Best places to live/work?

In the south? maybe Emory in Georgia (core0 may be able to weigh in on that), I know Shands/University of Florida has an ICU NP group, maybe the medical centers affiliated with Vanderbilt, UAB, UVA. Those are also universities with established ACNP programs. I'm in San Francisco -- couple places in Northern Califiornia have ICU NP groups but the university here is a steady source for ACNP's to fill the area's needs.

I'm currently working on my DNP for ACNP and I'm interested in working in critical care upon graduation (particularly trauma or other surgical critical care). My wife and I have talked and decided that we will most likely be interested in relocating our family after graduation. We would like to live in the South (because of the weather) and I'd ideally like the opportunity to work in a surgical ICU (trauma, Cardiothoracic, or general surgical) and also be able to participate in some sort of academic/research activities. This could be something formal (i.e. teaching in an NP program) or informal (i.e. precepting NP students or working somewhere where there is a post-graduate fellowship for NPs). Research could also be formal or informal (I'd like the chance to contribute to scholarly work, but it doesn't necessarily need to be big-time research). Clinical is the most important role and I'd be willing to sacrifice academic/research for a great clinical situation and a nice place to live.

Can anyone recommend good places? Cities/metro regions to live in that have a good ACNP market, or specific hospitals/systems/universities?

Thanks!

I can talk about Georgia (or northern Georgia). In Atlanta, Emory has a new center for critical care. There is a fair amount of research going on so the possibility is there if you want it. In the end though you will be hired as an ACNP and need to prove yourself there first. There is lot of precepting going on. I've had an two ACNP students in the last year. For what its worth, I'm not sure how well the DNP is accepted around here in nursing. The Emory nursing school seems to be pretty firmly against it. Outside of Emory their isn't much research going on although precepting again should be pretty easy to do. Trauma is Grady and AMC. AMC has a big PA presence, not sure about NPs in the ICU. Grady is pretty much completely resident driven. Lots of research by physicians not much by anyone else. MCG has some NPs in their ICU. Not really sure about research.

As far as lifestyle the whole middle south is pretty nice. Easy enough to get to the coast but far enough away to avoid hurricanes. Hot during the summer but pretty temperate during the rest of the year. And for Atlanta, you can be anywhere in the world in 17 hours when you get sick of it.

...just as a last piece of advice, I would seek out ICU NP positions where you live first and get some experience before venturing outside of your state. Based on my current experience working for a major academic medical center, our group is composed of 12 NP's and the 5 of us who were hired from out of state, brought years of NP experience in critical care from the state where we initially got certified in. The rest were graduates of the university the medical center is affiliated with.

juan where are u practicing?

I might have divulged it on a past post at some point. I work in San Francisco. Prefer not to mention the actual name but it's pretty obvious I think.