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Fri 27 Jan, 2006 07:54 pm
So many options, I need some guidance!
Hi, I've been a lurker at this forum for a couple of months now, but now I'm going to start posting.
I'm a 22 year old male student and am going to graduate with my BSN in May '06! I can't wait. But anyhow, I live in a FL town that I don't like. I currently still live with my parents, but as soon as I graduate my parents are moving up to Cinncinati area. To be honest, I want to get out on my own and away from my parents. So this rules out Cinncinati. As of now, a buddy and I are planning to rent a house/apartment in my local area for a year after I graduate. This will allow us both to save up some money and move out on our own after a year. I don't yet know for sure if I want to stay local. RNs at the local hospitals around here start at only $18/hour. I would like to move somewhere where wages would be higher.
I need some suggestions as to what are some the best cities in the US for nursing jobs. Also, what cities are you guy's favorites? I would like to have some major sports teams within driving distance, and some nice restaurants/night life.
Oh, I currently am a waiter at a local restaurant, and an older guy was telling me the other day that the way to go would be to work at a VA Hospital. He said that they get every holiday off, start with 28 days vacation the first year, would pay for any future education I would want to get, and pay the same as local hospitals. Is this true? Would a VA Hospital hire a new grad? Do you have to sign up for a two-year agreement, or something along those lines? Can somebody give me some insight into this career choice. I have looked online, and there are VA Hospitals all over the US, which is a big plus.
I know this is a lot, but I'm very undecided as to how I want the next year of my life to go, and think about it all the time. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Where to work....
Chicago maybe? I have been trying to get a job at a VA hospital for years without success. Evidently, the nurses at the VA keep their jobs till they die or retire. I am not interested in a contract or prn job there, I only want it with full benefits. Forever. Your cost of living in Florida is probably low (I am from Florida) and no state tax. $18.00 an hour will actually be more with shift diffs; some of the jobs I have had, had built-in overtime. Get your ACLS and PALS and there you'll have extra certification money, too. Consider this: get a regular, full-time job working only 32 hours per week. Most hospitals consider 32 hrs. to be full-time, some even less than that. That way you will have insurance,etc., then get you a part-time job for contract or prn pay for at least 12 hrs. per week. Contract or prn pay is usually NOT based on your experience, it is a flat rate. Here in Alabama, it is usually $35.00 for night shift. Let me know where you live in Florida and I might can suggest something.
Need help?
North Carolina is always looking for more RN's and also typically offers bonuses. The Triangle Region is the Best now that is the Raleigh and Durham area. Traffic can be a bit hectic at times but not as bad as other major cities like DC. They are expanding roads continually because they grew so quickly due to the Computer Industry...WakeMed in Raleigh or Cary are good places to start looking. There are many things to do here because we are only 2hrs from the beach and only a few hours from the Mountains so there is always a short trip waiting on your days off. Schools are getting much better especially in Wake County. UNC, NC State and Duke are all major Universities here as well as a few others. Hope all goes well for you in your job search. Emmie.
The VA hospital in Denver is always looking for nurses, and offers training programs for those transitioning to the ICU. Base salary is 44,000/year (which I'm guessing is about $23/hour based on a 36 hour work week).
Lots of hospitals in Denver need nurses, so if you come to Denver, you should be able to find work. They've recently expanded University Hospital and are running two campuses, so they need lots of nurses there. The city hospital always needs nurses, and its a great place to work.
starting out
you need to get out of Florida, it is the worst place to nurse. I am a Florida nurse of 20+ years but I had been other places before. If I were you, I would move to cincinati with the parents. Surely you can live with them for one more year. Pay your dues to learning and at the end of the year you will be ready for a travel job. Getting an appartment and working somewhere that you have already stated you don't like, doesnt make sense.
Indianapolis Indiana has really good wages and several different hospitals (including a VA) or ECF to work at.
Welcome aboard. Yes, we have our team sports! Go Colts!