Help, RN Programs in Chicago.

[JGodoy7]

Hello friends,

Im looking for some guidance. I'm a male, 26 years old and in a long-term relationship, 5 years. My SO already has her career in insurance. She's originally from Evanston, Illinois. Over the course of the last few months she's been verbally expressing to me that she wants to leave California and go back to Illinois and live in Chicago. I've lived in California all my life, but am willing to leave California with her.

A little about me. I'm currently attending a community college and am a year away from receiving my Associates degree(science of nursing not ADN). My next step is to apply to my local RN-ADN programs .

Here in Los Angeles where i live, there's lots of RN programs and Universities all within 40 miles radius. I'm not sure how it is over in Chicago and if the selection of programs and universities is on par with California or close to it. I've been looking online, but it's hard to really get a good understanding of programs when you live in a completely different state.

Maybe someone from Chicago or one of the surrounding neighborhoods could direct me to looking at some RN-ADN programs or universities, that would be awesome.

My SO is very willing to stay out here until I'm done with my RN program and done with getting my license. My question is if i stay here in California and get my RN license I've heard their is a long process in order to get the licensed transferred over to Chicago? Would it be better to move to Chicago much earlier than I want, but save the hassle of having to get my license transferred to practice in Chicago?

Here in Los Angeles from my own knowledge it's easy to get a position as an RN, being that several of my friends got jobs within weeks after passing their NCLEX. I of course understand that every individual has different experiences. Can I expect the same opportunities over in Chicago? or should i expect to struggle to find a job?

I'm sorry for all these questions, this is just a major obstacle in my life and I need to plan and see all the options I have available. Any tips, advice, life-tips, anything would be great and very much appreciated. Thank you to all of you that take the time to read this, even if you don't respond.

-Joey