Possibly moving to Mass-advice please?

Depends on what you are looking to do and how much experience you have. The are surely looking for management positions right now. Things are getting better and picking up. At least for my level of experience. But, I do know that one hospital was or is thinking about laying people off. It was Mass General if I am not mistaken. same goes for all areas of MA, not much difference.

I feel the union is supportive.

I would start looking for jobs now so you can get an idea what is out there. Read about the MNA. Don't forget to go to the MBON to get your license if you haven't done that already!

I wouldn't know, about neighborhoods in or around Boston, because I live in Worcester county. I am sure someone will post.

Good luck on your move! I left to AZ to do travel nursing for a couple of years to get hospital experience, so I just returned here to MA last November to have my baby. I really do like the nursing out here, I would not be back if I didn't.

Mass General is not laying off nurses, just to clarify.

That is great news, because I remember reading they were going to lay off.

Can't believe everything you hear in the media. SMH...

I would truly consider moving to another area. The economy is not picking up much around the Boston area at all, actually. There are a couple of specialties that are hiring but you really have to fight your way through a sea of applicants and many positions are filled internally. You really don't have your pick of jobs right now, and just about the only positions available are overnight/rotating. The pay is decent almost everywhere in the Boston area, but many hospitals are hiring at 32 hours right now, which is part time and therefore your benefits are much more expensive. I just accepted a new job offer and will be paying over $200/month for insurance. It has been an employer's market in this area and continues to be for the foreseeable future. I'd recommend taking a look at some of the hospital career websites in this area before you think about moving here, it's pretty discouraging.

I live on the north shore, in the Swampscott/Marblehead area and absolutely love it. Right on the ocean, beautiful place to raise children, excellent school systems. Pricey but so worth it.

MGH did make some lay offs, but not nurses. Mostly managerial positions I think. We were told most of the employees laid off would be absorbed into other positions in the hospitals. Other hospitals in the area have done the same.

Back to the topic though, as Sarah Beth said, it's a very rough market here in Boston right now. Your specialty and years of experience might give you some pull though. My hospital has hired nurses here and there recently so it's not entirely impossible. I would suggest applylng to open positions online and then directly speaking with managers of those specific units. You probably won't get far going through HR unfortunately.