Will be relocating to orange county after school!

livelifeloveRN · Jun 1, 2014

It took me 10 months to finally get a job here in OC, with my BSN cum laude, and 2.5 years PCT experience. Most hospitals say they get about 400-800 applicants per posting - the market is just so over saturated with new grads. If your only reason for moving out here is for a change of pace, I would very seriously advise against it until you have actual RN experience under your belt. If relocating is the only option, I would immediately enroll in a BSN bridge program, network like crazy, and be prepared to look into LTC if necessary. I hope that wasn't too negative, but I wish I was more fully prepared for the long journey before I graduated.

thinwildmercury · Jun 1, 2014

My bf is from trabuco canyon so I've been looking in the area. CA is saturated with new grads and many hospitals are BSN only. I, too would advise against moving here unless absolutely necessary. A lot of us are taking out of state jobs. I wish I even had relatives out of state so I could feel more comfortable moving. If you're going to move here anyway, definitely apply at any hospitals taking new grad ADNs but don't expect much and make sure you are also applying for clinics/school nurse/SNF/whatever you can!! Good luck.

cmurra6745, ADN · Jun 1, 2014

ughh i hoped this was not the case. but i assume with the larger population it would be .. well i still plan on coming so i suppose i could work LTC while getting my BSN .. i do have a network connection @ Hoag in Newport Beach maybe that will pan out

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2014

Even long term care will be hard to get into as a new grad in Orange County. All the other new grad RNs who can't find work already thought of that one, too (not to mention the LPNs). I relocated to Orange County, but only with two years of experience and no expectation of finding a job (although I did find one).

cmurra6745, ADN · Jun 2, 2014

well then ill just have to hope for the best save enough money to live for a few months .. and search once im out there

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

well then ill just have to hope for the best save enough money to live for a few months .. and search once im out there

Don't you think if finding a job is as hard as people are telling you that maybe you should start searching and applying before you move out there?!

I am wondering why Orange County is so important that you are willing to risk what could essentially be career suicide

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Jun 2, 2014

It's not an easy economy to get a job in in OC. Especially without RN experience. When I went out there, my BSN was almost completed, I had two years ICU RN experience, 4 years LVN experience and multiple connections, and still only had one job offer out of the 15 jobs I applied for. Many new grad there do not find work except in case management or nursing homes, and that's after 6 months of looking.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

well then ill just have to hope for the best save enough money to live for a few months .. and search once im out there

I'd hate to sound like a negative Debbie Downer, but your money will likely run out if you come to Orange County with only enough cash to live on for just a few months. Your best bet is to get one to three years of acute care experience before coming to southern CA.

The California new grad RN unemployment rate has been holding steady at around 43 percent, which translates into about 1 out of 2 jobless new grads.

Even many of the LTCs have hammered down on their requirements and are now demanding 1+ years of licensed nursing experience.

cmurra6745, ADN · Jun 4, 2014

well the reason im moving there is my best friend owns a house.. he said he will float me rent free untill i can find a job.. if i have to work bartending untill i can find a job i will i just am tired of this area i live in and need to take advantage of my friends generous offer.

i will also be enrolled in a BSN program while searching for a job and the are i live in there are 2.. yes 2 hospitals to get work in compaired to how many in OC and LA ? i have a lot of friends to live with out there thank you for everyones advice but i am also determined to make it work ! and will

thinwildmercury · Jun 8, 2014

Again, I just want to wish you luck! It is a beautiful area and I hope everything works out for you! Jobs are hard to find, but not impossible!

LoveMeSomeLDL · Jun 26, 2014

I'm a new grad rn in OC, graduated with a BSN, 10 years in the hospital as a tech, magna cum laude, sigma, all that jazz and no job not even in LTC. I did get one job where they took advantage of my new grad rn title....