New Grad from New York wanting to move to California

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 19, 2017

Congratulations! I'm surprised there are so many negative responses. Yes, it would be easier to get some experience in NY before moving here to California, but it is possible for new grads to get jobs here. California has a slow licensing process - if you can fly out here to do the livescan it will save you time - there are cheap flights. You can get a temp RN license in 8-10 weeks. You can look at the job boards like Indeed, Zip Recruiter and so on. Also, join the appropriate California state nursing association(s), as they usually have their own job boards. As for the cost of living, you are from NY! Also, it is only expensive to live in SF, LA, Orange County, and to a lesser degree, San Diego. The rest of the state is quite reasonable for cost of living. Look inland in areas like Eastern San Diego County (Palm Springs), Barstow, The Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Riverside, etc), Central California (Modesto, Fresno, Stockton, Merced, Sacramento, Davis, Palmdale, etc), and far Northern California (Redding). Get a California state map. For example, in Redding you can rent a 1 BR apartment or even a water-front cottage on a river for $600 to $700 per month. If you're ok with a roommate, you can live even cheaper. These areas I've listed have a lot of job openings as everyone wants to live on the coast. Your best bet is to look at these areas and make a list of the hospitals in these cities. Smaller hospitals also hire new grads and have training programs. Look at cities or areas with about 100,000 people and up. Then go to the websites for each hospital and see what openings they have. You can also do a google search to get a list of medically underserved areas in California. These are categorized into RN shortage, mental health shortage, etc. Also, make a list of every Univ of California campus with a hospital and also every State College and University with a hospital and apply to those. Make a list of every UC and state college or reputable private college that has a nursing school as they will be in areas with hospitals. Kaiser also hires new grad nurses and they have facilities all over the state. Also check into California Corrections as they hire new grads. And yes you should learn Spanish - it will be a big help in finding a job and for advancing your career. Good luck.

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 19, 2017

Also, it depends on your qualifications, the school you went to, related experience, etc. So don't listen to all the negativity. I live in San Diego County and there is a very nice small hospital called Palomar Hospital that has a new grad program. I ended up taking a job way up in Redding and I'll be driving home on weekends. Redding is gorgeous - near Lake Shasta, Mt Shasta, has the Sacramento River flowing through town with miles of trails, etc. About 100,000 people in the area. The top 2 industries are tourism and healthcare. So there are lots of places like this in California.

Katya944, BSN · Jul 19, 2017

Thank you so much for that response! Yes I figured that California should have more openings for RN's as it is a big state; so I definitely won't listen to the negativity. As far as the licensing process goes, I know it takes about 3 months. I'm wondering if I should stay in New York and get some experience at a hospital that I graduated from or should I not start work yet as it may be frowned upon starting for 4-6 months in one area and then moving, instead of staying the full year?

NedRN · Jul 20, 2017

You need two full years in a specialty to be proficient and competitive.That is just the clinical side. What does it say to HR or a manager if you have only worked one year? Big risk.

KrisSik9921 · Jul 21, 2017

Hey!

I am also from NY and graduated with my BSN this May. I have always dreamed of living in California (don't have family there either) and really want to make it happen! Have you already submitted all the paperwork for your licensure endorsement? I too am wondering how it would look to start a job here in NY and then leave after 4-8 months. Id love to talk more with you as we are kind of in the same boat here!

Katya944, BSN · Jul 21, 2017

hey!! Congrats! I haven't sent all my paperwork in yet I am in the process of collecting all the info I need before sending it. I know one of the things that they require is a finger print and you need special fingerprint cards for it. In the meantime I'm looking for jobs in New York because I do want to start getting experience. Have you applied to any New York positions or Cali positions?

KrisSik9921 · Jul 21, 2017

Thanks!

I actually just got the fingerprint card from CSBN in the mail. It took about a week to arrive in the mail from the day I requested it off the CSBN website. My dad works where I can get the fingerprints done so I will probably do that next week. I really want to submit everything ASAP because I know endorsement can take upwards of 3 months.

I've applied to a couple places in Los Angeles (one at a dermatology office and one at a community hospital---I was contacted back and told to get in touch with them once I am licensed in California) However, I would ideally like to work in a hospital that offers a New Graduate Residency Program (USC/UCLA/Cedars Sinai). It seems the next cohort for the programs through these hospitals will be for sometime between January-March.

So I am also applying to some places in NY. Ive heard back from Langone (was told to contact the recruiter again after I pass NCLEX) and also another dermatology office to schedule an interview but thats about it. I would consider basically any type of nursing job in NY just to get experience/start saving money. If I were to hypothetically get offered a job position at Langone I wouldn't know what to do because I feel like leaving after 4-6 months would look really bad/burn bridges. Do you definitely want to work in the hospital setting in NY?

Anyway....my game plan is to wait till I am endorsed in CA and then apply to the winter cohorts for the residency programs in LA, as well as whatever other opportunities I can find so I can make my dreams happen and move!

Katya944, BSN · Jul 21, 2017

Oh wow that's awesome! If you don't mind me asking do you live in the city? I'm from Long Island so I was applying to hospitals here plus the northwell system. And as far as the fingerprints go do you request it online and then where do you go to actually get them done? I've also applied to hosptials throughout cali but haven't heard back. I guess the best bet would be to work here for a little then go once everything is handed in. Although I'd love to go asap!! :/

Katya944, BSN · Jul 21, 2017

Btw good luck on your NCLEX. I used Uworld and that was very helpful!

NedRN · Jul 21, 2017

hey!! Congrats! I haven't sent all my paperwork in yet I am in the process of collecting all the info I need before sending it. I know one of the things that they require is a finger print and you need special fingerprint cards for it. In the meantime I'm looking for jobs in New York because I do want to start getting experience. Have you applied to any New York positions or Cali positions?

The fingerprint card is not special but a standard FD-258. That is the non-criminal one so many police departments don't stock them. I bought some off of Amazon and took them to my local police who printed them for free. California BON accepted it and was cleared by DOJ. My CA license predates the fingerprint requirement by like 15 years and I fell into a loophole that was just closed for my most recent license renewal last month.

It might cost a little more, but I would start with a Livescan provider (Google it - larger police departments may have the tech) - you will find nearby local vendors. They will start with an electronic scan of your fingers and optimize it to print on the FD-258. It is not uncommon for the CA DOJ to say that the regular inked cards cannot be read. Which causes a huge delay until you find out and redo them, mail them, and so on. That said, they were able to read mine, but Livescan helps guarantee that there won't be a problem. Most every Livescan provider will have the FD-258 cards.

KrisSik9921 · Jul 21, 2017

Thanks! I take it next week and I am using UWorld!!

I know, I am so eager to move to California right now haha.

Fingerprint Requests - California Board of Registered Nursing

That is the link for where you can request the card and they will mail it to the address you provide.

And the only hospital that got back to me from California was some community hospital it was a part of Avanti hospitals or something like that? Just in case you wanna apply.

I actually went to school in long island (Stony Brook) before I transferred to NYU but I live in Westchester.

KrisSik9921 · Jul 21, 2017

And you can just google where you can get them done (literally type in the city you live in followed by fingerprinting)...my dad works at a Jail and one of the floors is a police records unit which is where i can get it done.