Need advice

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Hello,

I'm a new grad here in California, graduated December 2010 and I've been looking for a job since January. I sent hundreds of applications everywhere and never got a call back from any of the hospitals or LTC here in California.

This morning I had a phone interview with a hospital in a different state. The interview was with the nurse manager of the Med-Surg floor and she said she's going to check my reference and call me back in a week with a job offer. As soon as I ended my conversation with her I was very happy because it seems that I can finally start my nursing career, but now I'm thinking if this is the right thing to do.

I'll be moving away from my family and friends, to a small town 1500 miles away. The pay is not that great but I also think the cost of living there is lower than California. My fear is that I'm making a decision out of desperation and that it might not be the right thing to do. I desperately need a job and I want to be a nurse. In California is very competitive right now and it seems that for the few openings for new grads there are always hundreds of candidates so the chances of getting a job are really low.

What would you do, would you pack and go or would you just wait here and hope something will come up. I know ultimately it's my decision but I am very confused and would like to hear your opinions.

Thank you!

Daniela

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Hi Daniela, I am going to graduate in May, and I am so excited! It must be difficult not be able to find a job in your state. I think that if you take the job it will allow you to gain experience and open new doors for you. Only you know if this move is too much for you. It seems that many hospitals want nurses with experience. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thank you for your input. Yes most hospitals want experienced nurses :crying2:

I'm scared that if I don't take this offer, I'll never be able to be a nurse here in California because there are not many opportunities. But I'm also scared of accepting the offer because it's a big move far away from everything and everyone I know. It's a big dilemma hehe.......I still haven't received an official offer so maybe I won't even have to decide.....

Congrats on graduating soon:yeah: I know how you feel!!!! I hope you'll have better luck and find a job close to home and family and friends.

Daniela

Hi Daniela, I am going to graduate in May, and I am so excited! It must be difficult not be able to find a job in your state. I think that if you take the job it will allow you to gain experience and open new doors for you. Only you know if this move is too much for you. It seems that many hospitals want nurses with experience. Good luck to you!
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Hi Daniela,

Congrats on being done :yeah:. I agree with the above poster. I also live in Southern California and just graduated a week ago. Things here are definitely intense and I am considering moving to a more rural area in Northern California where I think I may be able to get a nursing job. If you receive a job offer, I would definitely consider taking it. It is very hard to be away from family and friends, but you could always move back once you get one year of experience that most facilities desire. That is what I keep telling myself too in regards to moving. Plus, many of your classmates who stay may just be finding their first job here when you are close to having one year's worth of experience already. Best of luck! :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

i agree to both of them; it's really hard here in california; even me ( passed nclex last feb and since then i applied to facilities and new grad programs but since then nothing heard) i am considering moving out of the area or out of state but double-minded of being far from family and living alone starting over to adapt to the new place;

you may accept the offer and you can go back to california if you really want to if you already gain the experience California hospitals demanded..

Goodluck to you...

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thank you:)

I decided that if they make me an offer I will take it. I should hear from them on Friday! You're right I can stay here and be unemployed for another year or I can go get my experience and come back. It's so sad though that we have to move far away from the people we love to start our careers.

California is just a horrible market for new grads right now, trust me I applied to rural areas all over the state but heard nothing. Even small hospitals in rural areas receive hundreds of applications these days I have been told.

The funny thing is that I will probably receive an offer on Friday, and I have a second interview for my dream job (cardiac) on Monday from the same state 1500 miles away. Maybe I'm just meant to move there hehe :D

I noticed a big difference when you apply to other states, you actually have a chance to interview and even get offered a job as a new grad, here in California your chances to just have an interview are really low......

Thank again for your opinion, I appreciate it. For some reason I need reassurance that I'm doing the right thing....

Hi Daniela,

Congrats on being done :yeah:. I agree with the above poster. I also live in Southern California and just graduated a week ago. Things here are definitely intense and I am considering moving to a more rural area in Northern California where I think I may be able to get a nursing job. If you receive a job offer, I would definitely consider taking it. It is very hard to be away from family and friends, but you could always move back once you get one year of experience that most facilities desire. That is what I keep telling myself too in regards to moving. Plus, many of your classmates who stay may just be finding their first job here when you are close to having one year's worth of experience already. Best of luck! :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

hello;

how did u applied to that state? online or by mail? and how did you knew they are hiring? and what state are you referring?...

im still finding job now and feels terrible about not hearing anything...

california is not so friendly to new grads.. how can we be able to obtain our experience if they are not hiring us...

hope to hear from you..

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Hi there,

I've been reading some of your posts and I totally understand and share your frustration. We're on the same boat. I applied to hundreds of places here in California and only got rejections.

Last month I was so tired and frustrated with the whole situation that I decided to start looking into other states. I just did an online research, just go to google and type hospitals in (insert the state you like).

I got calls from rural places in TX, mind you these are not big cities (too much competition there too), they are small towns literally in the middle of nowhere. I am scared that it'll be hard because I'm used to live in a big city but I guess it'll be ok for a year. . It's far away from home but I do wanna start my career in nursing before I forget everything I learned in nursing schools. I don't wanna stay here and be unemployed for a year.

Good luck! Opportunities are definitely out there, we just need to be very flexible......

hello;

how did u applied to that state? online or by mail? and how did you knew they are hiring? and what state are you referring?...

im still finding job now and feels terrible about not hearing anything...

california is not so friendly to new grads.. how can we be able to obtain our experience if they are not hiring us...

hope to hear from you..

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Specializes in Hospice.
Hi there,

I've been reading some of your posts and I totally understand and share your frustration. We're on the same boat. I applied to hundreds of places here in California and only got rejections.

Last month I was so tired and frustrated with the whole situation that I decided to start looking into other states. I just did an online research, just go to google and type hospitals in (insert the state you like).

I got calls from rural places in TX, mind you these are not big cities (too much competition there too), they are small towns literally in the middle of nowhere. I am scared that it'll be hard because I'm used to live in a big city but I guess it'll be ok for a year. . It's far away from home but I do wanna start my career in nursing before I forget everything I learned in nursing schools. I don't wanna stay here and be unemployed for a year.

Good luck! Opportunities are definitely out there, we just need to be very flexible......

thanks for your reply; i heard there's way better more opportunities in texas...i will consider it soon if after a long time i wud not be able to find a job... it's really really hard.. and im starting to loose hope...

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Specializes in Med/Surg Hospice.

I am in a similar situation, I graduated in December 2010 and have not been able to find a hospital job here in Tucson. I have found employment in the LTC area but I would like to get that golden Med-Surg experience. I had been trying for several months to get a job at a hospital in Northern New Mexico to no avail and I had given up. Now I was just called yesterday and given an offer to work there. My problem is that I will be leaving my wife and kids for about a year before they join me. I love the area that I would be going to and have longed to get out of Tucson for a long time, now I am a bit afraid of leaving my family for so long. My wife supports me leaving and her joining me later.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

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Pack up and go. You aren't getting any younger and your nursing experience isn't getting any more extensive by waiting around for a miracle in CA. After working at that place for a time, you will find that employers in CA will be more willing to look at your qualifications and you can plan your move back to CA. Good luck.

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