are you happy in the state your in?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone, I'm just a first semester student so I know I have a long way to go, but my husband keeps talkling about leaving California when I am finished with school and I'm wondering where is the best state to begin my career? I'm a bit apprehensive of the thought of moving, and he knows if we did it wouldn't be before I had a job offer in hand. So I'm mostly more curious now than anything. Thanks :)

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Please excuse the mini-threadjack: But just to clarify - "Keep Austin Weird" is interpreted as a very positive thing by their citizens! Not a negative term at all. But, other Tx cities are already so 'weird' that we don't have to make any effort to keep them that way - LOL.

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Specializes in Developmentally delayed.

Meaning in California, there are laws regarding how many nurses a patient can care for at once where as in all other 49 states, there are no such laws and the hospital can have you caring for 12 patients if it so pleases.

Wow, interesting. The nurses here complain too about how high the ratios are. I wasn't aware other states don't mandate.

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If you are in your first semester ( I assume a Bachelor's program), you have over 3 1/2 years before you even graduate, and can take board exams. No one can predict where there might be jobs by then....and where your husband will also be able to find work. I sure wouldn't worry about anything but getting through school at the moment.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I eventually want to move my family to another state but I should have about six years experience by then. The things that I look for are nice small towns outside of bigger cities that will offer more in terms of work but help keep our home out of the chaos. I already work for a top 100 hospital that is Magnet and happens to be a teaching hospital with a large university nearby. These are also qualities I have added in the search when looking around for a job and a place to move. Good luck!

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Specializes in telemetry, ICU.

I am a CA new grad, and have found just from internet research that NC and TX are very welcoming. I am headed to LA (as in Louisiana), and haven't heard anything bad about it ( ok so low pay, but for a new grad it's sort of expected). Some things I looked for: large/ many beds, teaching hospitals, magnet status, job opportunities, good reviews from RN staff, etc. Be open minded and good luck!

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I live in the Bay Area of CA and things are tight here. I am not in favor of how large (in terms of population) California is getting and the state is constantly in some sort of "financial crisis". I want to move out of state too, OP.

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Specializes in PCCN.

I'm in a state of shock :roflmao:

Lol. NYS sucks- don't come here,snow and cold suck.

My hospital does seem to have decent ratios though .

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Specializes in Med-surge, hospice, LTC, tele, rehab.

I would stay in California if I already lived there because nurses are protected from having too many patients to safely care (the nurse to patient ratio) for in that state. It's the only state in the US that does it, which sucks for us in the other states because we have don't have that luxury. California would be very far for me to go away from friends and family (I'm in Michigan). Do what is right for you of course, but it's something to think about.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Whatever you do, don't move to Indiana. It has to be one of THE worst states to be a nurse. Not that I've worked as a nurse in other states, but I've formed this opinion after talking to nurses in other states.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I'd move to Hawaii -:yes:

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Texas is an employed at-will state but I love living here. I didn't move here by choice...the military brought us here. I will be sad when we have to leave because of my husband's PCS orders...

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I live in California, have been here all my life and have been thinking about leaving here. Someone posted about Cali always being in financial trouble, which is true. My area is not overcrowded, but I do know that people are leaving here in drones due to the high cost of living. Job opportunities are tight here, too. I have a friend in Texas and she has been offered twice as many jobs as me and we graduated at the same time. If I had to choose a place to go, it would be Texas...maybe Austin. I love the "weird" factor and hipster environment there. Texas is much cheaper. However, relative to living near the beach as I currently do, the summers would really suck there. I'd go to Portland in a New York minute if not for all the rain. Good luck with your choice. :)

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