Omaha, anyone?

Jolie-

I grew up in Omaha. I left when I was 18 for college in Texas and soon I'll be moving to Maryland. Omaha is a nice safe town. There is hardly ever traffic and the job security and availability there is good. The cost of living is cheap.

We lived in Elkhorn, a small town about 10 minutes west of Omaha. The Elkhorn school system is very good. Millard and Burke are also good. Honestly I've never heard of anything bad happening in any schools there. Nothing ever really happens there except the College World Series.

I though Nebraska was the most boring place on earth growing up there, but I was young and anxious to see other places. Many people really love it there.

Good places to live...anywhere in Sarpy County...schools are good (Papillion, Bellevue, Millard, Springfield, Gretna, example). I live in Papillion, next door to Omaha...easy access...I love living in Papillion, is smalled than Omaha...approx 17,000 population.

Taxes are high in Omaha (Douglas County), Sarpy also...Douglas County has Wheel Tax on vehicles...not Sarpy.

If you live in Nebraska, suggest you not work across the river in Iowa....you will have to pay state taxes in both states.

Pay will not be what it is in Chicago area...(I used to live there)...but cost of living in less here. People are good...a lot of interesting and cultural things and events going on most all the time. People are friendly.

I will tell you that Omaha now has a history of violence in certain parts of town. The traffic is heavy, no doubt about it. Alot of people access the Interstate I-80, I-480, I-680 to get to and from work.

Like schools in other places...it takes a few kids to stir up trouble...a few isolated instances...It doesn't really matter where you live.

You will find that people from Nebraska are laid back compared to where you are coming from. The life-pace is slower, you may find some things lacking in schools etc. compared to Chicago. I grew up in Missouri, was military wife for many years, traveled a lot and lived many different places...most Nebraskan's still have good morals and values. There are many Churches here as well of practically every demoniation.

Nursing shortage here is like any place else. If you're an RN, you have a "wild card".

University Nebraska Medical Center is high tech and in to a lot of research...has a big transplant center, and cancer center of which people from all over the world come to in case you are interested. I graduated from Clarkson College of Nursing and think the hospital is good also. I have no affliation with any particular hospital system.

Good luck...and welcome.

Hello! Grew up in Nebraska 30 miles southeast... I am currently in Wisconsin, and probably will end up staying here until the hereafter, however, as I had lived most of my life in Nebraska I have a few things to say.

Military is large in Bellevue, Sarpy county---Papillion is wonderful. Stay away from South and North Omaha, Old Town Omaha is nice in the daylight hours, don't think I would go there at night... Sorry, for those of you who thinks it great, but I'm a small town girl at heart!

Small towns of Plattsmouth, Murray, Newhawka, Louisville and others, are that small towns. Easy access to Omaha from those areas. Family still lives in the area and some wouldn't change it for the world, others would just as soon shake the dust off and leave.

Lack of professional sports? Okay, so there aren't any available... There is more to life! We enjoyed watching the Omaha Royals at home plate... UNL Football can be exciting, and KC Chiefs and Royals are 150 miles away. Living in Wisconsin with Twins and Vikings across the river and Packers & Brewers on the other side, doesn't mean diddly squat to me. Saw the Twins play at home once-that was enough. Thank goodness the tickets were free!

If I could, I would move back to Nebraska or Colorado (lived there for a short period) in a heartbeat! Miss the wide open spaces!

It is always best to grow where you are planted!

Avoid Alegent Health at all cost. Issues, issues, issues.

I am 22 yrs old and have grown up all over NE, mostly Bellevue and Omaha. Elkhorn is not a small town anymore, it is a booming city that has fought the annexation of Omaha and has more and more new homes and buildings coming in everyday. It reminds alot of watching Bellevue grow as I grew. I have lived most of my life in Olde Town Bellevue and it is beautiful!! They have parades for everything, there is Arrows to Aerospace, we recently made the decision to move. We are now bordering Papillion. I believe it is called west Bellevue. Off of 36th adn 370. It is beautiful here, too. THe schools are great, shopping is good, there are family friendly activities all around town. A new hospital is coming to Bellevue, off of 25th and 370. It should be finished about the time I get my RN. Clarkson is the owner, too, that's a good thing. I would listen to the advice given as far as parts of Omaha and staying away from Alegent, I have never had a problem with ALegent nurses but most of them have not many nice things to say about working there. I am currently working for Glenwood Resource Center, it is in Glenwood, IA. It does not pay nurses very well, but it does have excellent benefits, it is a state job, superb retirement. I plan on working here for a least a few years after I get my degree. Most nurses up there say it is the easiest job as a nurse they have ever had. I believe LPN's make between 15 and 20 to start and RN's make 20+ to start. I am CMA right now and that is why nurses have it easy. CMA's and CNA's run the place, nurses are just there for dressing changes and nebulizer treatments, enteral feedings. I hope you have fun in NE, good luck finding a job, not that you should need it.

Hi, I am new to the forum. I am in the Omaha area. I was wondering how much a cma gets paid. A rough idea. I am going to start classes to become a CNA in January. Thank You!

i love omaha.
i'd stay in the areas of elkhorn, rallsten, and benson, but i am by myself.
overall its an ok town.

oh Alegent does have major issues, especially Immanuel. i'm not a nurse and quite frankly the nurses in the MAC department at Immanuel are a complete embarrassment to the nursing profession. they clearly are putting patient safety at the bottom of their list.