St. John's Regional Medical Center New GRAD

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2008

Hi, there. I was born and raised in Oxnard before moving away in 2003.

All I can tell you is that St. John's is the only major hospital in Oxnard. I ended up in their emergency department after a fainting spell 5 years ago, and all of the patients surrounding me were gang-bangers who had just been beaten, stabbed, or shot. Oxnard has the least affluence and the highest crime rate in Ventura County, so you will probably be kept busy by working at this hospital.

Good luck to you!

BeccaznRN, RN · Feb 21, 2008

I agree with Commuter. You will also pick up on Spanish very quickly! I actually don't know anyone that works at St. John's so I'm not sure how it is to work there (and I've never been a patient there). I just know that when I was a new grad I went to their new grad fair and was not very impressed. I wanted to work L&D or ICU and they were not very forthcoming in working with the new grads that wanted specialty areas. However, they were all about putting the new grads in med-surg or tele. I'm not sure what it was but something about them just didn't sit right with me, and I'm actually glad that I got a position elsewhere. But this is just personal opinion, and I would have probably chosen the Pleasant Valley campus in Camarillo before taking a job at their Oxnard campus.

leon1984 · Feb 21, 2008

Hi, there. I was born and raised in Oxnard before moving away in 2003.
All I can tell you is that St. John's is the only major hospital in Oxnard. I ended up in their emergency department after a fainting spell 5 years ago, and all of the patients surrounding me were gang-bangers who had just been beaten, stabbed, or shot. Oxnard has the least affluence and the highest crime rate in Ventura County, so you will probably be kept busy by working at this hospital.
Good luck to you!

Thank you so much for your input. It's a huge commitment for myself because I would have to stay a year and a half in Oxnard as part of my contract with them. I was born and raised in LA and am worried about adjusting to the environment and a new hospital all at once but was hoping to trade city life for a more laid back hospital. Now I am a bit worried. :confused:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2008

You will also pick up on Spanish very quickly!

Yep. Nearly 70 percent of Oxnard's population is Latino, and many are newly arrived immigrants who do not know how to communicate in the English language. Therefore, knowing how to speak some Spanish would be of the utmost importance if you plan to live and work in this city.

leon1984 · Feb 21, 2008

I agree with Commuter. You will also pick up on Spanish very quickly! I actually don't know anyone that works at St. John's so I'm not sure how it is to work there (and I've never been a patient there). I just know that when I was a new grad I went to their new grad fair and was not very impressed. I wanted to work L&D or ICU and they were not very forthcoming in working with the new grads that wanted specialty areas. However, they were all about putting the new grads in med-surg or tele. I'm not sure what it was but something about them just didn't sit right with me, and I'm actually glad that I got a position elsewhere. But this is just personal opinion, and I would have probably chosen the Pleasant Valley campus in Camarillo before taking a job at their Oxnard campus.

That is strange that you would say that since I did ask about ICU positions and they were not forthcoming about those positions at all. I too was told of the "huge amount" of positions available in telemetry and medurg and was only interviewed for the med surg floors. All of that which you just described is what I was trying to avoid by moving to Oxnard. I figured even though I don't really want med surg I would have peace of mind...:stone Though on the plus side finally using my Spanish would be great...well I will have to definitely think this over. I have about two weeks.

leon1984 · Feb 21, 2008

Using spanglish/modified sign languge is probably the only skill I Perfected in nursing school!

BeccaznRN, RN · Feb 22, 2008

That is strange that you would say that since I did ask about ICU positions and they were not forthcoming about those positions at all. I too was told of the "huge amount" of positions available in telemetry and medurg and was only interviewed for the med surg floors. All of that which you just described is what I was trying to avoid by moving to Oxnard. I figured even though I don't really want med surg I would have peace of mind...:stone Though on the plus side finally using my Spanish would be great...well I will have to definitely think this over. I have about two weeks.

During the new grad fair, there were only two people I knew of that received new grad positions in something other than med/surg and tele - one that got into ICU (he had been working there as an EMT) and one that got into L&D (she had also been working there as a tech on L&D). Otherwise, the managers of ER and ICU were there and point blank told us that they do not hire new grads in these areas unless you have some sort of critical care background. The manager of L&D didn't even come to the fair.

Have you considered other areas of Ventura County? It's actually very laid-back here, but primarily in other areas besides Oxnard. There are hospitals in Ventura, as well as the hospital in Camarillo and another in Thousand Oaks. It still may be difficult to land that ICU position, but some of the other hospitals are pretty laid-back. If you want ultimate laid-back small hospitals, check into Ojai Valley Hospital (affiliated with Community Memorial) or Santa Paula Hospital (affiliated with Ventura County Medical Center).

Don't give up on Ventura County.....just live/work in Ventura, Ojai, or Camarillo instead of Oxnard! It really is a lovely area here.

leon1984 · Feb 23, 2008

I am definitely not giving up on Ventura...just approaching with a bit of caution. First thing I'm gonna do is check out those smaller hospitals because I dont want to rule out Ventura completely. This would be my first job I want my overall experience to be positive. I appreciate all the advice provided! So scared...but will push on! lol!:smiley_ab

mellowyellow0526 · Mar 3, 2008

Hi there! I grew up in Ventura County (thousand Oaks to be exact) and absolutely LOVE it there. I would agree with the previous posters that most parts of Oxnard can be a bit more hispanic/lower income with a higher incidence of gang violence. Also though, there are some very fun beach communities mixed in there. Have you looked at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks? My dad is a physician in Ventura County and he works at Los Robles as well as St. Johns etc. If you do move down there I wouldnt necessarily move into the city of oxnard but Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and certain areas in Camarillo and beachier towns can be very nice. T.O especially but I am biased :)

leon1984 · Mar 4, 2008

what would be those beachier towns? That sounds more my speed...

mellowyellow0526 · Mar 4, 2008

Yes..its not ALL beachy towns but there are Silverstrand, Port Hueneme, Ventura beaches, etc. Are you planning on going over there at any point in time? Thousand Oaks/ Newbury Park are what we say "above the grade" which is a hill that takes you up higher past the flatter field towns such as Camarillo,Oxnard, and Ventura. Oxnard and Ventura both have beach towns...pricey though as they all are but you can get an apartment or condo or something with friends or something. I personally love the hills of Thousand Oaks better than Oxnard or Camarillo but each of those places have their better areas ya know? Definitely there are some beach towns..but smaller communities rather than a really LONG beach like san diego or something.