VA Palo Alto or UC Davis for a New grad?

[YesYesRN]

Hello all, I got 2 job offers from UC Davis and VA palo alto.

For UCD I was offered a ICU position and VA an outpatient clinic. I personally prefer the ICU instead of an outpatient clinic because I think ICU is better for career advancement. However, Palo Alto is a dream location where I can have a happy social life. I'm thinking about taking the VA.

How easy is it to transfer to another unit within the VA? Also which one would look better on my resume, UCD or the VA? Eventually I would love to get into the OR.

Thank you!!

[Libby1987]

If I were young and single, I'd want to live in Palo Alto as well, but with such vastly different areas of nursing leading to completely different opportunities, I think you need to choose the field over location.

[RNKPCE]

Consider cost of living. Your wages go farther in Sacramento. Also if you want bedside nursing and especially ICU go UCD. Congrats on two offers! New grads would love to have this dilemma! Are you from the Bay Area? Palo Alto and Sacramento are different.

[theVaway]

it's pretty easy to transfer within once you get into the system. Getting in is half the battle.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I would suggest that you look at your potential future career. The VA Palo Alto has an offer for you as a clinic nurse, specifically outpatient. The job offer you have at UC Davis is for an ICU position. If you take the ICU position and you generally do well for your first year or two, you can then more easily move between inpatient positions, outpatient positions, and even clinic positions because you will already have some very significant inpatient experience, specifically ICU experience.

When I first started looking for a job, I applied to everything I find. Fortunately, I was not looked at for clinic positions. I was eventually picked up as an ER nurse and where I am at the possibility of me moving to a truly inpatient position, such as ICU, are much higher than if I had simply started off as a clinic nurse.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Take. The. ICU. Position.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I worked at UCD, and I did my preceptorship at the va Palo Alto. You will learn much more at UCD and be incredibly marketable.

Your income wI'll be similar at both locations,but Sacramento has half the cost of living. If you truly want to jump start your career I highly recommend UCD. I promise if you decide you want the VA down the road or to relocate to the Bay Area,you will have plenty of job offers.