OB6658

try joining http://www.azteria.com/ Once you log in, you can request which areas you want to work in, your experience and what state/city. They will constantly send you email updates on all jobs available to your best match. Also, this page gives you the hospitals in California..they link direct to the hospital website where you can look up their career page. http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/California.htm Don't give up!

Nikki, This is a decision only you can make...weighing the pros and cons. Corona does have a lousy rep. But not too many hospitals, especially in the IE have good ones. Look at Parkview, its been in/out of bankruptcy since I moved here in 2002! But it still employs and is still open! Every hospital has its niches, there is no department that is run like a "well oiled machine". With that said, I am NOT defending Corona, but just saying no matter where you work, you will always hear the complaints from patients that didn't feel they rec'd good care...thus giving hospitals a bad rep. How often do you hear about the pts. that got fantastic care? I've gotten to the point in my career, I don't listen to the reputations and figure it out for myself, doing the best nursing care I can provide and assisting the department I work in to run as smoothly as possible. Reputation doesn't change that fact that I do have a job and I'm making a salary. Anyway, I don't know where you got the info that Corona was bought out...Universal Health Services (UHS INC.) bought and still own Corona since 2003. It is for profit...and believe me they can penny pinch. UHS Corporate people are always making rounds there and instilling their values and what they want implemented in that hospital in order to improve its reputation. (BTW, the new CEO there used to be a RN! Rare for an administrative person) Corona is a smaller hospital than what you are used to, so you won't get the higher level ICU patients. NO Neuro, no heart surgeries, etc....As a new mom, you may feel that a downgrade of higher acuity patients may be better for your stress level :) On another note: Hoag Irvine...(used to be Irvine Regional Hospital) bought about a year or so ago by Hoag and remodeled. Looks nice. This hospital also is small. So the ICU acuite level patients will be a lot less. I don't know how it would be working at Hoag Irvine since it just opened. (only heard about Hoag, Newport Beach). While Hoag Irvine is further away, it is an easier commute than Hoag Newport. Yes, it is easier working the night shift..If you take the 91 and toll road 241, you will end up right there upon exit of the 241. Keep in mind the cost of the toll road with your pay. (~$10+/day worked). Plus is Hoag Irvine Union? There will be Union dues. (Hoag Newport is Union). Corona is NOT Union. Because of Hoag's external reputation, you will always get a smile from people when you tell them you work at "Hoag" vs. saying "Corona" You have to consider the the reputations and upkeep for the cities they are located (Irvine, Newport Beach $$$ however, does not insure better nursing pay by any means) ....but again, its a job and certainly never written in stone, as one can always change workplaces. All depends whether you want the better situation of your work place being closer to home for you and you new family; or the stigma of that smile you get when you tell people you work at Hoag. This is just my opinion as an experience nurse....who's worked good and bad reputation hospital. PM me if you have further questions.

try looking at the hospital websites in this link. if they have new grad programs, most will list as such or as a "versant" program. i know fountain valley regional had a listing for a versant rn about a week ago. alot of the big hospitals will have "new grad" programs at least twice a year. http://www.theagapecenter.com/hospitals/california.htm good luck

try looking at the hospital websites in this link. if they have job listings, it will be on their website. i would say about 98% of hospitals today (at least in ca.) only do "online" applications. most have gone away with the paper version. http://www.theagapecenter.com/hospitals/california.htm good luck

Try looking at the hospital websites in this link. If they have new grad programs, most will list as such or as a "Versant" program. I know Fountain Valley Regional had a listing for a Versant RN about a week ago. http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/California.htm Good Luck

Wow! I feel awful for your circumstances. There's not much in way of hospitals within a reasonable driving time out there in the high desert. As you already checked into, it would be 1 - 1/2 hour drive (3 hours a day)to and from the base to Barstow Community Hospital. If you went into the next closest area: Victorville/Apple Valley...it would be a 2 hour drive each way. (4 hours a day) Don't know about your stamina, but I could not do 12+ hour shifts with 3-4+ hours travel time on work days. There are 3 hospitals in Victorville/Apple Valley - Victor Valley Community, St. Marys Medical, and Desert Valley Hospital. However, all are under 200 beds and not Trauma. You also have to consider traffic here in CA. It won't be as bad out in the high desert, however the main interstate ( I-15) can get bustled depending on your shift. Also, lots of weekenders from LA, Riverside County etc... travel the I-15 to Vegas, which sometimes makes it a fairly busy road from Fri-Sun/Mon. One other poster suggested having your husband stay off base and commute part way from Victorville so that you can proceed farther into the bigger hospitals in San Bernardino County. Good idea, but don't think it would be too good for him to travel 2 hours to the base and 2 hours home. Maybe there are other places other than hospitals nearer the base that utilizes a Nurse. Surely there must be some Medical field jobs on the military base itself? Sorry, I can't help in telling you how it is working in Barstow Community or the others... But I wish you alot of luck and hope you find work and a solution that works out for both you and your husband.

Well, we always tried the mix in Coke route first. It was a challenge when you had to fight with the 14 year old to drink it. And if she/he vomited afterward...we had to go with the NG tube route. Of course, if oral was impossible because of fighting and refusal of the patient, then why try mixing in anything, go straight for the NG route...easier, faster and no taste. Only the brief discomfort of inserting the tube for the patient.

