RN_stucky621

Home health, flu clinic, snf, assisted living, etc....there are plenty of opportunities in nursing. Yes, those aren't acute care settings but it could still provide you invaluable experience (and not show a gap in you resume)

grats

It took them about a year and a half to grant me the ability to sit for the NCLEX and I was given an unrestricted license after their investigation. I only have one but I got it during school so it was maybe about a year from when I got it to when I applied. Also, I submitted multiple character reference letters from my instructors and employers and a lengthy letter showing that it was a one time mistake. If you do take the chance and apply for a CA license and they deny you you are going to admit that to every state's board of nursing as they all ask the question of having ever been denied a license from another state.

This was my very first job after licensure California (bay area) 35/hour new grad flu clinics

Agree with Meri, you have to start getting letters from your instructors (yes they are going to have to know about you DUI so they can address is in their character letter). They are most likely going to deny your license the first time around so be ready to work in a non-nursing field for awhile (caregiving, tech, etc). Another big thing is to get all your legal papers in order which are the police reports, court documents, etc andmake sure they are all certified with a stamp as they will decline to use it if the papers aren't certified. It is going to be along process but I have heard some people getting an unrestricted license (including me) after the while ordeal is over. Good luck in your journey.

Thanks for all your input......it seems like I better learn as much as possible when I have my 10 weeks with a preceptor before I get thrown onto the floor on my own

I was offered a new grad job in a PICU at a california hospital and was wondering how demanding the PICU is? I never saw myself doing peds after licensure (especially in PICU) but was lucky to get an interview through family. I am worried about all the skills, assessment, etc I have to learn on top of me finishing up my rn-bsn online. Any advice on what to study and which skills I definitely should be working on? Thanks!

seems like you're going to have to enter a nursing program here in the USA to ever become an RN in the US

Agreed, an ADN who graduated a month or two ago that is eligible to apply for any US employer and in process of getting their BSN will look a lot better than someone who graduated with a BSN years ago from a foreign nursing program even with a refresher course. I'm not judging but just stating the facts.

If you get into a state-run teaching hospital (UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine) I hear the benefits aren't too bad as you can get into CALPERS. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

There are plenty of RN jobs for new grads with associates but I doubt you'll be able to stay in the sacramento area. Also, try San Joaquin Delta in Stockton which has an awesome program and plenty of hospitals around the area that hire (especially the new correctionals hospital) and it's only an hour away form sac! Doing the RN-BSN is more advisable than doing an LVN-RN program as akul said. You have the option to do your whole BSN training online as an RN and it really doesn't cost a whole lot (did my RN-BSN for about $9000 online at Ohio University)

Sacramento can be perceived as boring until you live there and find out that there is so much to do. The pay for RNs isn't as high as they bay area but you can make a pretty good living as described by Nicki. I would suggest applying to Kaiser Permanente as well as they are always hiring RNs with experience.

Might have to start looking into getting a Master in Nursing degree as I feel like this may be the minimum for foreign educated nurses now

There is actually a good amount of hospitals and SNFs hiring ADNs here in California. Most of them are willing to chip in if you decide to get your BSN while working also. The hiring freeze is slowly melting!

Depending on where you live i'd say have patience and start looking for a job outside of nursing for a little bit. I got a DUI in nursing school and it took me about 2.5 years to finally get my RN license (unrestricted thankfully). I'm hoping they fast track it for you and you get your license sooner but it is also good to have another job in the mean time instead of worrying about the BRN.