Some Good News Please?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello All,

I am new to this forum, although I have been browsing it for quite some time. I have been especially interested in the threads regarding the economy and the nursing profession. I have heard many people discussing the economy and the difficulty in finding travel nursing assignments, as well as permanent nurses losing hours, shifts, etc.

I have been a nurse for three years now, working in the IHS system in rural Alaska. I have to get out of here. I realize that now is a VERY bad time to give up a permanent position, but for my health and sanity, I can no longer stay in rural Alaska and would like to leave Alaska all together. I was hoping to get some travel work in areas that we want to relocate and get an idea of where we want to settle before taking a permanent position. This may or may not be possible in this economy as it stands now. I have heard so many negatives to begin to travel right now, or even relocate. What I am hoping for by starting this thread is that I can hear some of the positives. I want ot hear from people who are travel nursing and doing well, and people who have staff jobs that are doing well. I am feeling extremely discouraged and just need to hear some positives! If you have some words of wisdom that are particulary negative, you can PM me, but what I really want to hear are stories about nurses FINDING assignments. We need some hope that when we leave here in June, we are making a decision that will not find us homeless and unemployed, but regardless, we have to leave anyway. We are looking at Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, etc.

Thanks in advance for any posts!

Megan

Melinurse

2,040 Posts

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Milwaukee and Madison areas are in great need of nurses last I heard. Racine/Kenosha areas are drying up for nursing positions but in some specialty areas you can still find a job as long as you have experience. :DI don't know about other areas in Wisconsin though.

Do you know if it's hard to find a job working for IHS? I thought I read that working in a rural area for IHS can help pay for your education loans, does your facility take new grads?

Melinurse

2,040 Posts

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

My area is case management hospice/home health they don't usually take new grads however, I am a new grad. So where there is a will there's a way. For me it was being persistant. I did not take no for an answer. The advertisement for the job said " must have at least a minimum of 3 years experience ". They don't help out with loans though where I work.

lindarn

1,982 Posts

Hello All,

I am new to this forum, although I have been browsing it for quite some time. I have been especially interested in the threads regarding the economy and the nursing profession. I have heard many people discussing the economy and the difficulty in finding travel nursing assignments, as well as permanent nurses losing hours, shifts, etc.

I have been a nurse for three years now, working in the IHS system in rural Alaska. I have to get out of here. I realize that now is a VERY bad time to give up a permanent position, but for my health and sanity, I can no longer stay in rural Alaska and would like to leave Alaska all together. I was hoping to get some travel work in areas that we want to relocate and get an idea of where we want to settle before taking a permanent position. This may or may not be possible in this economy as it stands now. I have heard so many negatives to begin to travel right now, or even relocate. What I am hoping for by starting this thread is that I can hear some of the positives. I want ot hear from people who are travel nursing and doing well, and people who have staff jobs that are doing well. I am feeling extremely discouraged and just need to hear some positives! If you have some words of wisdom that are particulary negative, you can PM me, but what I really want to hear are stories about nurses FINDING assignments. We need some hope that when we leave here in June, we are making a decision that will not find us homeless and unemployed, but regardless, we have to leave anyway. We are looking at Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, etc.

Thanks in advance for any posts!

Megan

Since you are in Alaska, have you considered Washington State?

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

MeganAK

29 Posts

Wow! You are fast with replies. Thanks! To Linda, Yes, we have considered Washington and that is one of the places we are happy to go, but not necessarily where we are wanting to settle down. We would definitely try it out, though!

To 'The Purple Smurf' I would be happy to tell you more about IHS facilities in a PM. As a summary, though, yes, I did get loan repayment. The money is getting harder to get, but it is still available. The awards are based on location- meaning that each IHS facility is rated based on how difficult it is to get nurses there. Alaska facilities are at the top of the list in terms of where the awards go to. You can get more info at www.ihs.gov . Rural Alaska facilities DO take new grads, I came up here as one. It is a great place to come as a new grad because you have to learn EVERYTHING- Medical/Psych/OB/Postpartum/ER. You can even get experience with Medevacs. It is a tough place to live, though, and you have to be prepared for that.

Anyway, thanks for the replies! This seems like an excellent forum.

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