Alaska here I come!

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

Hello all,

Well I have applied for my licensure in AK and I will be moving out there in about two weeks. I have never been to AK and I have never lived where it went below 50F during mid winter. So needless to say I have no idea what to expect but I am looking forward. I am a new grad and will be working in Bethel. I was wondering if any one had any tips or suggestions about adjusting to AK?

Thanks!

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Hi Smile

Have you arrived in Alaska?? How is the new job going?? I'm a new grad, just moved to the Fairbanks area and will be starting my new job soon. I'm ready to get started! Hope all is going well in Bethel -keep us posted!!

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

Yea I have been here about a month and so far I love it! There are somethings that I would say are backwards but the people are super nice and I enjoy working with the patients. There is so much to learn culturally and its really interesting. Its different then anything I would have expereinced if I stayed at home so I am glad I came. What unit will you be working on?

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I'll be working on a med/surg unit starting 8/31 - looking forward to it! Glad to hear you are loving it - what unit are you in?? I think it would be very interesting and challenging to live in a more remote area - maybe with some experience under my belt. I'm new to Alaska also and have been spending time picking berries, hiking and exploring. My boyfriend works so doing alot on my own - its fun. Looking forward to ski season, fall colors etc.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

I have never picked berries before coming to AK! Any way, I'm working in a family clinic. Its a lot of fun and I enjoy being able to work with peds and adults. Where did you move from? I just moved from CA.

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I moved here from Idaho. Lots of new grads there that can't find work - many have gone on to get their BSN instead of working. I plan to work on my BSN online starting in January - need a few months off to concentrate on the new job and learning that first.

Your job sounds interesting!! Public health/family clinic is something I would like to explore - maybe afer I get my BSN.....

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

I really like it but I would like some experience in medsurg too (-: Maybe we could swap for a few weeks. JK. Any way, we had the same problem in San Diego as well. To many new grads and not enough jobs. I plan on doing school on line too while I'm here.

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I really like it but I would like some experience in medsurg too (-: Maybe we could swap for a few weeks. JK. Any way, we had the same problem in San Diego as well. To many new grads and not enough jobs. I plan on doing school on line too while I'm here.

smilealot I'm from Southern California too.. How long were you looking for a job before you decided to move to Alaska.. And if you don't mind me asking how soon were you able to get a job there? I'm having a hard time finding a job in CA :banghead: I'm considering moving but not really sure where to go.. Any advice or insight on how you decided to make the move would be helpful.. Thanks :)

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.
smilealot I'm from Southern California too.. How long were you looking for a job before you decided to move to Alaska.. And if you don't mind me asking how soon were you able to get a job there? I'm having a hard time finding a job in CA :banghead: I'm considering moving but not really sure where to go.. Any advice or insight on how you decided to make the move would be helpful.. Thanks :)

I hope things work out for you! I started applying before I graduated but in all about 6 months. My hope was to get a position in ICU or ER but a couple of the hospitals in our area had hiring freezes for new grads and the hospital I worked at only hired 1 new grad for SICU and it went to a BSN student because I was only an ADN. So I was bummed about that and decided to look outside of what I thought I wanted. Part of the reason I chose to move is because I get loan repayment since its an undeserved area. The loan repayment I got through Indian Health Services their website has postings for other positions. Most of the are for a specific amount of time. For instance I'm contracted for two years but the company paid to move me out here and I get help with school loans. I found the position by searching for "rural nurse positions" a lot of them seem to have pretty good deals if you don't mind moving. Plus you will probably get an expereince that you never would in a big hospital!

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Specializes in Mental Health/School Nursing/Corrections.

Ive just been submitted today to Alaska, just awaiting the phone interview, but really wondering if now is the time to get my feet wet traveling or if I should wait with the industry and economy not doing so well, maybe I should keep my FT perm position here in MI? Your thoughts?? Please feel free to share about AK with me, it might help me make up my mind.............

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After reading the above responses, i would like to add one more. Interesting irony here. I live in Temecula (just north of San Diego), and have previously worked for 7 yrs. at Palomar (GREAT place to work!). I went to nursing school at University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) and graduated with my BSN in 1993. There were no jobs for us and most of us had to move out of the state to work and i ended up in San Diego. Now it seems it is just the opposite. I did get the chance to visit Bethel during my 3rd yr. at UAA for my community nursing class. I was very fortunate to be able to fly out to St. Mary's and Pitkas Point with an incredible public health nurse for 1 week. She lived in Bethel yr. round. We did get to visit the hospital in Bethel and i just remember a yellow tube (the only way i know how to describe it). Well i just wanted to say 'good luck' and i hope you realize what an invaluable experience you are getting :). The Paiute indians have a very rich gentle culture. You should start a blog of your experience.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.
Ive just been submitted today to Alaska, just awaiting the phone interview, but really wondering if now is the time to get my feet wet traveling or if I should wait with the industry and economy not doing so well, maybe I should keep my FT perm position here in MI? Your thoughts?? Please feel free to share about AK with me, it might help me make up my mind.............

I have only experienced the area I am in and I have only been here about two months. I'm in the Yukon Delta region in a "town" called Bethel. Its great! I like it so far but it is very different than anywhere that I know of in the US. It pays well and there is a great need for nurses so there is also opportunity to grow into other positions. Do you have any specific questions? There have only been about 5 sunny days since I have been here. The place I am living has 2 grocery stores. Theres no malls, movie theaters, bowling alleys..... If you like the out doors then this place is a lot of fun! There is the Kuskokwim river, hunting, fishing, berry picking.

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