gdmartinez0903

Hi Everyone, I would love any advice and feedback on this topic. I am a new grad RN and just got my license a few months ago. I've been unsuccessful in finding my dream hospital job but have managed to find a position in outpatient care. I have been working at an outpatient surgery center in the Bay Area for a few weeks now doing a "working interview." The manager of the center told me today that I'm doing well and that she is going to do some research this weekend about how much new grad RNs start out making in an outpatient surgery center setting. She would like me to look into it as well (hence, this post :). Of course, I know the pay would not be as much as inpatient, hospital jobs. But I would like to know some rough numbers as to where to start negotiating. I am not too sure what to bring to the table since I don't know much about outpatient centers. They are training me to circulate in the OR, do pre op, and post op/pacu as well. So i'm getting a little taste of everything which is great. I know I should be grateful to have possibly found a full time position getting some kind of nursing experience. Believe me I am.. The pay is not that important to me but I do want to feel like I am being paid fairly. After all, I did work hard to get my BSN and RN license (not to mention I'm in a ton of debt from school loans!). I was just hoping some of you could share any insight as to what I should be earning. Even if you don't know what the outpatient setting pay is, perhaps you can share what you make in the hospital setting. I can go from there by deducting several dollars an hour. Please let me know any info or advice you may have! I would really appreciate it. Thanks guys! :)

Hi Everyone, I would love any advice and feedback on this topic. I am a new grad RN and just got my license a few months ago. I've been unsuccessful in finding my dream hospital job but have managed to find a position in outpatient care. I have been working at an outpatient surgery center in the Bay Area for a few weeks now doing a "working interview." The manager of the center told me today that I'm doing well and that she is going to do some research this weekend about how much new grad RNs start out making in an outpatient surgery center setting. She would like me to look into it as well (hence, this post :). Of course, I know the pay would not be as much as inpatient, hospital jobs. But I would like to know some rough numbers as to where to start negotiating. I am not too sure what to bring to the table since I don't know much about outpatient centers. They are training me to circulate in the OR, do pre op, and post op/pacu as well. So i'm getting a little taste of everything which is great. I know I should be grateful to have possibly found a full time position getting some kind of nursing experience. Believe me I am.. The pay is not that important to me but I do want to feel like I am being paid fairly. After all, I did work hard to get my BSN and RN license (not to mention I'm in a ton of debt from school loans!). I was just hoping some of you could share any insight as to what I should be earning. Even if you don't know what the outpatient setting pay is, perhaps you can share what you make in the hospital setting. I can go from there by deducting several dollars an hour. Please let me know any info or advice you may have! I would really appreciate it. Thanks guys! :) - Gloria

hey guys.. i was selected to interview for ucsf back in june.. i did not get the job but i was 1 of 5 selected to interview.. i precepted on this particular unit and they were only hiring one.. the entire hospital is hiring 16 and they will all be starting august 9th.. of course i was bummed i didnt get it but it was a good experience.. im actually pretty determined to eventually get a job there.. well i was hoping you guys can give me some advice about a different opportunity that came up for me.. there is a small, outpatient surgery center in Fremont (Bay Area, where I live now) that is hiring a new grad RN.. i interviewed with them and they seem to be really interested in hiring me. however, their starting pay is extremely low compared to hospital nurses.. i know nurses in clinics and outpatients dont make as much but i did not expect so little either.. they are offering me $25/hr compared to the $40/hr that nurses in the hospital make.. i would have to make a one year commitment in return for the training.. i think they are trying to save money by not hiring an experienced OR nurse.. they would be training me to work pre-op, pacu, and eventually circulating OR.. i just graduated this past April so i'm very grateful for the opportunity.. but i feel like im being taken advatage of in terms of pay.. what do you guys think? most of my teachers agree it is a very low number but also say it would be a learning experience above everything else.. oh i should mention ive never had an interest in being in the OR.. i imagined myself working with patients who are awake.. lol. and of course, i would love to work in the hospital setting.. but i always keep an open mind so i don't really mind trying the OR.. so i'm contemplating whether i should take the job and make the commitment at such a low pay.. or if i should keep looking for the ideal hospital job..

