I am sick of people telling me this!! Its realy discouraging and when you hear it so many times you start to believe it. I'm going to be graduating from nursing school in may and I plan on moving to CA sometime before september to work as a new grad.
I live in pa right now and I'm going to pack up all my stuff and relocate. I might be moving with 2 friends, but I'm not really sure about it. I might end up just living by myself for a while. A lot of people tell me that I'll never make it because its sooo expensive.
I'm going to be living in the orange county area. When people start with all this negative talk about how expensive CA is and how congested it gets on my nerves.
It is possible for someone to live in an apartment and work at a hospital in Orange county and live comfortably correct? I won't be pinching pennies will I?
I'd recommend you visit the website PaycheckCity.com and plug in your numbers. You can type in the state you're working in, and how many deductions you'll claim, and if your pay will be hourly, weekly, bi-weekly, etc. and it calculates your net paycheck for you easily.
I've been in Northern Ca since January, and can tell you that the cost of living IS high, and the wages the nurses earn here don't cover them, unless they're married, have another job, or have money tucked away somewhere to make up for what their wages don't cover.
My situation is a little better because I'm on a travel contract, and my housing and utilities are paid for by my agency, however, the amount taken out of my checks bi-weekly for state taxes, state disability and unemployement (which are mandatory deductions) and city taxes are more than some people make in a month elsewhere.
I make "better than average wages", due to being a traveler, but although I've been offered a full-time position several times during the past year, as much as I love my work environment, with what I've been offered, I would not be able to afford to live here.
All the nurses that I work with, with the exception of those that have a second income from a husband or other source, have second jobs, either picking up perdiem shifts or outright working at a second facility or in home health. That's the reality of life in California.
Craig's list is a good source of info for finding apartments, but anywhere in CA, be sure you know the neighborhoods before being taken in by what appears to be low/affordable rents. Keep in mind also, that food, gas, etc. are all priced higher.
This is not trying to be negative, or rain on your plans. Just know that everything you hear about the cost of living is true, and if you still want to be in California, then by all means, take the plunge. This state is desperate for nurses, and finding a nursing job is the easiest thing to do here. While I personally prefer Northern CA, (and have worked in both) I'm sure that with a lot of research, you can find there are some areas in Southern CA where you could make a home.
Be prepared, do your research and make a budget you can live with, allowing for extras so you can enjoy your life outside of work...cross your fingers, say a prayer, keep a positive "can do" attitude, and you can live wherever you want. Good luck to you, and folllow your heart!
I thought about recommending she try a travel assignment first also, but it requires at least a year as a nurse...and you do need the year's experience if you're going to do well as a travel nurse.
You are a Registered Nurse definitely you would make it in California. Registered Nurses in California make so much money you wouldnt believe it. Every RN that I worked with at Kaweah Delta District Hospital in Visalia made at least working night shift with the differential made between 35-40 dollars per hour. There was always opportunity to work overtime for them to make even more and too they have this thing called ESI which means Extra shift incentives which allowed them to earn their regular wage plus another 500 tacked onto that to take an extra shift. One of the RNs who had been an lvn for a long time once she bacame an RN she has been able to purchase multiple homes there and they arent cheap. A decent home in that area starts around 250k. She had multiple homes in that range due to making so much.
All the nurses that I work with, with the exception of those that have a second income from a husband or other source, have second jobs, either picking up perdiem shifts or outright working at a second facility or in home health. That's the reality of life in California.
Personally, I think that's the reality of life for some RN's in California.
It all depends on when you moved here, what area you moved to and when you bought your house. For those RN's who bought cheap years ago in coastal areas or, went further inland and bought their houses for cheap there ... the increased cost of living and accompanying increased wages have benefitted them tremendously.
I only know of one RN who works two jobs and he just does it for the extra money. Yet, I know of another RN who's mortgage is only $600 a month and she's already made $78K this year. She just bought a Hummer with her extra income and only works one job. This is pretty typical of most of the RN's I know of in my area, where the vast majority of RN's only work one job.
Now ... if those same RN's had just moved to San Fran, Orange County, San Diego or LA and paid $500K for a house, it would probably be a completely different story.
To actress8503, are you planning to go to the University of Southern California? If you are, then you don't need to worry about residency because USC is a private school (you will pay a lot of money whether you are from CA or not). The residency requirement applies to the California State University, and the University of California campuses, which are there many.
I live in Northern CA and almost all hospitals up here (Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area) will hire new grads into the ICU.
I am moving to San Diego in June '07. I have heard great things about Cali. Of course the cost of living is more, but it definitely beats living in some lousy boring little town that you are miserable in. I would rather pay more and live in a great place with opportunity and diversity. Go for it, and you dont like it you can go wherever you want. Some people are just Debbie Downers. Keep your head up girl!
