[MegSaid]

Originally Posted by nursedani08

My husband and I would like to plan a trip to Seattle and/or surrounding suburban areas to see if we want to move this winter from Michigan. I'm graduating with my BSN this december and I'm interested in some hospitals including Harborview and Swedish in Seattle, Evergreen in Kirkland, Overlake in Bellevue, st. clare in Lakewood, fanciscan health care w/ several locations. I plan to start applying in early fall.

When should I visit? Should I contact these hospitals and see if I can set something up w/ a nurse recruiter? What, if anything, can you tell me about these areas? Do you know anything about these specific hospitals or their nurse residency programs? Are they competative? Anything you can tell me will be helpful.

I'm worried we will have trouble 'getting on our feet' as I am not seeing sign on bonuses or moving reimbursments advertised. The cost of living here is pretty low. I have to visit again though before making such big move.

Hi - You will love Seattle! Definitely better winters than Michigan!

You should visit in October and start looking for a position in November-ish. The programs are competitive and all the hospitals have their pluses and minuses...depends on what area of nursing you want to get into. There are usually not sign on bonuses for Residents, but I know that Swedish will give a good relo package. They advertise it as "customized relocation" which means they will pay for what you need, but won't just throw cash at you. The cost of living in Seattle can be high, or it can be low, depending on where you live. The southend of Seattle is still very affordable, and pay rates are relative to the cost of living so you can expect to make more in Seattle. Seattle has not been hit as hard by the economic downturn, and the unemployment rate is still very low, so your husband should not have too much trouble finding work, too.

Good luck! The hospitals you list are all good ones, but I am biased for Swedish so I would start there!

[MegSaid]

Originally Posted by moffist

Hi Nursedani08


I have applied to Overlake and Evergreen. My husband will be working in Redmond/Kirkland area and we are looking at a house in Duvall/Carnation area.

I have heard it is very difficult to drive into Seattle so would there be any point in applying to Swedish or Harborview if I live out to the East.

It is worth noting that Swedish will be building a big new facility in Issaquah in just a few years, planning has already started. So, because they have so many internal transfers, the nurses who are already there will have first dibs on the new Eastside positions...my advice is get in early so that you can have your shot at one of the nurse positions at the new facility when it is built. Public transpo to Seattle is not bad - bus right from Duvall into downtown, and Swedish will give you a free metro pass. So that's just my .02! Good luck!

[wonderfulday]

If your not set on the west side...You might want to think about central Wa. We have a couple of good hospitals, Yakima Valley Regional hospital and Yakima Valley Memorial hospital. Central Wa. isn't as large as Seattle or Tacoma, the cost of living is a little less, except gas prices.
Good luck.

[AreWeThereYet]

I have my LPN from the state of Georgia with 4 years experience and am thinking of moving to the Seattle area as my daughter is moving there. I have also finished all of Excelsior College's ASN program except for the CPNE (clinical performance exam). Can anybody give me info on WA's acceptance of Excelsior, LPN pay rates, who hires LPNs there (though I'm still pursuing my RN, whatever it takes). Thanks.

[wonderfulday]

In Wa. once you have completed your CPNE and passed, you must be supervised by an RN for 200 hours.