Need Advice- Am I screwing up my life? Help Please

Published

So MAJOR problems:

I am moving NY to CA in May when I graduate with my BSN. I have been looking for jobs in Northern California and found lots of road blocks. I need advice what should i do????

1) Move out here in May and take the chance of not getting a position (Stanford hospital has 700 applicants for 30 positions!).

2) Stay in NY for a year then hopefully be able to come out here when I have a year of experience?? Do you think it would be easier to find a job that way???

I have to decide NOW :( because NY decides on applications BEFORE I can even officially apply to CA

Do I have a shot at getting a job in CA? some of my resume includes: BSN 3.7 GPA, STT honor society, numerous national awards, volunteering each winters (3yrs) for a medical clinic in Honduras, working for the Homeless Coaltion in SF, RA, nursing tutor... ANYONE THINK I HAVE A GOOD CHANCE??? :saint:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you can stay in NY and get some experience it will make finding a job easier in a year or two. Meanwhile, if the economic situation changes then you can move sooner. Also, there is nothing stopping you from getting a job there while turning in some applications over here. If you read some thread you will see that there are many New Grads with no jobs. Many.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi sagemm,

I would have to agree with the previous post. I don't know what your ultimate nursing specialty will be but for example, if you want to do ER or ICU, I would stay in NY and put in a year of med-surg before you decide to go to California. And hopefully, the economy will be a little better by then.

It is tough in Cali, even for experienced nurses like me (who decided to take almost 2 years off from nursing and trying to re-enter nursing). It's been tough on everyone, especially the New Grads.

By the way, your academic record and background are very impressive. No, you are not screwing up your life---you're going to excel in whatever specialty you decide to do. Keep up the good work and hang in there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a new grad myself, I would say stay in NY and get some experience. It's extremely tough in CA for new grads right now, and in May/June its going to get much worse. I'm a Dec '08 BSN grad, and of the 33 in my class 20 are still unemployed.

Good Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I moved back to California Sep 08 right after I graduated from an east coast school. I still don't have a job. I agree with everyone who has posted so far. Get a job there and continue to monitor the situation here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly I would stay in NY for now. I graduate in May and live her in Northern Cali. I know of no new grad programs here. Classmates of mine were depending on John Muir's program in walnut creek and they just canceled it. The job market here for a new grad is not looking so good. I attended 2 job fairs this month. One in SF and one in Sac and it was really sad. A whole herd of students walking around looking for jobs that were not there. There are jobs here, but for those with at least a years experience or more. If NY's market looks better than I would stay there for a year or two. The CALI. unemployment rate just rose to 11.8%, the highest since 1983.:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just heard from a new grad friend in New Hampshire regarding new grad jobs there. She had five interviews, and got five offers. Some with relocation assistance, and sign-on bonuses. So it appears that the nursing shortage is still going in NH. Perhaps you might consider the New England region.

Good Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So... from my origional post. Thanks everyone for responding!

I have made some decisions.. which may not be good but i am taking a big risk. My twin sister and my boyfriend live in Northern Cali and I honestly cant wait another year to be near them again. I am going to give it a shot. I am giving myself 6 months to find a job out there and if I dont I will move back to the East coast where I have had some job offers. From the sounds of it I am not even sure 1 year of med/surg experience is going to help and I really cant be in NY longer than that. I am applying to some new grad programs I found and hopefully it will work out. Does anyone know of any other new grad programs other than Stanford and the VA?

Thank you so much

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You would stand a much better chance if you looked at out of the way places. A nurse posted recently about one such employer in NorCal. If I can find the thread I will post.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Check out Enloe Medical Center in Chico CA. Sully RN posted that there are new grad positions there in a thread titled, of all things, "New Grad Positions".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is your reason for moving in the first place?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Check out Enloe Medical Center in Chico CA. Sully RN posted that there are new grad positions there in a thread titled, of all things, "New Grad Positions".

I don't know where your sister lives, but 15 or so years ago when my mother lived in No. CA, Chico was a lovely area. I obviously can't speak to the hospital itself, and it's certainly good to get that kind of inside info before taking a job somewhere, but if you're intent on making the move regardless of the many posts here that have advised against it for a year or so, I wish you lots of luck! I would also advise caution before signing any kind of contract or accepting any kind of bonus in case it's not a good working environment, especially as a new grad. :heartbeat

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion