Any CA RNs here?

Been thinking about doing a career switch lately, I work as a delivery driver (in a big rig) we're not the huge ones you see on the freeway (53 foot trailers) but we deliver to restuarants and basically anywhere else the public eats (schools, amusement parks, jails, churches, etc).

I work nights, 4 day shifts a week and work about 14 to 16 hours a day, make over $27 an hr or basically a little over 90k a year. I also have a bachelors degree from cal state Fullerton.

I've been thinking of going to a community college to get my RN, I talked to my sister who is a pharmacist for Kaiser and she says they want rookie RNs to have at least a BSN and the job field is flooded with rookies so it will be hard to get a shoe in.

My question is would I be able to get a job after school? Would me being a male help me at all (or hurt my chances). I would like to stay in CA but pretty much wouldn't mind working anywhere in CA including CDCR, jails etc.

 

a little late here but just giving my 2 cents. seems as if you are being over worked. You must think about the long run. are you willing to work nights forever? are you happy with what you are doing or are you okay? are you willing to do it for the next few years ? you can always apply with the state (cdcr) and move around. you'll be making twice the amount of your current pay for sure. better health insurance maybe, and a retirement plan.

 

Just chiming in on this one.

The healthcare field is always growing and you will always be needed.

If you have the chance to go back to school and become an RN, do it.

I work for Kaiser as well and I can tell you that getting into KP, you're in there for life; which is good.

 

Im kinda in the same boat. Tired of sitting at a computer(I’m an architectural and mechanical draftsman) I’m currently in school to to finish my pre-reqs. Start the ADN program next year(hopefully) it’s quite competitive. 2 years in nursing school, then ~8 more months for the BSN. I have a few friends that are RN’s. Gender isn’t much of factor, more and more males are getting into it. Just as long as you have your BSN. Hospitals give generous tuition reimbursements. I say go for it, and good luck.

 

I am not a nurse but my SO is and I work in a hospital in Orange County alongside RNs. If you can get into school, do it.

Most places want your BSN and you should aim for that, at least. While there are places that will hire you with an ADN, I have seen coworkers with years of patient care experience (who got their ADN while working in another position) get passed over for new grads with zero experience.

This may be a controversial opinion but I think ELM programs are the way to go if you already have a bachelor's. It's more expensive but in SoCal many places are looking for higher level degrees over patient experience.

You can PM me and I would be happy to relay any questions you have. We have BSNs, MSNs and NPs working here as well as instructors and educators for the local RN schools. Best of luck to you!

 

I am an RN. I work in Lake Tahoe California in the ER and I love it. I did get my first couple years of experience in Reno where it is really easy to get hired. Once you have a little experience it’s much easier to get a job in California.

Nursing is really hard work but it is also rewarding. No other feeling than knowing you saved someone’s life.

 

Gender absolutely means nothing in nursing aside from when you have to catheterize somebody and you either need an escort or ask somebody of the same gender it as your patient to do it for you.

 

Being male would make you super easy to hire. Americans are getting heavier and harder to move around. My wife went back to school to be a RN. The men in her graduation class were all hired first.

Do it!

 

Not to resurrect a dead thread but I'm just kinda curious what you'd say average salaries were for RN's in the CA. I'm sure it'll vary a bit depending where you are obviously and with specializations etc.

My wife is a RN up here in Vancouver BC and it works out to about $30/hr USD which is decent but the cost of living up here is pretty nutty (don't get me wrong I know Cali is crazy too). I'm in Finance/tech and wages here are pretty lacking and what I've seen wages in CA (TX and CO too) are SIGNIFICANTLY higher.

It'd be a big move for our family but I keep thinking we might need to make the leap eventually.