Nursing in San Diego

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Hello!

I'm a nursing student currently living in the Dallas metroplex. I graduate next May.

My family & my wife's family both live on the west coast, mostly in San Diego. I love it out there & want to move back, but I'm concerned about the cost of living, the economic problems California is having, not knowing what hospitals are good places to work, etc.

What are some good hospitals in the San Diego area? Who is hiring? Can I support a family & put my wife through nursing school in San Diego?

I'm open to working in just about any area. I'm more interested in working with a good team & good nurses so that I can learn as much as I can when I graduate. To me, the people that I work with are as important as the job that I do.

Any advice for a soon to be newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :nuke::wink2::rolleyes:

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I would post in the California forum. You might get a better response. I know little about San Diego, I live two hours north of there, but from what I've heard from other nurses the salary overall is low in regards to cost of living. Maybe 26/hr or so for new grads. Cost of living is very high, even with the poor economy. I know most hospitals all over california have had cut backs and are limiting their open positions, and many new grad programs are getting canceled over the next year.

I did apply at some hospitals in San Diego post-graduation, and only got rejection letters. (This was with graduating summa cum laude from nursing school and three years experience as an LVN). It's very competitive, 100's of applications for open new graduate positions.

Perhaps the economy will be better next year, but all the "desirable" locations all over the US tend to have a glut of nurses and much higher competition, such as San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Boston, etc.

It may be better if you get some experience, but who knows how it will be next year.

As of right now, I know 20 + new grad nurses who haven't got a job yet in over 6 months of searching.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide

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