When to apply for jobs in Northern California?

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Hello all,

I will be graduating with my ADN in May and will be relocating to the Sacramento area to find my first nursing position. Being an out of state applicant (New Mexico), I realize that I must obtain endorsement to practice in California and I am wondering what recommendations I can gather from the allnurses community about any legwork I can obtain now, so that I am better prepped for the job search.

Should I begin to apply now? I want to try to get a jump on the competition. I have read that the NorCal job market is saturated with new grads, but I haven't heard any current information. Anything you can tell me about that would be appreciated.

Ideally, I would love to get my foot in the door via new grad residency programs and work at a hospital, but I am realistic, and I know that my chances are very slim. I intend on applying in the Sacramento and Bay area and north (52 hospitals at last count). My only stipulation is that I obtain my first job in acute care at a hospital (I intend to become an ICU nurse).

I will begin my BSN after I finish prerequisites over the summer, and I intend to take ACLS and PALS after graduation (are there any other certs I should be aware of?) to prepare for the requirements of the job market.

Your advice is gold! Thank you in advance for your responses!

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Specializes in POST PARTUM/NURSERY/L&D/WOMENS SERVICES.

You have very high hopes...that's great!

What part of New Mexico are you in, and why are you coming to California?

You have to pass your NCLEX after graduation, after which time you can apply for a CA license...word of warning that takes a LONNNNG time!

I Have been licensed in TX for over 10 years, last year I applied for a CA license in April... I waited 3 weeks for fingerprint cards, and almost 6 months after submitting my packet for a temporary license...I received my permanent license in Jan, 9 months after I applied.!!

I work as a traveler so I was able to obtain employment with the temporary, but I have a BSN, NCC certification/10 years of experience and multiple certs...

I don't want to sound pretentious, but I think you are being a bit unrealistic to expect to obtain employment so quickly in such a saturated market that has many nurses that are more qualified than a new grad...

Perhaps a more realistic plan would be to continue your quest for your BSN after you take the NCLEX and get at least a year of experience under your belt...preferably not in a rural critical access facility...you need experience in the ocean, not the lake...

just my opinion....not trying to discourage you...just giving you an outside percpective

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Hi RNluvnit2006, thank you for your post!

I think I may have been misunderstood about where I intend to obtain my first experience. I would like to end up in ICU in time, but I know that I need to earn my place. When I search current job postings, hospitals are asking for 2 years of acute care experience. It has been suggested that new grad RN's get their start on med-surg, and I would jump at the chance to get a start on a med-surg floor, because I know that the experience can prime me for the ICU. I just wanted to know how the market is looking for the new grad at the present time, and what I can do to be more marketable so that I stand a fighting chance.

No discouragement here! :) I'm not green to CA, I know I'm in for some hard work ahead! Thanks again for your post.

I see that you're in SF, I hope you're "luvnit"!! :D

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