Possibly moving back to California.Are there experienced RN jobs for less than 1 yr?

jojonavy · Feb 23, 2012

Try UCI medical Center. There job postings say six months experience. I actually got an interview in CN II Neuro ICU with about 7 months of experience, but I have a BSN. I think Good Samaritan might take you with 6 months experience, it says something about considering those whom had completed a new grad program. Last is Henry Mayo in Valencia/ Santa Clarita. They list their positions for min of 6 months experience. I do think they prefer BSN's though.

amzyRN · Jul 25, 2012

I'm currently a registered nurse in north dakota. I graduated from an ADN program in Orange County, CA back in May of last year, got my license in June and looked for a New Grad job without success for 2 mos before deciding to relocate. I got a new grad job in North Dakota and have been here for over 6 mos now but am hoping to apply and move back to California for many reasons. I'm curious if it is possible to get an experienced RN position with less than a year experience?? Any advice would be appreciated!

Did you find anything in CA with 6mo experience? I'm likely going to move, but don't know if I can do the full year.

Goobstress · Jul 26, 2012

If you go to a more rural place in SoCal they definitely will take you...just look at it as gaining the rest of the experience you need to compete with most of the places that are asking for 3-5 years of experience.

amzyRN · Jul 26, 2012

I would be fine with going to a rural hospital in so cal after my 6 moths or so in ND. I just don't know if I can do a full year there.

perioddrama · Jul 26, 2012

I would be fine with going to a rural hospital in so cal after my 6 moths or so in ND. I just don't know if I can do a full year there.

Yikes. My friend moved to ND earlier this year since she couldn't find a job here in CA. Hope she can stick with it.... She hasn't quite hit the 6 month mark yet.

amzyRN · Jul 26, 2012

Yikes. My friend moved to ND earlier this year since she couldn't find a job here in CA. Hope she can stick with it.... She hasn't quite hit the 6 month mark yet.

Tell her to hang in there. I'm going to try to do the same. In certain ways I'm excited about the experience. I've never experienced 4 seasons before or ever lived out of Cali. I've heard the people are really nice though, but not as much to do our here in Cali. Has your friend said anything in particular about ND? How is she managing, if you know?

perioddrama · Jul 26, 2012

Tell her to hang in there. I'm going to try to do the same. In certain ways I'm excited about the experience. I've never experienced 4 seasons before or ever lived out of Cali. I've heard the people are really nice though, but not as much to do our here in Cali. Has your friend said anything in particular about ND? How is she managing, if you know?

Oh yes. I do tell her to hang in there. A job's a job. A job = money.

She's excited to experience 4 seasons again. She missed the air show (around the 4th?). I think she's hitting up the State Fair today. I'm eagerly awaiting pictures from that.

She says her co-workers are real nice. Not a lot of ethnic diversity there, so she does stand out, but she says everyone is nice.

Overall, she says the pay is lower compared to CA jobs, but the bills are GENERALLY cheaper. Her internet bill is "outrageous" compared to what she would pay here in CA. Her rent eats up a big chunk of her paycheck - at least she had an easy time finding a place, but utilities are low (I told her to wait until she starts using the heater during Winter). I haven't asked her much about how food/groceries are there (curious about produce prices). However, she was super thrilled to have found a store that stocked tofu.

She's upset about her ND license picture though... says it looks like a mug shot. I told her that's standard procedure for all license pictures

Hope you are making use of the time in ND. I've seen pictures and it looks absolutely gorgeous! Don't know if I could handle the snow and winter conditions up there though... that was a big con in deciding whether or not I should've gone with her. Maybe I should've sucked it up and gone. Well, no time to dwell on could've should've would've.

Try and stick with it for a year. You'll be better off in trying to find a job. A lot of positions require/prefer a year experience. Good luck!

Soriano43 · Jul 31, 2013

My fiance and I are about to move to North Dakota (Grand Forks) the end of August, from CA (Bay Area) for nursing positions. We just graduated in December and has had no luck at all trying to find a hospital job in CA. We are curious on what your reasons are to want to move back to CA so soon? I know ND has a lot less things to do compared to CA.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

I'd try to hold out for the year. At less than one year of experience, you're still considered a new grad by many places...but with 6 months' experience, you have disqualified yourself from many new grad programs. Also, a lot of California is BSN preferred/required, so you will need the experience in order to be competitive against BSN applicants.

One year's experience will give you more options than trying to get a job with a few months' experience...more than one year of experience would be even better, but you have to do what you have to do.

zzbxdo · Aug 1, 2013

From what I see, you won't be competitive until you have at least 2 years under your belt and it varies depending on the acuity of the unit as well. It will also help you get a stronger letter of recommendation.

Soriano43 · Aug 2, 2013

@Meriwhen

What is making you want to move back to CA so soon? Do you feel that it is hard to adjust living there coming from CA? Which city are you currently working at?