Are you relocating after you graduate??

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Specializes in LTC.

I'm considering relocating out of state after I graduate from my ADN program and pass NCLEX. I've lived in the same place my whole life and I'm feeling restless. I really want to be in a big city like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, or Boston. I've looked into travel nursing, but I won't qualify for that because I don't have any experience. So I figure I could just move - get experience and live in a new place.

Are any of you planning to relocate after you graduate?? What are your plans? Where are you going? How are you making it happen?

Have any of you already done this and relocated after you graduated? How did you do it? Where & why did you go? How were you able to find a job? What advice can you give me about relocating out of state?

:1luvu:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Well, I completed a Los Angeles-area LVN program in October 2005. I had been living in California all my life, and I relocated out of the state to Texas the very next month. The move had been planned for several months, because I sold my California house several month previously to pay for the home being purchased in Texas.

I moved to Dallas-Fort Worth because of the strong job market for nurses, great cost of living, and decent nursing pay rates.

If you decide to relocate somewhere, you may wish to plan several months in advance. Do research on the internet to see if you'll like the population demographic of the area, the pay rates, cost of living, the strength of the job market, crime rates, and so forth. Don't be fooled by an extremely high pay rate, because the rents and home prices in the area may still be unaffordable on that wonderful wage.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.

I want to move after I graduate (Spring '08!:balloons:)--I have been living in Pgh for 6 years and don't like it anymore (too cold, too stagnant, and too segregated). I'm still deciding what would be best: to move immediately after graduation or to get a job here and save up more money to move with experience (I have none now). I think in the spring I will apply for positions here and out of state and take the best offer that works for me. As for what city to move to, check out http://www.findyourspot.com/ By asking some questions you may not have thought about, this site will help you to rank the best cities for your needs. Good luck!!

~Elise

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I plan to move immediately upon graduation to a much larger city. My little itty bitty tiny college town has thoroughly bored me for the past 33 years, so I hope to move to a large city. That "findyourspot" site is very cool and a little eye opening. Two cities I would never have considered are in my top 10... haha. Anyway, put me down for "moving upon graduation".

Richard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduate LPN school in June 08. I am out of here as soon as my older one goes off to college (graduates June 2010). We are heading South to North Carolina!

Problem I am faced with is do I do my LPN to RN bridge up here and go down to NC with my degree thats IF I can get into a program before we want to leave..and takea big old student load to go with it, or do I go down to NC and get my schooling there...humm..questions questions.

But to answer the OP question, yes, I am relocating after I graduate, just not immediatly afterward.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.

Problem I am faced with is do I do my LPN to RN bridge up here and go down to NC with my degree thats IF I can get into a program before we want to leave..and takea big old student load to go with it, or do I go down to NC and get my schooling there...humm..questions questions.

Pixie,

If you can, I would try and do your RN before you move. A friend of mine had a coworker who was an LPN going to school for RN. Her last semester she applied to Duke's medical system for a GN position and they offered her a level II position because of her LPN experience (most grads start at level I) and paid her a higher salary and a relocation credit. Dontcha know, she accepted and moved down this summer! Of course if you waited, you could get your tuition paid for. But why stay stagnant as an LPN when you know you want to move forward to an RN (I would personally grow to hate my job waiting those few but long years!) I recommend going back to school ASAP!

Good luck either way,

Elise

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I just graduated, as soon as I sat for HESI and passed.......I was gone....lol

I moved from CT to AZ, started working as a nurse extern until I sit for boards soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I also relocated right after graduation. I graduated, sat for boards 3wks later on a Thursday and on Saturday, I was on the road in my Uhaul. I am not one to stay still in one place and staying in the same town a whole year without a break to visit somewhere else just wore me out. I started planning my move 3 months before graduation by researching online, applying for jobs looking for housing etc.

I moved to phoenix coz I was offered a good paying job and a great sign on and relocation bonus plus, I have always wanted to live in Phoenix.

Good Luck on your move........enjoy the country!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

My original plan was to relocate about 2 years after I graduate. However, it

s only been 4 months and I keep feeling the pull of change. I had a dream last night that I just threw all my possessions away and started fresh somewhere else. I think I might have to act on it soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, Psych.

I relocated to California from Michigan with my fiance (now husband). For me, it was the hardest thing I ever did and would never want to do it again. I miss Michigan more that anything. I am not sure if it was the move, the fact I was in a new field (nursing and peds), I had a "scary" preceptor at my new job, I was planning my wedding or what, but I was honestly miserable the first 6 months. I cried and cried, and thought about moving back home everyday.

I would really research where you want to go. We left michigan b/c my fiance found a job in california. Not that I don't like california, its beautiful here, but I do miss my family and friends back home. I hope one day I can feel comfortable, and confident. BUt it is hard..

Just do your research.. See if you can visit some hospitals, maybe one might fly you out to the state for an interview..

hope that helps and good luck to you.. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I moved to Chicago 3 days after I took the NCLEX in my hometown in MN. That was 2 1/2 years ago. It was the best thing I've EVER done! It's been amazing to pick up and move to a city where I didn't know anyone and start a new life with a new career. I've never been happier than here. If some place is calling your name and you feel that excitement just thinking about moving to that city, JUST DO IT! Sure, it may not work out, but it might be the best thing you've ever done and you won't have the regret you'd have your whole life by not doing it. Especially if you're young and unattached! I've met the love of my life here in Chicago and can't imagine what my life would be if I hadn't made this move. Good luck and have fun!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm actually debating this. Part of me really wants to move back to NY, but if I stay where I am at for two years after I graduate, I'll definitely have better options as well as the fact that I know that I'll get a real good start at nursing. I figure that I can get my bachelors in the interim, another plus in NY.

I guess I'm really talking myself into staying, huh?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment