to Folsom, with great bicycling and jogging trails and fishing and picnic spots.

In the summer, it's pretty hot here. But it's a dry heat, and the evenings are very pleasant. You can always go swimming at one of the river beachfronts, or go up to the Sierra to one of the numerous mountain lakes that allow it. In the winter, it is foggy and rainy, but never really cold. I never wear a winter coat at all. And great ski resorts are only about an hour's drive into the Sierra.

The Redwoods along the coast and in the mountains are all within easy day trip driving distance. And Yosemite National Park, where you find breathtaking waterfalls and the famous Half-Dome, is also fairly close.

So, if that Southern Cal deal doesn't come through, don't sell Sacramento short! I LOVE this place, and I've lived in many other cities. My dearest friends live in Orange County, and truthfully I dread going there -- the smog, the HORRIBLE congestion (Cali in general is pretty crowded, though), the Santa Ana winds and the whole general LA trip.

midwife sarah · Feb 17, 2005

Thanks very much for your post. I think you make Sacramento sound wonderful! I am still waiting to hear about the job in Santa Ana. Wherever I end up in California I am sure I shall have a great time exploring and travelling. :)

Well, it figures I wouldn't check the Allnurses forums for weeks and during that time someone had a question on Sacramento!
I am familiar with MGH, but not with their OB floor. I did a bit of per diem work there in cardiac tele a couple years ago. There are four main hospital systems in Sacramento: UC Davis Hospital, Sutter General and Sutter Memorial, Mercy General and Mercy San Juan, and Kaiser. Most recently, I worked for 3 years with Sutter. Basically, all hospital systems in Sacto are going to offer very similar benefits and wages. They have to, there is too much competition for nurses.
Mainly, I just wanted to put in a good word for Sacramento. While we aren't close to the coast, we are within a 2 hour drive of some of the most interesting and scenic places in California: Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Mountains, the Napa/Sonoma wine country, San Francisco (some people go there every weekend, and it's a lot less expensive to live in Sacramento and visit there whenever you want!), and the beautiful, foggy and rugged Central and Northern coasts. There is Old Sacramento to explore, with it's Wild West atmosphere and Sacramento sits where the American River and the Sacramento River come together -- they call it the River City. There is a beautiful park that extends well over 15 miles along the American River from downtown Sacramento all the way to Folsom, with great bicycling and jogging trails and fishing and picnic spots.
In the summer, it's pretty hot here. But it's a dry heat, and the evenings are very pleasant. You can always go swimming at one of the river beachfronts, or go up to the Sierra to one of the numerous mountain lakes that allow it. In the winter, it is foggy and rainy, but never really cold. I never wear a winter coat at all. And great ski resorts are only about an hour's drive into the Sierra.
The Redwoods along the coast and in the mountains are all within easy day trip driving distance. And Yosemite National Park, where you find breathtaking waterfalls and the famous Half-Dome, is also fairly close.
So, if that Southern Cal deal doesn't come through, don't sell Sacramento short! I LOVE this place, and I've lived in many other cities. My dearest friends live in Orange County, and truthfully I dread going there -- the smog, the HORRIBLE congestion (Cali in general is pretty crowded, though), the Santa Ana winds and the whole general LA trip.

Cmyst · Feb 17, 2005

Thanks very much for your post. I think you make Sacramento sound wonderful! I am still waiting to hear about the job in Santa Ana. Wherever I end up in California I am sure I shall have a great time exploring and travelling. :)

I hope that you find a great position here in Cali; no matter where you end up be assured that we need you! The pay here is good, compared to most of the US, but on the other hand the cost of living is high here, also. It's a very multi-cultural, multi-ethnic state and there is the underlying California culture,too. I wasn't born here, but I've lived here for 12 years and no matter where I go from here, Northern California will always be where my heart is now.

Scotnurse, where will you be going in March, if I may ask?

scotnurse · Feb 17, 2005

Taking a job in Bakersfield.

Kinda strange as can see the sea from my house and love the ocean and I believe that its a sea of desert out there.

Never been to California but looking forward. Met loads of Californians in Edinburgh, you know the castle and the golf brings lots.

Worked with a few californians in trauma receiving in Iraq very laid back about most things.

Was intending to work in Florida as have family there but plenty of time to see lots of things.

Think I will miss the greenery of Scotland and how passionatly proud Scots are.

But new life new begining :uhoh3:

Cmyst · Feb 17, 2005

Yes, you're right: Bakersfield is in the great Central Valley of California, which is in essence a scrub-land/desert. It's kind of desolate, but that is coming from my own perspective, as where I live is greener, cooler and surrounded by water even in the hot summer months.

I'm going to PM you, so I don't take up too much bandwidth. :chuckle