Advice on Relocating to Seattle

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi everyone!

My husband and I have decided that we would really like to move to the Seattle area. I've been doing a lot of online research of the area hospitals so I have a pretty good idea of what they pay, etc. What that doesn't tell me is whether the nurses enjoy working there! So I was wondering if anyone here would tell me a little about where they work, if they like it, what kind of nurse-patient ratios you have, etc. Also, do you pay for parking?

I just want to know that when I accept a job I'm going to feel comfortable moving all the way out there and working there for a long time to come... I don't like change much.

Thanks so much for all your help!

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

What is your area of speciality? What area of Seattle will you be working in. Email me a private message and I can give you more information.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi diane227!

I'm currently working in Neuro. I'm a pretty new nurse... only 2 years of experience. But I've been cross-trained as a charge nurse and we have students on our floor so I've had some experience as a preceptor for students.

Apparently I can't send private messages on here yet.. sorry... but I appreciate any information you can give.

thanks!

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

If you want to stay in Neuro the best place to do it is at Harborview. It is the county hospital for King county but they get patients from as far away as Alaska and Idaho. One of the major services at that hospital is neurosurgery and they have very interesting patients there. My husband works in the neuro ICU there and really loves it. The pay there is about average for the area but they have WONDERFUL insurance benefits. We use Uniform medical and we love it.

It is expensive to live in Seattle so a lot of people commute from other surrounding communities. This area has excellent services, buses, trains etc. You don't want to drive to Harborview anyway because it costs a lot to park there and street parking is hard to find. You can find Harborview by looking up the University of Washington web site. Harborview is a major teaching hospital. If you want to learn a LOT, then that is where you want to go.

And it DOES NOT rain here all the time. Beautiful spring, summer, falls, overcast winters. And the rain does not amount to much. I am used to the Texas downpours that we used to get in Houston. I don't even wear a raincoat up here.

Need any more info, let me know, Diane

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Diane,

Do you know if Harborview has a sign on and/or relocation bonus? It's expensive just to get there and start-up house keeping.

We really want to move there and I would love to sooner rather than later. We won't all be able to move at the same time though. Have you ever heard of anyone working a schedule something like 3 on, 1 off, 3 on again - like work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, off Sunday, then on again Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday? I was thinking if I could get a schedule like that I could go back home for a week. At least I'd be full time, and I could be home every other week.

Thoughts?

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Specializes in Neuro.

Diane,

Thanks so much for all your advice!!! I will start my search!

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