I'm glad to hear most of those letters have finally gone out! congrats to all of you who got accepted! and to those on the wait list, hang in there! I'm not sure how the sf campus is in terms of "safety" but I've been around that area plenty of times during the day and it's always been fine.. it's right near cesar chavez and mission street.. a very busy and vibrant area.. and BART is right down the street.. and I heard from someone who went to the SF location that the SF cohort is the only one out of the three that actually get to somewhat choose when their clinical rotations will be.. I guess they ask everyone to make like a "preferred schedule" and they go through each and try to work the schedule out according to what would work best for you.. I heard that the other cohorts are split into 3 groups and are basically just rotated around and randomly assigned according to last names or something.. also, the SF campus allows you free parking if you carpool with 3 other people.. I've been to the Oakland campus a few times now to drop off paperwork and I always have a hard time finding street parking.. one time I went for the NET test, we got out kind of late and I totally took a wrong turn to get back on the freeway.. not a good area, let me tell you.. it was actually really dark and creepy.. the actual admin office itself is always locked and you have to press a button so they can see you and buzz you in.. not sure if that's the standard for all their locations but I've never seen an admin office of a school so "locked down" ..it doesn't really matter during the day time though.. it's always very busy with the hospital across the street too..

sstarr003, sorry i forgot to mention that i did not turn in my application early.. i actually turned it in on the very last day (10/31)..

sstarr003, i think someone else already mentioned this but the start date for the SF cohort is on april 30th.. orientation is april 17th.. i got the acceptance letter the beginning of february (1 month ago) and had until february 20th to turn in my letter of intent along with the tuition deposit.. i received an e-mail that same day (02/20) letting me know about the orientation and program start date.. i looked at the e-mail addresses it was sent out to and counted 27 total, including me.. there are supposedly 48 spots in the program so i'm sure they will be sending out more acceptance letters soon.. congrats to those that got accepted and for those on the waitlist, don't lose hope! i'm sure there are plenty of people that don't end up accepting the offer and give up their spot.. and for those still waiting for a response, good luck! =)

CONGRATS TO YOU ALL!!! I'm very glad to hear those acceptance letters FINALLY went out.. I got into the SF cohort and received my acceptance letter like a month ago.. but the SF program starts in less than 2 months now so maybe they just needed to get the ball rolling for us.. by the way, if anyone else is going to be in the SF cohort please send me a message so that we can exchange contact info =) as far as commuting goes, i live in the east bay and will be commuting to SF.. without traffic it would be about a half hour.. with traffic (which there certainly WILL be!), it would probably be about an hour.. plus $4 for the bridge everyday.. but the SF location is right near a BART station so that's always another option.. if you're going to be in the Oakland cohort, I'm sure you can try and catch BART as well.. I don't know how parking would be at any of the locations though.. anyone know? A Samuel Merritt representative did tell me once that San Mateo has plenty of parking.. As far as jobs for new grads go.. I heard that it is VERY difficult finding a job in the Bay Area right now.. one former student I spoke to said that they have filled out 100 applications already and has only received interest from 2 places and has only had 1 interview.. so it is pretty bad right now.. but I'm hoping that by the time we graduate, things will have brightened up a bit.. if not, you might have to settle for a job outside of a hospital that does not pay as much (nursing homes, etc.).. so I understand that people are concerned about paying so much for an education when it does not guarantee you a job at the end.. but nothing in this life is guaranteed and sometimes, you have to make sacrifices.. I personally feel that the fragile condition of the job market should not stop anyone from going to school, no matter how much it costs.. the way I see it is.. If the program costs $5,000 and not $50,000.. the job market is still the same.. it does not make a difference.. but you will have your BSN degree at the end either way.. although the cost of the program does not affect the job market, of course it will affect your personal finances.. and that is where personal circumstances and situations come into play.. many of you may not want to take the risk of coming out of a program with a ton of debt and no job market.. especially if there are important factors involved like kids, mortgages, car payments, etc.. which I COMPLETELY understand.. but I think you should totally go for it if you feel like you CAN afford to take that risk.. because like I said, in the end.. you will have your Bachelors of Science in Nursing.. =)

