Desperate Please Reply!!!!!

We drove to AK with 3 kids and a dog in a suburban and pop up camper and ended up finding a cabin 60 miles north of Fairbanks and living for a year in pretty rustic environment...like an underground fridge, and and outhouse at 60 below zero can be interesting. But it was a wonderful experience and we all grew closer as a family. Two hours of daylight was fun too!(not!) we slept a lot, but then in the summer you are awake a lot, so maybe it evens out. The drive is better now with the roads paved, and the Milepost(mentioned in another response) is essential. You do need to be willing to ask and learn...and be willing to adjust and adapt. Anchorage is like any large city but a bit less hectic, I think. Palmer and Wasilla(the "Valley"..as in Matinuska valley)has a new hospital and is a fast growing suburb of Anchorage. Some hospitals have an internship program for new grads which I would strongly recommend. (check out Providence Hospital in Anch.) The climate in Anchorage seemed a lot like Maine to me. A bit more snow,and longer winter but lots of sun and nice days as well. Honestly, we loved it there and would be there still if not for grandbabies back in PA. We still go there to work for 6 months/year. I'm an NP and work in remote villages in the Aleutians.The "bush" generally refers to the parts of AK(most of the state)where you have to fly to in a "bush plane" or smaller type aircraft. Only about 1/5 of the state is connected by roads. I'd suggest some experence in the more populated areas first unless you are very adventurous! There are also nice hospitals in the southeast...Juneau, Sitka, Ketchican, but you get there by ferry....another whole story! Good Luck!

I guess I'd start by asking the question... how did you come to this broad generalization?

Hey,
Lived also in Ft. Greeley for some 7 years. (110 miles south of Fairbanks in the middle of the interior). I did some HS, most of my elementary and Kindergarden up there. (we moved up, moved away then moved back). AK is a GREAT place for kids to grow up. What TraumaRU was saying is dead on you really do have to be self sufficient and I'm not talking in a nursing capacity. Get ready to get out there and shovel snow drifts after you've had a wind storm come through, get ready for VERY cold temps. The coldest that I have ever experienced was -64F that was in January one year we had a streak of 9 days where it was below -50. Its so cold then you get something called Ice Fog. If you ever get to experience cold like that boil some water and throw it in the air it will be frozen before it hits the ground. You might wanna go get you some Carharts while your up there. During the winter make sure you bring your winter gear and that you have tools and survival gear in the back of your car. Don't expect your cell phones to work outside of the city. Learn how to change your tire, and make sure you get your car winterized for Alaskan winters (gotta plug in your cars up there or they don't like to start). Learn to drive in Snow. The seasons aren't bad, even in the winter it gets light outside, it just ends sooner than you would like and comes later than you would like. Same with the summer, there is darkness but it just happens later/earlier than you would like. Summer is by far my favorite time up there. Its WONDERFUL. No humidity, ohh yeah you will need a humidifier for the winter inside your home. Your dogs will do just fine. Our neighbors had little dogs and they did great. There was a place up in Fairbanks that we used to get our cold weather gear from. It was great, prices were a little high, but getting warm clothing I can't stress it enough. Goose down is your friend. Sorel boots are your friend. My stuff that I had was rated to the following. Boots to -80, Jacket to -70, etc.

Hope you love it up there. I'm Jealous as I'm sitting here sweating my you know what off in South Alabama.

John

GatorH, you sound like maybe from UF area. Alaska will definitely be different. I drove up to Soldotna AK in 2001 from Gainesville FL. Took me 6 days avg. 800 miles a day. It was a great trip. I loaded up my 12 yr old and everything I could get in my van. Was there from 1st of June till 1st of Oct. Would have stayed longer if not for 9/11. I am also a new RN this past May. I would not go travel right off the bat. Too much more to learn. Anyway if you just go get a staff position I would try for a job on the Kenai. Check out the web site for Central Kenai Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. I want to go back, I loved it up there. Loved the fishing and the outdoors. The milepost is the way to go. Go look for it in Barnes & Noble. They have some but cheaper to order online.Good luck

Well, I’ll give you what info I can, more on the Alaska side than the RN as I was a Flight Medic and Remote Medic up there for several years before moving ‘outside’ (anywhere NOT Alaska) in ’05.

Anchorage will probably be the best place to start for your family. There is a saying among Alaskans about Anchorage, “The best thing about Anchorage is it’s so close to Alaska.” It’s a true city and has a lot of the amenities most people associate with cities. It’s fairly far south so you don’t get the really brutal weather extremes like Fairbanks or farther North, and there are several hospitals, not to mention a plethora of clinics where he could find work. Also, you drive 30-45 minutes and you are in the ‘wild’.

My family and I made the drive, crossing the border September 14th 2001. As has been said, it’s a beautiful trip but long and can be hard on vehicles. I REALLY wouldn’t recommend it this year as the winter weather will be moving in. As has been mentioned, airlines are pretty good with animals and the Alaskan carriers are very well versed.

I didn’t catch if anyone answered your question but ‘The Bush’ generally refers to the 95% of Alaska that is not on the road system.

One other thing I recommend people that are moving up North and not into Anchorage is be sure to ask about water when you are looking for housing. That is 1: Is there running water? 2: Is it well, city, or delivery?

Good luck

LOL, don't take it so seriously. But since I've been married for 10 years, I can totally appreciate where the OP is coming from.

Fairbanks Memorial is hiring right now... I live in North Pole (right outside of Fairbanks). It is a little more spendy than other areas in the state, but you get a semi-city life. The darkness probably takes getting used to, I have lived here my whole life. The pay is good from what I understand. Crating your dog on an airplane isn't as bad as it sounds. I worked for Alaska Airlines for years and they are very good with animals. Generally you will have to get your dog between flights so make sure you talk to the ticket agent about layovers. You need to make sure they have food and water for the flight. And most times if it is a sweet dog the agents tend to talk to them and comfort them while in the baggage handling area. I don't suggest driving with small children, though I have never done it... It's cold and dark and the roads leave something to be desired. If you do, MAKE SURE IT IS IN THE SUMMER! I like it here, and am starting my pre reqs to get into the satellite UAA nursing program offered here in Fairbanks.

Oh also, there are plenty of other CLINIC settings in the Fairbanks area that pay well and one nursing home (Denali Center) that pays GREAT!
Hope this helps!!!