New Grad Psych RN- CA vs PA Jobs?

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  1. What should I do?

    • 3
      Go back home to CA. You are misrable and have stuck it out in PA for 4 years and that’s enough. Your mental health and happiness is most important!
    • 2
      Stick it out in PA for 1 year, it’s worth it for our resume! You are so young- what’s one more year? Plus, you’re already in PA!

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Hi all!

I will be graduating with my BSN in April 2018 and I am really hoping to start my first RN job in psych. Although I live in California, I went to college and got my BSN in Pennsylvania. This past year of college has been miserable because all of my friends left, and I desperately, desperately want to move back home to CA after graduation. I miss the weather and my support system SO much.

Here's my dilemma.

On one hand, if I stay in PA I could work at a top psychiatric hospital which hires new grads (which is rare!?), plus, it would look really good on my resume. Just for 1 or 2 years and then I could go back to school/move back.

On the other hand, I HATE it here, I've been depressed this entire year, and I wish I was back home every single day. Although jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area are tough to get for new grads, there are a good amount of psych hospitals and hospitals with psych units in SoCal. (One hospital in SoCal emailed me back immediately yesterday and said they are always looking for new grads- however, this particular small psychiatric hospital does not have very good ratings.)

I'm so unhappy here and I want to go back to CA sooo bad that I'm willing to not take the job I was offered at the great psych hospital in PA and be unemployed for a while in CA since the job market's tough. I feel that I could find a job in SoCal in about 6 months post grad..?

Should I take a leap of faith and go back home and apply everywhere even though every place requires at least 1 year of psych experience, or stick it out for 1 year and stay in PA? If I work at the bad hospital in SoCal that reached out to me, how much of a difference REALLY esp in the long run, will it make for my career?

I know it seems like a no-brainer to stick it out, but I'm realllyy leaning towards going back home and trying there. I mean, I'll get hired eventually within like a year right?

Thanks so much for advice!

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Life is short and we do not know how much time we have. Go live! There are people suffering with psychiatric disorders and mental health issues in SoCal who would be blessed to have you help them.

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Life is short and we do not know how much time we have. Go live! There are people suffering with psychiatric disorders and mental health issues in SoCal who would be blessed to have you help them.

1
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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Hi! I'm an experienced psych nurse and I thought I'd put my 2 cents in! I think you have good options in both states. Concerning the hospital in California with bad ratings....I spent 12 years working in a state hospital that had a horrible reputation in the community....and I loved that job! Great supervisors and co-workers, fascinating patients. You want to be a psych nurse, and a hospital in CA has reached out to you, why not embrace the opportunity to move back to a beautiful state and begin your career? Even if the hospital has bad ratings, you can still be the best nurse you can be and take the opportunity to learn. On the other hand....say you accept a position at the nice hospital in PA, and you love it! You may rethink your plans and decide to stay because you have a stimulating and enjoyable job! You will make the right choice! Best of luck!

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Goooooooooooooooo to California!

I moved from California (where I was born and raised) - and moved to Missouri for family reasons immediately after graduating from nursing school.

I miss California.

Go where you will be happy, dear.

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Thank you so much for your advice all, I decided to move back to CA and I couldn't be happier with my decision!

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Did u end up back in California?

I'm a new grad too in socal...just starting a psych position.

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