West Coast vs East Coast nursing

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How would you compare the two? In terms of staffing, pay, treatment of its nurses, unions??

I'm especially interested in New YOrk City and California hospitals.

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Hi. I am in Arizona but I understand that California has state-mandated nurse:patient ratios and a great union.

In NY State you can still have up to 8 - 9 - 12 patient's per shift (per a couple of my RN friends who got out of hospital nursing because of that). Not sure about unions in NY. Good luck.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Antenatal.

that kind of assignment on what type of floor?

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I've worked in New York (Syracuse), union hospital, staffing wasn't an issue because of that. I'm currently working in California and in all honesty I will probably stay here because of the state mandated staffing ratios. While there are times that the ratios cannot be followed because of patients who are determined to have their babies and well there just aren't enough nurses...for the most part the ratios have been followed in 6 of the 7 hospitals I've worked at here.

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Thanks for all the replies so far, you guys. I want very badly to move to NYC (it's always been my dream) but am currently working in the Pacific NW and want to prepare for the culture shock of nursing of the East Coast.

I feel like WestCoast nursing has progressed a little more. Am I just living in Dreamland over here?

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No, there is absolutely no problem with dreaming. And I say this because, honestly, NY is my dream too! Haha...I live on the east coast and love it. I have family in the nursing fields, both east & west coasts. Both love their jobs..so your questions goes far and between. It really depends where you work, what floor or field, and how you handle it. If you love the big city...expect more patients, work, and well...better pay even. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

You would love NY. Staffing ratios are not mandated as the west coast. The opportunity to learn is definitely there in NY. NY was my home state for ten years and it is the best nursing ever. I travel now.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Hey there, great question. I started out as an East Coast nurse (central NJ to be exact) and have been out here in CA for the last 6 months. Obviously, one of the biggest benefits out here are the state mandated ratios. I currently work on a floor where the ratio is 3:1 (no, it's not an ICU). While that's great, I feel like I do more babysitting and duties than RN duties (b/c it's 3:1 it's also primary care). I do realize this may be specific to my particular hospital and more importantly my specific floor. Out in Jersey I would get anywhere from 6-7 pts on a Surgical Stepdown Telemetry Unit (post-op CABGs and other CTICU transfers, as well as SICU and TICU transfers). However, I feel like I got to be more of a nurse back there than I do here. Again, may very likely be due to my particular San Diego hospital. But I definitely feel like I learned more and was in a more "advanced" environment back East. I say if you really want NY, then give it a shot. Anything is going to be a shock to the system, trust me I know. But I don't think you'll regret it. Have you considered travel nursing? I think that's the best way to try something out w/o all the commitment (that's how I started here). So go ahead, live your dream. You'll regret not trying.

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OP here. Thanks for the replies. I am currently working in NYC as a travel nurse and yes, it's different, and no, I don't want to go back west.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
OP here. Thanks for the replies. I am currently working in NYC as a travel nurse and yes, it's different, and no, I don't want to go back west.

I am curious. So now, can you give us the answer to your original question about the differences? What is it about NY (or where you came from) that makes you not want to go back to the West Coast? The workload is harder here (NY) and wears you down very easily (at least for those of us over 40); but, what is it about this city that makes people want to stay even though the work is backbreaking? I know the old saying is true about if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. I really can't answer the question I pose because I grew up here and think, that in my case, it is just familiarity. When I left, I just missed my home and wanted to come back home. What is it that makes people have a dream to be here, never having lived and work here before? I am glad you like it here and fulfilled your dream.

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Specializes in ICU.

I've lived in new york (bronx, westchester, rockland county) and i currently work in the city. My white plains hospital vs. my nyc hospital....very different. NYC, pay is great (i make $35.00/hr) w/ 1 yr experience, but you make it up w/ the amount of work. Although, since it's a teaching institution, i learn a lot from my NYC hospital. Personally, i only go to new york to hang out or work. But i'd never personally live there. It's too busy, noisy, crowded...besides i love the trees and mountains and rivers u here in the suburbs. It's actually my dream to go out west to live in San Diego or San Francisco....so travel nursing (in a year or two)...here i come!!!!

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Specializes in postpartum,well baby nursery, L and D.

one of the things about east coast, at least the new england area, you will have to do rotating shifts...its realllyyyy hard to get a day shift position...out here you rotate between days and nights in all the hospitals Ive contacted and the one i am currently working at...so if u dont mind...thats the only difference ive noticed....otherwise pay rates are good.

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