Need to find an internship program in SF

Hello! I am graduating this July and was hoping to find a post-graduate internship program somewhere in San Francisco (hopefully by October). I have tried googling- to no avail and was wondering if anyone knew if internship programs are the best bet when fresh out of school or if I should just go right into it? Should I call hospitals to find out about these programs or schools in the area? Any advice? THANK YOU!!

Can you be a little more specific? What kind of degree did you graduate with, and what exactly do you mean by a "post-graduate internship program."

That could be interpreted a number of ways.

Yes, that was a little vague wasn't it? I wasn't sure my post would actually work so I made it brief. I am graduating with a masters in nursing and will also be trained as a clinical nurse leader (MSN:CNL). I graduate in July of 2010 from the University of Iowa. I know that I will likely not be able to begin working for a few months or until all of the necessary paperwork is processed (near the beginning of October, I hope). I am interested in finding a paid residency/internship program for new graduates. Many of my professors have said that finding a paid new graduate nursing program/residency/internship is the most ideal way to enter the workforce. I am told that in these programs one is trained more extensively than in a more brief orientation session. I would ideally like to find this internship on a labor and delivery or maternity unit, as that is my area of interest. It would also be ideal if one existed in or around the greater San Francisco area. If said programs do exist, I wanted some guidance as to how to go about contacting people who run the programs (I don't know if typically there is one person I should contact, if I should call the hospital or if I should call a school whose students matriculate through these types of programs). I also would like to know when I should be making these calls. Is now too early? I hope that is a little more descriptive, maybe too specific! Thank you for you time and consideration!

Do you have experience as an RN or are you coming fresh out of a BSN/MSN program? In other words, are you looking for a new grad RN program or are you looking for some special leadership program for new CNLs (if that even exists)?

If you're looking for a New Grad RN program in the SF Bay Area...don't. There's no other way to put it. The entire area is flooded with new grads who are eager for some action. Someone on another thread recently posted that one of the New Grad programs had over 4,000 applicants for 13 positions. The Bay Area is one of the most sought after areas in CA and is certainly the most high paying, so nursing jobs of any type are scarce. I highly recommend NOT trying to move out here until you have a job secured. There are many many new grads who have been looking for work for over a year to no avail. Many hospitals are still in a hiring freeze and another chunk may post a job publicly but have every intention of filling the position internally. It's a nightmare out here.

AllNurses is a small world. It was actually me who posted about the program with 4000 apps for 13 positions.

laobrien, what you're looking for is called a new grad program or RN residency program, and I can confirm what the last poster wrote, that the San Francisco bay area is not a good place to be looking for that right now. We have a glut of new grads who have graduated in the last 6 to 18 months and can't find work, all competing for the few positions that exist.