Hi Everyone, I figured I would post here with the questions that I have regarding nursing careers and living in Alaska. My husband and daughter and I are currently living outside of Houston, Tx where I am attending school to get my associates of nursing. I was really wanting to get my bachelors degree right off the bat, but where we are currently living it's a minimum of a 2 hr drive each way to any of the universities offering the bachelors program here. That having been said is there a real difference in Alaska for those individuals that have a bachelors degree vs an associates as an RN? I had contacted Providence a few months ago about their pediatrics internship programs and she said that they hire both. But I wasn't really sure if a Bachelor's student would have an easier time of aquiring a job.
Is it difficult to transfer your license from out of state into Alaska? What is the cost of living like? Is it difficult for new graduates to find internships or new graduate jobs?
We have discussed moving to Alaska for quite some time now. My husband is a professional photographer and is really wanting to opportunity to break into wildlife and nature work, which Alaska would be a great place for. Our daughter will be 2 in January, so by the time I am finished with my program here in Texas she will be between 4 and 5.
I was reading that there is a huge wait for the nursing program there in Anchorage is that just for the basic bachelors program or does the transitional program from RN to Bachelors have a long wait as well?
I am currently debating on whether it would be a better situation to finish out my bachelors here in Texas or to get an internship here and have a year or so of experience under my belt and apply for jobs in Alaska. Have any of you found that it is easier to get into a new graduate program or is it easier to come to Alaska and secure a job if you already have experience?
Also how difficult is it to get into pediatrics in Alaska? And have any of you taken advantage of the government program where they pay you to go to school for nursing but you have to take a contract at a needy rural clinic?
I would appreciate any advice or insite from any of you that are currently in Alaska or have experience working in Alaska as an RN. :bowingpurhe he Thanks in advance!
