Nursing student terrified about move to the Bay area

love-d-OR · Jul 9, 2008

Apply for new grad programs early, work as a student worker (nurse assistant) while in school if possible, and keep your grades up. This will not guarantee you a job, but it will surely help. I was offered a job at UCSF but turned it down for UCLA, so I speak from experience when I say that it is possible to find a job there you just need to wear your competitive shoes on while you work a it, cause their are more new grads than job openings. Good luck!

Oh, :wlcmggrp:

nfrasure · Jul 9, 2008

I would love to do that, but I am staying in NM until I graduate.... because i am only 6 months away from graducation here, by the time we sell our house and actually move I will be in my Final semester with preceptorship.

I guess my biggest question is, "is the only way to get hired as a new grad to be hired into an actual grad program?" I am just super scared that I will graduate and move out there and not be able to find a job. :confused:

Thank you for the welcome, and sorry if I sound whiney. I am just scared and emotional right now. Moving is a lot to handle, especially if it's as a new grad.

PACIFICWHALES · Jul 9, 2008

Hey its looking like I'm moving to Northern Ca too. I am a new rn grad scared to pieces too. The only problem is the job finding. THe pay is absolutely above 30 hr, but is it worth with the traffic and 0 free space and no high skies? Yes and no. The ocean, clear lakes, and redwoods are relatively near. The pay is great, but the rn new grad programs are few and far between. They only start at certain times of the year. I hope this helps. I sympathize with your feelings, because currently I live in a small town Ohio. I use to live in Northern CA with my parents, and through college, I loved it. It is a hard and difficult decision to move back to CA, traffic, crime and busy streets. Yet, you can find your peace there, I promise. Most folks in the area are human and environmentally and culturally conscious. You will make double the money; my parents told me that they will drag me by my ears back to CA, because of the opportunities. Currently, I'm having a hard time deciding between the offers, but now I am looking at Northern CA by the Oregon Border, Crescent City, because of their relocation package. Write back, please, and I will keep you in my prayers, so you won't be scared.:redpinkhe

Nurse Salt · Jul 9, 2008

When you graduate (in December?) there will be new grad positions available, but they are competitive. My best advice is to apply (online) early and maybe even speak to someone at your precepting hospital about contacts they may have and definitely get letters of rec. I'm not sure what city you will be moving to, but it is possible to find a job you just have to be a little (or maybe a lot) more diligent than you had anticipated. UCSF, Oakland Children's Hospital, and Kaiser and Sutter Facilities are all great places to work and you have tech experience which will help. I'm not sure if ADNs have a more difficult time getting hired, but it seems to me it shouldn't matter... I know we post here about the lack of new grad jobs around here, but I can attest to the fact that my hospital alone has at least a dozen IP positions still posted...

If you want to PM me and let me know where you will be moving, I may be able to suggest some more facilities that are more specific to your specialty.

Good Luck, concentrate on finishing school and doing well in your preceptorship. You may have a difficult road ahead of you, but don't let that hinder your performance in your last semester of school, I imagine you have worked very hard to get where you are... :clown:

nfrasure · Jul 9, 2008

Thank you to all of you. I feel a little better now. I guess that all i needed to hear was that it was not completely hopeless. This move will be exciting I am sure once it starts to happen, and I know that moving to the Bay area from NM will be amazing culturally for my kiddos. You guys have restored my faith. Thanks a million. :heartbeat

krypton · Jul 9, 2008

It looks like I am also in the same situation. May I know which facilities still have openings for new grads or Staff nurse 1? Actually I already moved to Santa Rosa, CA but I am willing to relocate to SF or San Jose. I graduated from Central Coast ADN and already passed my NCLEX. I am frustrated that I can't find the opportunity for the new grads now.

PACIFICWHALES · Jul 10, 2008

Hello which hospitals in Bay Area?

Nurse Salt · Jul 10, 2008

Look into the Kaiser system... Especially Oakland and Santa Clara. Like I told the OP, you REALLY have to be diligent! Start with an online app (with cover letter), and you CANNOT stop there! Because the new grad positions have a ton of applicants, you HAVE to stand out. Several days after you submit the app, send an email or make a phone call. The job will no longer pursue the applicant, so the applicant MUST pursue the job. Email and call to the point of (almost) annoyance , if you drop the ball they will move on to next next applicant... Good Luck!

suzanne4, RN · Jul 11, 2008

It looks like I am also in the same situation. May I know which facilities still have openings for new grads or Staff nurse 1? Actually I already moved to Santa Rosa, CA but I am willing to relocate to SF or San Jose. I graduated from Central Coast ADN and already passed my NCLEX. I am frustrated that I can't find the opportunity for the new grads now.

Santa Rosa hires new grads, easier to find work there than closer to the Bay Area. Also in surrounding cities to SR.

Right now is a bad time all over the Bay Area, the new grads are already hired for existing positions that are starting this month or next. It is going to be a few more months before there are openings again in most cases.

PACIFICWHALES · Jul 11, 2008

thanks everyone who is responding to my posts.

You really are helping me a whole lot... this is from the bottom of my heart. I cannot thank you enough

Pacific Whales:redbeathe

NICUplease · Jul 13, 2008

Hi nfrasure!

I am originally from SF but now live in OK (husband is in the service). I am so jealous that you will be living in the bay area. We will be moving back to SF in about 3 years after I'm done getting my BSN in OK. Anywho, the bay area is a great place to work especially as a nurse! I have a family full of nurses who work all over the bay area and the valley. They get paid a lot more than other regions. Bay area nurses, specifically SF, can pay a new grad RN anywhere from $45-$55 dollars an hour with plenty of over time! The demand for nurses in SF is very demanding and there are plenty of hospitals to apply to. I worked at UCSF and loved it there. My son also had heart surgery there and the ICU nurses were awesome! Theres also Childrens Hospital in Oakland, General Hospital in SF, California Pacific Medical Center and Lucille Packard, just to name a few big hospitals. Well I hope you enjoy the Bay Area. It has a lot to offer. Oh yea, transportation is great too... theres BART (train) that can take you anywhere. So you can live somewhere all the way in the East bay area and take bart to SF or something for a very affordable price. Alright... I think I kinda over killed this reply. Hope this helps. Good luck! :bugeyes: