SinOmonGrl63

Hi Chris - I start orientation on Feb. 26 at Riverside County Psych. This actually means a welcome move for me. I am living in Orange County and have discovered that it's impossible to afford to buy a home in my area on a single RN salary. I am actually hoping to accomplish two of my goals in the near future: to become a psych nurse and to own my own home. I am not big on commuting, therefore I am renting an apartment for 6 months near my new job. That way I can 1) make sure the new job works out, 2) learn more about the area of Riverside I would like to live in and 3) hopefully - get a good deal on a house during this time while the market is like it is. Good luck to you next week. I would love to hear all about your experience. -Susan

Best of luck to you too! Our stories are SO similar. What facility did you get hired at? Your in LA right? Let's try to keep in touch as we orient on our new jobs. I start Feb. 22. Do you know your start date yet?

Hi Chris, I think we're about the same age, nursing is my second career too! I fell in love with psych in nursing school and felt uncomfortable with going straight to psych. My clinical skills weren't too great coming out of nursing school and I didn't want to loose what skills I had before I had a chance to develop as a nurse. So, I'm just now at that one year mark of med surg experience. I think it's been invaluable! I feel I learned so much more than I ever knew I didn't know!! I applied for a psych nurse job for Riverside County and got hired on the spot and will be starting later this month! The interview was all kinds of scenarios with regards to med/surg. Also, a new grad friend of my applied for the same position and was told "they really want someone with med/surg background" --- even though they advertise "new grad opportunities"... I think it's worth it to put your year in to develop that med/surg base. I know I have so much to learn in my new position with regards to caring for psych patients and legal issues which surround thier needs - I can't image coming into the arena with still needing to learn the basics that I've picked up over this past year. Best of luck to you!

I'm a new grad nurse from California. I'm getting cancelled all the time and I can barely afford to live here in Huntington Beach on my full salary. I'm thinking of moving to Tucson, Arizona for the lower cost of living. Can anyone out there tell me RN wages and hospital recommendations in Tucson? I work in med/surg now. As I said, I'm a new grad with just 4 months of RN experience. Do you think it would be a problem to get employment with under 1 year experience? I appreciate any advice/recommendations. SinOmonGrl63

:chuckle My story happened a couple of years ago when I was a CNA on a tele. floor and several of us were sitting around the nurses station just winding down the shift. We were sitting next to the tele. monitors when a patient rang in and on speaker we heard him say in a loud and pitiful voice "can you send my nurse in - I'm having pain!"... To that the monitor tech inquired "where are you having pain?" .. and the patient replied in all seriousness "in 221" !!