late bloomer, yes i turned in my letter of intent along with the deposit on friday.. i had to think about it a little though.. i must admit, i was a bit hesitant to accept the offer.. I, like many of you, am concerned with how much this program is going to cost, how good (or not good for that matter) it's going to be, and what the job market will be like once we graduate.. i came to the decision that i am going to go for it.. my goal in life is to become a nurse.. that is what i want to do.. and unfortunately, there are not too many options out there for me in terms of schools.. i don't want to relocate outside of the bay area and so i am a little limited on choices.. yes, the program will be expensive but you earn your bachelors in nursing in one year flat.. that's a pretty good deal if you ask me.. and as far as how good the program is going to be.. i am optimistic that it will be fine.. and as with anything, it will be what you make of it as well.. and i am definitely planning on making the most of it.. as far as the job market goes.. it is pretty scary to think of how most places right now are not hiring new grads or anyone really.. but i actually hope to become a nurse practitioner eventually and so i would want to go to another school next fall (2010) to start studying for a masters degree.. and so if i get accepted into a masters program, i would not have to worry about the job market right away since i would be continuing my education.. and if i don't get accepted into a masters program, then i would try my best to find a job with the BSN and RN license i would be getting from my education at samuel merritt.. im hoping that things will look a little brighter a year from now.. and as someone had mentioned in one of these forums earlier, it's not a question about if you will get hired.. it's a question about when.. eventually, you will find something out there for you.. i truly believe that everyone that has put the time and effort to get an education and earn their degrees will be successful in life.. sometimes, it just takes a little patience.. of course, everyone's circumstances are different and for some, they really just can't afford to take the risk of coming out of school with a ton of debt and no job market.. especially those with mortgages to pay, kids to take care of, and other large expenses.. so it really does depend on your own personal situation whether or not you should take the opportunity.. if you feel like you can afford to take the risk, then i say you should go for it! ..i don't see anything wrong with trying to earn a higher education, no matter at what cost it may be.. especially if it's what you really want! well good luck to you all and I truly hope you all make it to where you want to be, whichever route you may take!

hey everyone.. so i got my letter of acceptance for the sf cohort the first week of february.. they gave us until the 20th (today) to turn in our letter of intent checking whether or not we accepted their offer along with a non-refundable tuition deposit of $350.. i don't know why they have sent out some letters and not others.. the only reason i can think of is that the sf cohort is the first to start classes this summer and maybe they need to get the ball rolling for them already.. as far as it being unfair for those who listed sf as their second choice, i agree it doesnt make too much sense.. but the way i see it is.. they maybe go through the applications for the people that listed sf as their first choice first.. they send out letters to those that qualify, however many that may be.. and if there are still spots left after they've picked and chosen from that batch, then maybe they look at the ones who didn't get into their first choice but had listed san francisco as their second choice.. does this make sense? i know it seems a little messed up.. but at the same time, it makes a little sense.. because if you set your priorities then they will try their best to honor that.. it does kinda suck though because youre kinda taking a gamble either way you go.. especially if you listed oakland as your first choice since there are so many people going for that campus.. by the time they realize theres no more room for that one, the other campuses might already be filled up with people who had made them their first choices.. i dont know.. thats just my take on it i guess.. could be wrong but thats the only explanation i can think of.. im really sorry you are all stressing out so much.. but the first week of march is just around the corner.. good luck to you all!

hbrown83, i just found out a week ago i got accepted into the sf campus as well! i live in the East Bay as well.. i was a little hesitant to accept just because it is so expensive.. but i dont have many other alternatives and if i can find enough financial aid to help me out, i think it should be ok.. good luck to the rest of you still waiting! keep us posted.. i actually still have to do the patho class before the april 30th start date.. gonna do it at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.. has anyone done it there? ok well good luck to you all!