Here's the link to the payscale at Riverside County Hospital. This is all jobs for the county, you have to look under "registered nurse" to get all the levels. Hope this helps anyone. http://agency.governmentjobs.com/riverside/default.cfm?action=agencyspecs&agencyID=9

This is the link to Arrowhead Regional Hospital pay scale. New grads would probably fall under the registered nurse I on the low end of the scale. Its true county hospitals don't pay as much hourly wage but do pride themselves on the benefit end. Although while Riverside County hospital, pays low also, if you are experienced with BSN, MSN, or certifications, the pay can be up to $50/hr. there, plus their benefits I think are better than Arrowhead. Anyway, here is a link to Arrowhead. if you want Riverside County, let me know, I'll post. http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sanbernardino/default.cfm?&promotionaljobs=0&transfer=0

Hi, don't know how far north or south you are in Orange County, but San Antonio Community hospital in Upland has 10 New Grad positions posted on their career page. http://www.sach.com/asp/Site/Careers/index.asp Hope this helps.

Your absolutely right about health technology always changing. 1. I did take a CCU course (6 weeks long) to update and refresh my skills as well as a dysrhythmia course (4 weeks, in which I'm glad to see I haven't forgotten my rhythms, just some of the drug treatments have changed). 2. Even without updating myself, you never lose the general critical care knowledge, it gets misplaced in the brain, like riding a bike in a way, once you get back into the CCU setting, most all comes back to you. Its up to the employer to provide you with the orientation needed on new technologies. And you learn the new treatments/drugs as you work. You always should get an orientation when you enter into a new place, no matter experienced nurse or new one. Unless, you work as a traveler, registry or per diem...then there is not much if any orientation...you need to be current on your stuff, because they expect you to hit the floor running. Used to be a time when employers didn't care when you worked a particular area, only that you did work it at some time and have an RN after your name! Now, there is so much competition out there during these times, the employer has you by the short hairs...and will take the one with the most recent experienced and higher degrees.

You are correct, there is a lot of advertised positions out there, asking for experience...however, most is just 1 position available for 500 applicants...its rough. Then there are those hospitals that have hiring freezes and have been advertising the same jobs for months and months...hence there really is no position, just makes it look good I guess. Trust me, I have applied to these position, only to be told that they don't exist, they don't really need help in that area and don't know why it is advertised, or the position is filled! I've also gone to the job fairs...the ones that advertise that managers will be there to interview on the spot and you could get hired! :chuckle Not! There are no manager there, only recruiters or HR representatives. They tell you to leave you resume (on their huge pile, no less) but that they have only one opening or no openings...just giving out their free pens and "spin the wheel" prize! Some even tell you they are NOT taking resumes and just hand you the hospital brochure...I've gone to 4 in the past year and all are the same. I use this site: http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/California.htm or this one: http://www.jobbankusa.com/employment_jobs_career/hospital/california/ to access most of the california hospital websites. (not all hospitals are listed there, and some listed are closed down). I check certain hospitals within a 40 mile radius from me on a daily basis, so I know how long the same positions have been posted there and never seem to change. Some positions still listed from year 2008....now you can't tell me they couldn't find a nurse to fill it! What area of So Cal are you. There are few hospitals that routinely hire new grads. In fact I told a few grads about St. Bernardines in San Bernardino, they applied, and I know 1 was hired into CCU there. Check out their website! P.S. Not trying to sound bitter, but this nurse employment rat race exists, many others will tell you the same. I know of hospitals that are downsizing their nurses, cutting hours, flexing them home at a moments notice, or calling them off completely for their shift. They are also staffing to the highest nurse-patient ratio allowed under Calif. law and then some..... In my opinion, there is NO nursing shortage existing. Keep your head up and keep trying...take some classes to add to your resume. Like if you want to work CCU or ER, take a beginners CCU or ER course. There are a few places that offer them.

Hi, I'm an 18 year experienced RN, struggling for a job also in this poor economy. I have sent cover letter and resumes direct to the recruiters and managers of the department and rec'd no responses. However, I've also bypassed the recruiter and mailed my cover and resume direct to the manager of the department...and rec'd rejection letters from them, so I know at least they did look at it. Seems, since 99% hospitals now do on-line applications, this is the preferred method. Most consider the resume and cover an added extra, but you must fill the application for their hospital. Also, by applying on-line, you create an account and most times, can track your application process. I've been at it for 12 months....emails can get easily deleted if they feel your not qualified. By applying on-line at their hospital site, it remains in their computer system and is always accessible. Of course it doesn't mean your looked at any more than physically applying direct at the place. There is just TOO much competition out there, it's a crap shoot...if you don't catch their attention with the first sentence on your cover letter or...seems they don't spend much time on your resume. For example, I've gotten calls for ICU/CCU jobs, because on the 1st page of my resume, it summerizes my experience in each area I've worked, then the employment section on the 2nd page. There it says I haven't worked ICU since 2002...after they hear that, It's like I've wasted their time...They act like I couldn't possibly work in their CCU since I've been out of it for 7 years. (I still have the knowledge and critical thinking skills...geez!)

now, I'm a bit confused...is this post talking about CNA/techs or the telemetry monitoring techs. The telemetry tech do only monitoring. In any case, I've worked with neither. There are no specialty units that I have seen that have CNA/techs, except in Labor and Delivery. Of course, that's not to say that they don't exist in ICU, PICU or NICU. Just that I haven't seen them.

I've worked in 2 ICU/CCU's without techs. The 1st one (long ago) was small and only had 6 beds. Therefore, we did everything, including secretary work, tech duties, drawing blood, administering respiratory treatments when respiratory wasn't able, etc...even trash duty and some housekeeping if you can believe it! This is not to say we had easy patients either...acuity was 2:1, sometimes 1:1, including post MI with complications, vents, DKA,s, swan ganz lines, etc... The second one had 12 beds. NO tech and secretary only on day shift. We were not only responsible for the ICU patients total care and rhythm monitoring and interpretation, we also had to be responsible for monitoring the 12 patients on telemetry units on the medical/surgical floors. To be honest, I liked it this way, as I preferred to always know what my patients rhythm was doing, and not rely on the tech to tell me when something was wrong. Just my opinion.