I live in California, about an hour north of San Francisco. I don't know if I could make it anywhere else! We make very good wages here in California and have excellent staffing ratios. I talk to travelers from other states and they tell us that our working conditions are superior. Our 5 to 1 ratios are strictly enforced and what a difference this makes.
Speaking of travelers, that would be a great way to see the country and have your housing taken care of. If you like your area or hospital, you can sign on as a regular when your contract is up. Several nurses on my floor are former travelers who decided to stay.
Actually, the wages are so much better in California, that saving for a house may actually be easier. Most of my co-workers are home-owners. On the other hand, there is a tremendous glut of condos, etc, on the market right now, and renting is an attractive option.
Southern Cal is a completely different place than Northern Cal. My husband, a South Carolina native, went to school in Riverside. He had a chance to travel north with a friend right after school, and decided to relocate here. He's never regretted it. The weather is awesome down in Southern Cal, but Northern Cal is so much prettier. Unfortunately, the highways are also crowded up here. If you are near an urban area, where the big hospitals are, the conditions are crowded.
THANKS!!! What hospitals have good reps in san deigo? I was looking at UCSD b/c its a teaching hospital and I want to continue my education right away.
Dear luv2shop..that will have to go. i am from CA, lived in orange county, but as a traveling nurse, maybe go as a traveller, first, find out as you live there, see what you would get paid as a staff person, do night shift(make more money),try to get specialty area (more money) check it all out before making the commitment permanently.You may have to have 1 year exp 1st tho, but check it out. yes, you may need a roomie! Good Luck!
An Arm and a Leg...the State and Federals will always extract their pound of flesh. Then there is Gasoline, High rent, oh what the heck high every thing. Give it try, there is always something to learn from our experiences.
I am sick of people telling me this!! Its realy discouraging and when you hear it so many times you start to believe it. I'm going to be graduating from nursing school in may and I plan on moving to CA sometime before september to work as a new grad.
I live in pa right now and I'm going to pack up all my stuff and relocate. I might be moving with 2 friends, but I'm not really sure about it. I might end up just living by myself for a while. A lot of people tell me that I'll never make it because its sooo expensive.
I'm going to be living in the orange county area. When people start with all this negative talk about how expensive CA is and how congested it gets on my nerves.
It is possible for someone to live in an apartment and work at a hospital in Orange county and live comfortably correct? I won't be pinching pennies will I?
I hear the same thing from my co workers. I live in Indiana and living here is cheap. They say living in California is expensive (duh!) and that I won't be able to afford it. I reminded them that it was expensive but that you made more in California than you do in Indiana. Remember those cost of living raises???
They also say that I won't be able to live without my family. Yes, it will be hard not seeing my little two sets of twin nieces but I'll manage with email, phone calls, etc.
I want to live in the San Diego. I had my hopes of living in Coronado but that area is super expensive. I'm planning a trip to Coronado for Spring Break to check out the area. Might even visit the hospitals-as a non-pt of course.
And if you can't make it in California, why are there nurses there???
GYPSY1349
50 Posts
I'd recommend you visit the website PaycheckCity.com and plug in your numbers. You can type in the state you're working in, and how many deductions you'll claim, and if your pay will be hourly, weekly, bi-weekly, etc. and it calculates your net paycheck for you easily.
I've been in Northern Ca since January, and can tell you that the cost of living IS high, and the wages the nurses earn here don't cover them, unless they're married, have another job, or have money tucked away somewhere to make up for what their wages don't cover.
My situation is a little better because I'm on a travel contract, and my housing and utilities are paid for by my agency, however, the amount taken out of my checks bi-weekly for state taxes, state disability and unemployement (which are mandatory deductions) and city taxes are more than some people make in a month elsewhere.
I make "better than average wages", due to being a traveler, but although I've been offered a full-time position several times during the past year, as much as I love my work environment, with what I've been offered, I would not be able to afford to live here.
All the nurses that I work with, with the exception of those that have a second income from a husband or other source, have second jobs, either picking up perdiem shifts or outright working at a second facility or in home health. That's the reality of life in California.
Craig's list is a good source of info for finding apartments, but anywhere in CA, be sure you know the neighborhoods before being taken in by what appears to be low/affordable rents. Keep in mind also, that food, gas, etc. are all priced higher.
This is not trying to be negative, or rain on your plans. Just know that everything you hear about the cost of living is true, and if you still want to be in California, then by all means, take the plunge. This state is desperate for nurses, and finding a nursing job is the easiest thing to do here. While I personally prefer Northern CA, (and have worked in both) I'm sure that with a lot of research, you can find there are some areas in Southern CA where you could make a home.
Be prepared, do your research and make a budget you can live with, allowing for extras so you can enjoy your life outside of work...cross your fingers, say a prayer, keep a positive "can do" attitude, and you can live wherever you want. Good luck to you, and folllow your heart!