New Grad in California

[laurenharrison9]

In 9 months I will be graduating from nursing school in Arkansas with a BSN, then in hopes of moving to Orange County, CA. After quite a bit of research I have found that hiring new grads in Southern California is not a common thing. If any of you have any tips or advice on how to set myself apart from the others, please let me know! I am really interested in the Residency program at CHOC so any information on that would be greatly appreciated as well :)

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Unless you have no choice, get some experience before you come out here. I'm not sure there's much you can do that the countless other unemployed new grads haven't already thought of.

[mclennan, BSN, RN]

There's a ton of threads about this.

Please consider getting some experience somewhere else first.

The market is insane here and you will have a pretty tough time. Sorry.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Obtain a year of acute care hospital experience in Arkansas before attempting to relocate to southern CA. Without this year of experience, nothing is setting you apart from the rest of the inexperienced herd. Good luck to you.

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

not to discourage you from trying, but reality is California is oversaturated with new grads. It wouldn't hurt to apply to new grad programs though. best of luck to you!

[laurenharrison9]

Thanks guys, I know getting experience would be the absolute best thing to do, but because I am hoping to further my education at a school in California, therefore needing to find a job and get experience/ residency in the state (in state tuition). I also have a twin that lives in LA, so getting to California and being with her is a dream of mine! I will do my best and work towards getting accepted into a residency program for new grads, and if that doesn't work out Arkansas hires new grads before we have even graduated.. Guess I can stick around home a little while longer.. Thank you all for your input.