Considering moving to Seattle

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Hello everyone

I'm from South Dakota but I'm considering moving to Seattle sometime in the near future. I have always wanted to live there and have heard so many good things about the area. Just wondering what I could expect to make per hour. The cost of living there is a lot higher than what I'm used to here in South Dakota. I will have two years of experience on a med-surg unit in a couple months. Any advice for me?? Good hospitals to work at? Best neighborhoods to live in? I'm a 22 year old so I'd like to live in an area with lots of things going on and where a lot of people around my age live in if that makes any sense haha. What's it like to live in Seattle? I'd be moving alone with most of my friends and family a couple thousand miles away. I've heard about the Seattle Freeze and all of that but I'm not sure how much of that is true. I've researched a couple of the hospitals there. One that caught my eye is Harborview. In August I'll have my BSN so that should help in the job hunt. Just thought I would see what the average pay is in that area so I can see where I could all live apartment wise.

Sorry this post is all over the place. New to all nurses!

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

If you want to find out what out nurses make you can check out the union websites. You can try these websites

The Washington State Nurses Association or SEIU1199. I think Harborview is under 1199. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW | United for Quality Care

Some hospitals are not union, so those you might have to try a phone call to HR and see if they will tell you. Some do and some don't.

The average new grade makes in the mid to low twenties, as base. That's not shift diff etc, but it gives you an idea on where you would start.

Housing: Seattle is really expensive. I have a friend that lives in an apt in the burbs of Seattle and she pays for a two bedroom over a 1000 a month. You can go out of Seattle and live for a bit less, but you will pay in Seattle. I'm sure there are others that can give you more of an idea of what it would be.

The upside of living in Western Wa is the fact that you are close to everything. An hour or two will get you to the mountains, Canada or the ocean. Seattle would be the place to be if you want the young people and a lot going on. It's a college town as well, plus has a large variety of hospitals. There is also St Joseph in Bellingham, also a college town, so a lot of activities always going on there as well.

Two major hospitals organizations are Franciscan (St Joseph in Tacoma, St Claire/Lakewood St Anthony /Gig Harbor, St Elizabeth/Enumclaw St Francis/Federal Way, Highline/Burien. There is also Multi care who owns Tacoma General, Good Samaritan/Puyallup, Auburn Regional/Auburn, Mary Bridge/Tacoma. Valley Medical is in Renton, and there are a ton more north of Seattle.

What is the Seattle freeze?

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The "Seattle Freeze"

Seattle Freeze - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not a fan of Wikipedia but this is where you can start... I was told about this when I moved here to work for the VA hostpital, been here for a month now and love my life!

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Hmm, I never heard of that, lol. The travelers that come to our hospital always remark how friendly we are. Maybe that is where that comment stems from.

Well, gosh can't answer that one. I think most people around here are pretty friendly.

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Tokmom- Low to mid 20's to start in Seattle? Really? I live in Vancouver and starting pay in hospitals here is $31-$33 before differential. I work in outpatient endoscopy (just started) and have one year of ASC experience. In my outpatient setting I started at $29.

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Standard in seattle and around the area seems to be upper twenties base then low to mid thirties after night and weekend differentials. This is for new grads at least.

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Thanks for all of the information!

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Yes sorry. I meant mid to UPPER twenties, base. From what my union says, the higher paying hospitals are North of me and in King county.

If you really are interested, head to the union websites. That will give you a rough idea.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

I have close family moving to Seattle soon. Is there a good Catholic hospital system there? I work now for a Catholic system & really prefer the faith based ministry of healing culture that we have. (I'm half considering moving & half considering traveling for a year or two before settling.)

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There is the Franciscan system down south (Tacoma area) and Providence, which is affiliated with Swedish hospitals.

As for pay, it really depends on where you go and whether you can find a full time position. I am pretty sure that if you are actually in Seattle or on the Eastside you will make a little more than if you are down south or up north.

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Camaraderie! I just moved to the Seattle metro area as an SDSU new grad rn from Watertown and just landed a residency job at Swedish. Hope it is going well for you if you moved here!

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Whaleluver, how are you liking the Seattle area? I'm from Phoenix and OVER the heat and desert. Very seriously considering Seattle. Do you like Swedish so far? I'm a new NICU nurse and very interested in Swedish and UWMC. Hope you're enjoying your residency! What unit are you on?

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