Travis AFB area- nursing jobs?

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Apr 29, 2010

You might want to post this in the California thread to get more of a response.

I unfortunately live in Southern California and can give little advice. I have driven through fairfield though, the area is not what people think when they think California, it is fairly flat.

You would probably be closest to Sacramento, I don't believe there are too many jobs for nurses right now though. You may have more luck in Stockton though, it's about an hour drive. Hopefully someone else can give you more info.

California overall is pretty dead for nursing jobs right now though. If you do move, I'd have a job lined up first.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2010

I'm not from the immediate area, but drive through it a lot and know nurses around there some. the key is that you are within reasonable commute distance of a ton of hospitals there. California's job market for nurses has definitely been impacted by the recession, but less so than some other places since our ratio law has preserved a lot of jobs. In Fairfield, some of the places to which you could reasonably commute where there are hospitals include: Vallejo, Vacaville, Davis, Woodland, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Martinez to name just some. I'd suggest getting a map of the area online, google around to find hospitals and do some inquiry. Another tip, is that the Kaiser system is big in that area - though their salaries are so good they are the least likely to be hiring.

The community itself is on the sprawly side - it's had big growth as a bedroom community for the more expensive places around the SF Bay, and some of its own industry. But it's close to a lot of nice areas - Sierra skiing is in reasonable reach for a weekend, the Napa Valley, San Francisco and all it has to offer are well under an hour away. So I guess I'd say the town itself is not my favorite, but it's close to a lot of wonderful places for whatever you like to do. And just a thought: does the Air Force use civilian nurses? Travis used to have a fair sized hospital itself. That's been years ago, but my nursing school used to use it as a clinical site.

KaitRN · Apr 29, 2010

Thanks so much Chico David RN!! Very helpful. I will look into all of those! Much appreciated

redalert7777 · Apr 29, 2010

I agree, California is pretty tough for jobs right now. There are a TON of hospitals though within driving distance of Fairfield. You might try the LTC facilities as well, I know they are always looking, and if you have experience, you'll have a better chance hopefully than what our new grads have been facing out here....Good luck! There's lots to do here, and you're pretty close to the Bay area, Napa, Sacramento, and Tahoe, so there's always something to do or see!

noahsmama · Apr 29, 2010

I live in Oakland, which is a 45 minute drive from Fairfield, and I can tell you that the job market for nurses is pretty tight right now and has been for some time. I don't know what the market is like in Rhode Island, but I don't think you could count on it being any better here than there. I've heard of people moving OUT of California to find nursing jobs.

If it's a great move for your boyfriend, you like the idea of living here, and you can get by on one income (his) for a while, then I'd say go for it -- but if the main motivation is hoping for a better job market, you may need to look elsewhere.

redalert7777 · Apr 30, 2010

Strangely enough, I just found a bunch of job postings at Travis' air force base military medical treatment facility. Hope it might work out for you :)

KaitRN · Apr 30, 2010

Thanks so much guys. I will definitely look into the job postings on travis afb treatment center and also LTC facilities in the area.. The SNF that I work for now is part of a big corporation that has facilities all over the country. If worst comes to worse I can always transfer to a facility within the same company in Cali... BUT *good news* I just had a great interview today at a long term acute care facility (mostly vent/ trach patients coming from ICU's) in Massachusetts.. We may be staying in the northeast! hmmm finally some options!!! :up: