cuppy

Its odd to me how many RN's complain about their situation, and then come to our UNION hospital, leaving their homes and families behind, so they can make the wage that UNION RN's have fought for. Makes no sense.... Kudos to you Decade1 for speaking the truth..

Hello... I just went to the Frontier Nursing website to check on some information before sending in my application, and the class I was applying for is closed!!! The applications were due Aug 10th. I am so sad... Does anyone know when the classes start up again after the first of the year? I tried to call but they must be closed for the holiday. Has anyone else heard from the school? (if you applied for class 71 and 72) Thanks for any information, and congratulations to those of you who are Frontier Bound!!

Thank you everyone for the great information about Frontier. Has anyone heard anything about the NP program in Womens Health? I am currently a RN in Labor and Delivery, and would like to start the Womens Health NP program in the fall. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

I love your article. It felt like what I would have written in my first year... I agree, new nurses should have to read this. Congratulations on your first year, and the best of luck to you in the many years to come.

I graduated nursing school a month before I turned 45, and I was not the oldest one in my class.... Now that I have been a nurse for about 6 months, I will say, that life experience, and the age factor has come in handy in some areas. However, the body does feel a little stiff in the the morning after a busy night at work...

I attended an accelerated BSN program. Not only do you have to have a 4 year degree in another field, (many have masters degree's) but all the nursing pre-req's required of the traditional BSN programs are also expected to be completed before you are accepted, (or at least before school begins) A minimal of a 3.0 in all coursework is required, ( and competition is pretty stiff) so in reality, you need a higher GPA. We completed 1300 clinical hours in addtion to receiving a public health nurse certification, and rotated through ICU, CCU and NICU. And just incase you are still feeling like it is unfair, not everyone makes it through. So please don't think that we just show up for a year and take the NCLEX, and get our RN. There were many sleepless, tear filled nights that some of my classmates and I just did not know if we were going to make it.

Hi Nathanielandiranna- I graduated from SF location. I was in the first SF cohort to come out of SM ABSN program. The average GPA was approx 3.4-3.6, and the net was about an 85 or so. I did not get these figures from the school, but everyone in our class was quite close as the year went on, and from what I knew about what the individual scores were on the NET, (which is a very easy and basic test) they were all well into the 80's. The job hunt was challenging at first, but if I had known then, what I know now, I would have applied for the new grad training programs in January while I was still in school. It is never to early to start looking. The bay area only runs training programs for new grads once, or maybe twice a year, (if you want a special area of training) and the competition is great. Everyone I know has eventually gotten a job, but it took a lot of effort. Good Luck!!! If you have any other specific questions, feel free to PM me.

Have a BSN. Started out with my BA, and then on to an ABSN. This fall its on to my NP!:smackingf

I thought my tuition alone was more than 48K, but once you add in transportation, books, parking, uniforms and supplies for clinicals( stethescope..) and if you plan on not working,(which I do not know how anyone could work during this program) cobra or some type of health insurance. I am thinking off the top of my head, but if you want to PM me I would be happy to go into more detail. I am not figuring in rent, food or housing bills, but just all the costs associated with school. Your expenses may be much less. Books were $700 one quarter, and then 300.00 the next. And every 5 weeks or so you change classes. I have seen posts on here where people have commented on how easy it is to get into the San Francisco or Peninsula program. That surprises me because it was very competitive for my class. We were told that over 300 people were narrowed down, and only 95-100 were chosen from them. In my class many people had their Masters degree's and even one had a doctorate.

Just my two cents, but I graduated in May from the ABSN program and I agree. It is much closer to 70,000.00. By the way, did she graduate 2006, or 2007. I am looking for an L&D job, and as a new grad would appreciate any information available. (I personally think it the program was worth it, but that is up to each person.)

