Sacramento Nursing

U.S.A. California

Published

Hey guys,

So I'm currently an RN with my BSN working in michigan. I'm considering a move all the way to Sacramento for hopes of higher pay and closer to fun. I already know what you're saying, "Remember the cost of living is higher!" well that may be true, but from my research (and please - correct me if I'm wrong) but the starting pay at UC Davis is $50+/hour and the median home price is the same as where I'm at in Michigan where I make $29/hour. So, by my accounts, yeah groceries may be slightly more pricey, but will that balance out a pay raise of $21/hour?

How is Sacramento? How is UC Davis Hospital? Is any of this even a good idea? I've heard mixed stories about the california nurses union. I'm already in a nurses union so it isn't that unheard of for me. Any insight would be great. Thanks.

Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

oh mostly Caucasian people....got it

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
oh mostly Caucasian people....got it

Elaborating on your statement and who you are referring to would help others see what you meant. Sacramento is a very diverse area. The neighborhoods I try to mention as safe are ones that tend to not have gang activity. South Sacramento is notorious for having high gang activity, you know it when you drive through it. So certain parts of Elk Grove are probably too close to that activity. I worked trauma ER at a hospital smack in the middle of that neighborhood so yes, I got to see the action.

North natomas used to be nice but because prices are so low, it's unfortunately gone downhill per my friends that live there. And per the 7 gsw victims I got to help care for when they were attending a kids birthday party. I don't blindly pick areas based on what they look like, I pick them based on what I've seen come in from them. Btw, the gang members I've cared for are just as diverse as Sacramento.

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Specializes in ICU.
oh mostly Caucasian people....got it

There you go, Don't jump to assumptions. I am non white myself.

The Most Diverse Cities Are Often The Most Segregated | FiveThirtyEight

Sacramento is the most diverse and integrated city in the country. I had no idea until I read all these articles. Then I visited last month and I agree. I say people of different backgrounds mingling.

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NickiLaughs, BSN

I have a lot of questions for you. I'm considering Sacramento, as I can't stand Denver, CO anymore. I get paid 27 base and the COL is way too high. I'm looking into UC Davis Emergency Department training program and could use an advice.

Thank you! :)

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

Sacramento is very expensive and HOT ! Are you an RN or LVN? I would start applying now if interested there is high Demand to get into this department.

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Sacramento is very expensive and HOT ! Are you an RN or LVN? I would start applying now if interested there is high Demand to get into this department.

It is not as expensive as Colorado, where I pay 1400 for 1 bedroom in shady neighborhood and get 27.31 base. Colorado is beautiful but very very cheap. Tired of it. Won't be able to afford to buy a house, and won't be able to save money for downpayment. I have to work OT every other week to get by.

What is LVN? Something like LPN? If it is, than no, I'm RN BSN with all credentials for ED (ACLS, BLS, NIHSS, tons of trauma CEA, and taking TNCC in few weeks.)

I already applied for the position and license, including temp license. The goal is to get it moving after Christmas. I don't want my co-workers hanging while working these holidays.

I now work for Magnet status teaching hospital, so my experience is solid. Just not in emergency medicine.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

WOW ! You have impressive skills. Most jobs here in California offer bonus $$ so you may be able to buy a house or a condo. Rent can be as much as owning a house. $1800 or higher for rent. I pay $1000 for mortgage, for a 4 bedroom house in a decent area.

Have you considered taking a travel job? Sometimes they pay for your boarding.

Did your Co workers piss you off? Have you been to California before?

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Did your Co workers piss you off? Have you been to California before?

No, the rent is keep climbing up. I looked around for houses and what was 300K is now 400K (within one year). It seems like hospitals here will never increase nurses pay to a normal level, and professional workforce will soon start leaving the area.

I like my coworkers, but I have to think about my future and it looks like it isn't in Colorado.

I travel to California every year for snowboarding at Tahoe, that is why I set my mind on Sacramento. :)

Travel job won't guarantee a position, and pay is less than regular position (strange but it is how it works with California).

I'm really trying to get into that UC Davis ED training program for experienced nurses, so I'm hoping that I'll get it, as emergency nursing is what I love.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

Oh ok I love Tahoe. I hope things go in your favor, keep trying. I bought my house when things still seemed normal.

Hopefully someone from UC Davis will read this post and reply. Sorry I could be of more assistance.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
No, the rent is keep climbing up. I looked around for houses and what was 300K is now 400K (within one year). It seems like hospitals here will never increase nurses pay to a normal level, and professional workforce will soon start leaving the area.

I like my coworkers, but I have to think about my future and it looks like it isn't in Colorado.

I travel to California every year for snowboarding at Tahoe, that is why I set my mind on Sacramento. :)

Travel job won't guarantee a position, and pay is less than regular position (strange but it is how it works with California).

I'm really trying to get into that UC Davis ED training program for experienced nurses, so I'm hoping that I'll get it, as emergency nursing is what I love.

When I worked at UC Davis they weren't really training anyone in the ER unless you had ICU experience, glad they are expanding it. They can't keep people because they pay the lowest in the region...which is still significantly more than Colorado. However a bigger chunk will be taken out of taxes than you expect. Pays still worth it to me. UC Davis is insanely overwhelming, despite California ratio laws it wasn't uncommon to go out of them when I worked there. However it's supposedly better staffed now. You will learn a ton, it's an amazing place to work as far as that goes.

I was renting a little older home in a cheapest part of sac for under 1200 a month. Depending on your standards you can expect to pay anywhere from 1 to 2k for rent. Totally reasonable when your bringing home 5k a month as a nurse. Especially if you are cheap like me. :p. Also consider applying to other area hospitals. You might be surprised for what they will consider you for. Fingers crossed for the UCD program tho. :)

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Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.

Greater Sacramento area: difficulty (but not impossible) getting foot in the door for acute care; check the job boards for: Kaiser, Sutter, UC Davis, Dignity (Mercy).

Google maps for outlaying areas/cities, City-Data.com - Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, crime, house prices, cost of living, races, home value estimator, recent sales, income, photos, schools, maps, weather, neighborhoods, and more for statistics and forums on these cities/areas. Higher housing costs in Placer county (East of Sac), less (but increasing) crime for living; 20 minutes to 1 hour commute depending on location(s) and rush hours traffic/accidents.

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thank you so much! I just got my CA license. Only took me 2 months :)

I applied again for the same program and now my status shows Interview but nobody called me yet. We will see how it goes I guess :)

So ready to move :)

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