Advice!

[tsv1567]

Hi guys, so I was wondering if I could get some insight into this slight dilemma I'm having. I graduate this May with my BSN. I'm currently an LPN and have been wanting to return home ever since I left Hawaii the past 3yrs working on my degree. I've called and called and there are absolutely no new grad RN jobs anywhere on the islands. A week ago my friend who works at Kaiser pulled some strings and I may have a job as an LPN. I also applied to an internship in Oregon that I have a good chance of getting into for an ER position, which has always been my dream from the start and what caused me to leave the islands. My question is, should I take the job as an LPN in Kaiser since I get to go home and be with my friends and family whom I've missed dearly or if offered should I take the ER position which is a a chance of a lifetime in Oregon. I'm not sure what professional developments Kaiser offers. All I know is I want to go home so bad and I want to be an ER nurse or work in the hospital for now. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you! :)

[hopefulnurse11]

Maybe stick it out and work for a year then go. That way once you leave for good you have experience and can potentially land a job. Best Wishes. Go with your gut.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

You take the ER job and delay returning to the islands for another couple of years.

[ajt575s]

I agree with the other posters. Take the job in the ER. It will give you the experience you need to get a job later back home. It's best to get that year of RN experience in that all of the employers are currently looking for.

[tsv1567]

Thank you guys. As much as I hate to hear it, the ER opportunity is probably the best decision. I've been away from home for 3 yrs, I'm hoping I can do it for another 1-2yrs. So much sacrifices to make, to get where I want to be in my career. Thanks for the reaffirmation, truly appreciated. :)

[gummibear]

im from oregon... what hospital did u get the ER job at?

jobs are slilm pickings here in OR, i have a job offer for a residency program in idaho... really looking into taking it even though its a 2.5 yr commitment away from my family, but its the best decision for me in the long run

[tsv1567]

Hi! thats funny. I'm actually in Idaho, dying to get out! What hospital are you going to do your residency at in Idaho? I didn't get a job in Oregon, I'm hoping to get a job in Oregon for a new grad ER position. The recruiter said mid/end of May they'll start scheduling interviews if chosen. Salem Hospital had 60 new grad positions open in the ER/ICU for 4 days. To be considered 5pm was the deadline for the 4th day. Have you been to Idaho?

[gummibear]

OP,

omg, this is soo crazy, such a small world! i have my plane tickets to visit st lukes meridian hospital in mid may. when im down there i will be taking a tour of the hosp and looking at boise to see if it s a good fit for me.

as for the oregon ER residency, are u referring to the legacy residency program?

what part of idaho are u in, is that where u went to school?

[tsv1567]

Yes, it is! :) St. Lukes is an awesome hospital. The one in downtown Boise was where I did all my clinicals, its the best! The one in Meridian is where I got hospitalized and the nurses and doctors were great. So either way you will love it! Its a great facility. I turned down an interview there because we don't see ourselves living here. It was either home (Hawaii) or Oregon/Washington. I live in Boise, but very close to Meridian, which is like 10min away. I'm graduating from Boise State. No, I applied to the Salem Hospital Internship program. I didn't consider Legacy because they told me they receive over 500 apps for only a handful of positions. I just stumbled across the Salem app and applied right before it closed. I visited Oregon during Spring Break and loved it! Except for the fact it rained alot, but the people made up for it. Everyone was so friendly, the state is beautiful, and I know some people from Hawaii that moved to Corvallis and love it, which is 30-40min drive from Salem, so I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that I hear back! I really really wanna move there!

[gummibear]

so what is boise like? i know boise and meridian are really close together.

yes, oregon is known for its rain.. but we do get some sunshine too... only in the summer time, lol!

legacy does get tons of apps for its residency program, and they actually moved back the date for the pre-screen interview b/c they have too many apps to process...

best of luck with ur salem app, crossing my fingers for you!

[tsv1567]

Thank you! Boise's kinda boring and isolated. Meridian and Boise are close to each other. Both are nice places to live. Traffic isn't bad at all but there is some traffic. Crime is super low as far as I know. I never lock my house or cars, since I didn't in Hawaii. Small town feel. Hardly rains, usually alot of sunshine. Snows alot in the winter but I like it. One year which was my 1st yr here in 2008 it snowed in October for a whole day straight. Weird. Super hot/dry in the summer, can get in the upper 90s low rarely low 100s. Cost of living is super low. One big/major mall. People are quiet, kind of friendly, keep mostly to themselves. Tons of outdoors stuff, which is the only thing I like about the place. Big Mormon population, but other religions as well. In my nursing class half of the class were Mormons. Some people in my class were kinda sheltered. Seemed like the only place they knew about was Boise, Idaho. Asked if Hawaiians still live in grass houses. My friends from Oregon and East Coast don't really like it here either but thats because they're from Bend (beautiful). Whats Oregon like? I was only there for 5 days and in those 5 days, I was exposed to so much more culture, diversity, and fun that I've experienced in the last 3 years living in Idaho. Other than that Idaho is great, just not for us. :)

[UCI&USFMom]

Take the dream job. You can always visit and fly to Hawaii to see your family and friends.