Hello everyone: Well, I finally have graduated and passed my boards (YEAH!!) and its time to look for a job. This morning I had a phone interview with Alta Bates. (L&D training program) Does anyone have any information about Alta Bates? Also, I would like to know if it is appropriate to call HR departments or recruiters, and inquire about positions although they may not have any posted. I really need to start working soon, and did not expect to have this much trouble finding a position. (I know.. I have been reading all the posts...I just don't want to move out of the city!!! )

Hi John, I don't know if you have to come to the Bay area, but the Sacramento area is beautiful and the cost of living is much less expensive. I have a couple of friends from nursing school who have expressed how much work is available in that area. If that is a possibility for you, maybe someone more familiar with that area can help you. I do not have children, so I don't know anything about the schools in that area. However, the pay is the same, and the cost of living is much less.

. In most of Northern Ca, you would be lucky to get a run down shack. (for 200,000) The average price of a two bedroom one bath home in Northern CA, (this was just on the news the other night) is 720,00.00. I would guess most of us live here because we love it, and the ones who come here seeking the big bucks get a rude awakening to the high cost of living.

Hi Nursegirl, No I am not looking for a graduate residency program. I am not planning on starting graduate school for a year. I just finished an ABSN program, and all I am saying is that there is a huge amount of new grads right now in the market. Many people I know are having trouble getting jobs. As an experienced nurse I doubt you will run into the same problem. And believe me, I am not trying to discourage anyone from living here, but please keep in mind, the cost of living. One of my professors presented a report to my class that when only looking at wages, SF bay area nurses came in first. Once living expenses were factored in they dropped to 48th. (thats out of 50 states) Just do your own research and I am sure you will be fine.

Hi Bertolozzi, I sent you a private message. Again, thanks for the input, and I have started looking south for job prospects. I am very familar with this area, I have been here 27 years, so bart and I are well acquainted! Things will be fine I am sure. But really , I am not being bilked.

I have lived in San Francisco for 27 years and I love it. As a new grad I am meeting unexpected roadblocks that are frustrating. (that I have voiced on other forums, sorry!) As far as SF General paying anyone starting pay of 55.00 an hour. It is a county hospital, and it is union. Go to the Dept of public health, and look up the open positions. They will list the wage range. If she is working per diem, possibly, but right now new grads start at around 43-45. I am doing my preceptorship there, and they consider your application incomplete unless you have a license or an interm permit. Maybe she has special permission, but they are not desperate anymore. There is a waiting list in every program here right now. UCSF, Kaiser SF, CPMC and most of the major hospitals that will even talk to you before you have your license have filled their new grad programs. Hopefully, things will brighten up in a month or so. As far as the rents, with the housing market the way it is, rents have increased in the city of San Francisco. Even with rent controll, which does not apply to every structure, rents can run 1500.00 + for a one bedroom without parking. I think this is the best place to live and I encourage you to come here, just don't expect to come and find a rent controlled apt, and a job making 100,000.00 a year right away!! If you do then you will be so happy.. but just prepare yourself to take some time so you can live where you want, and work where you want. This is just my take..I just feel like I have had a rude awakening and I don't want others to feel left out on a limb.

After working for a year, you will most likely have a much different experience. Its great to have an application that stands out, but the problem seems to be that the spots are already filled, and the dept manangers are not even getting the applications. Hospitals such as CPMC, (which is a sutter health hospital) and others that I am not looking into may not have this situation. Just to let you know, I am in my 40's, have a masters degree, over 7 years of hospital experience and will complete my BSN, (which is my second bachelors degree) in just a couple weeks. You could say I did my homework. I also contacted people, and did my research. All of the things that you are going to do,(and then some) I tried, and I am still hitting a brick wall. Not only did I volunteer at the hospitals that I was interested in, I also did my clinicals with the managers that I needed to get to know. So I am just going to be patient. I am not trying to be pessimistic, but please come here and talk to the people who will be hiring you before you make such a huge change. I am sure you can make it happen, I am just getting the idea that it is just not as easy to find a job here as it used to be. And I don't know that much about being a traveling nurse, but I know they pay well, and they pay your housing costs. Maybe you should consider that! (again, I have not researched about travelers, its just heresay what I wrote)

Hi Dee, The issue is not just the high cost of living, it is the amount of jobs available for new grads. There are limited new grad programs for the high amount of new grads applying. I am sure if you are patient you will eventually get a job, but it seems to me, (and I wish I were wrong) that there is not a nursing shortage for new grads in SF. I have spoken with managers at the major hospitals, and every one of them has told me the same thing. Few spots for new grads, (in the training programs) and many applicants. PLEASE prove me wrong!!! I would love to have differerent information!

If you want to go to any of the CPMC campuses, you get off at the Bart city center, and they have a shuttle that picks you up and goes to all three campuses. The pacific, california and Davies campus. UCSF is easy to reach by BART. Get off at any station downtown, and transfer to the N Judah. It drops you off right in front of UCSF. St Lukes, get off at 24th street bart station, and walk 3 blocks to 27th and Ceasear Chavez. St Mary's, Get off at any downtown station and take Hayes St. Bus, ( I think its the 21, I don't remember) But there is one that goes right down to St. Mary's. I don't remember if your post included St. Francis, which is also downtown San Francisco, but that is within walking distance of the Powell St. Bart station. I cant help with any of the out of town Bart stations, although you may also want to check out Cal Train which I believe goes to Redwood City also. Good Luck!!

I am graduating in a couple of weeks from an ABSN program in SF. Apply early, right after your Christmas break, Feb-March the latest. Our class found out that most programs had filled for the July start session by the beginning of April. Also, San Francisco General does not consider your application complete until you have your license. (or maybe at least your interm) I am doing my senior preceptorship there now, and I spoke to the manager of my dept. and that was the info that I was given. Good luck!

Hi Sheri257-Thanks for your feedback. However, as a long term resident of SF, any illusion of living cheap dissapears each month as I write my 3500.00 rent check. I also did not mean to give the impression of complaining, As someone who is coming into a field that I have not been exposed to internally, any information I have heard is that there is a huge nursing shortage. My post was simply to share my disappointment in my experience as I leave school. It was certainly not to give the impression that I packed my bags, ran to SF, and thought I was going to "make a ton of money and live cheaply." Anyone who knows anything about this area would know that 40.00 an hour is really not a lot to live in this city. I hope this clarify's what my intention was, to get feedback on the experience of what others were going through in this area. Not to feel as if I were wrong to live in SF and want to support myself.

Thanks for your reply's- However- I have lived in San Francisco for 27 years, and its hard to think I may have to pick up my life and move!! Just today I was told by two separate hospitals that the new grad programs had filled up early, ( jan-mar) and from many out of state students! My school just did not let us know of the urgency of getting that resume out there after Christmas break. Oh WELL- live and learn

I am new to this forum, (today!!) and graduating on May 25th. I have been reading this thread with much interest. I would like to add some thoughts, but no judgments. I live in San Francisco, and out of the 47 individuals in my ABSN program, approx 50% have been told that all new grad programs are full, and there are few, if any jobs left at local hospitals for new grads. Although I agree that nurses with experience are not valued as they should be, ( how many have trained us in the skills we have learned?) and they should be compensated more, I am not equipped to figure out how to solve that problem. However, as far as compensation for new grads, my rent is 3175.00 a month(one bedroom apt), and I am leaving my year long program with a 60,000.00 bill.( tuition only) Again, I am not complaining, I made those choices, but my point is that as a 45 year old who has a financial reality to face, in my area, 40.00 and hour is not a lot, if you look at the cost of living in northern california. I, as many in my class, feel we were sold out, being told there was a nursing shortage, only to graduate to a jobless economy, with thousands of dollars in debt. (my program is an accelerated second degree program) I hope things turn around, and I am excited to eventually work in the nursing field.