How is it like to be an RN in Vegas?

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Hi, Im an RN here in CA, working in ICCU and having this thoughts at the back of my mind to relocate in Las Vegas. Any one would like to paint a picture of how is it to live, work and bring your family in Vegas? I have 2 kids, a 10 yo and 6 yo. A dime for anyone's thoughts? salary wise is it comparable?

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Specializes in Psych.

I'm in nursing school here in nevada and have lived here for about 4 years now. I really can't comment on what an experienced RN makes so I'll leave that for others. This town is great if you are single or a couple with no children. I do not recommend trying to raise kids here. Drugs are a huge problem even with the younger children, particularly meth. Also if you do come here live either in the Green Valley, Henderson, or Summerlin sections of town. And get your kids enrolled in a private school. The schools here are overcrowded, not enough teachers.

Dee

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I am just getting ready to apply for nursing school for Spring, so I don't have much info on salaries or where to work. As far as choosing to relocate here, I don't think that I would. I have 3 children and if it weren't for my husband's job we would move. It has nothing to do with the education. I have an elem. education degree and taught for 4 years in this town, there are some great schools/teachers here. It is because of the lifestyles that kids are exposed to and the lack of things for kids to do. I also feel that this is a hard town to meet people in, sounds weird because it is so big, but it is very true. Good luck in your decisions.

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Specializes in Gyne Surger/Oncology.

Hi, I am a Canadian RN and also wondering what it is like to be an RN in las vegas? Where I am from, it doesn't matter if you don't have much experience in whichever field you want to pursue because they're pretty big on education and the orientations are just great. I am wondering if it is also like that in Vegas.

I am a gyne surgery/oncology nurse but I would want to try out NICU or L&D in the future when I move. I was told that I would probably have a better chance at just sticking with gyne when I do move. I'm not getting the impression that vegas hospitals are very welcoming to teaching new nurses....but pls give me some hope if there is any. My dream is to move to Henderson and I would love to pursue my career in L&D or NICU.

Also how do the wages range? I know it is based on cost of living. I go to vegas pretty often, and I've done a lot of research on housing prices and such. Vegas and my hometown's cost of living are pretty much on par with eachother. first year RN's in my city make a minimum of $29.33/hr and overtime is double pay. I'm wondering if I would be able to survive down in Vegas because I also have a husband and baby (my husband will not be able to work if we move down there because him and my son would be considered my dependents).

Any info would be great.

Thanx Dhel28 for starting this thread

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Specializes in Gyne Surger/Oncology.

btw,

I am a diploma nurse...i'm guessing that is equivalent to an ADN? does that make a big difference?

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Specializes in NICU.

I work at St. Rose and am very happy with the hospital and the people I work with. They don't offer a sign on bonus, but pay is competitive. My hospital will train people in Level II NICU because of the shortage of qualified nurses. I don't know about L&D though. St. Rose has traditionally been the prized place to work. We're working toward gaining magnet status. It is union, but it is not an adversarial relationship with the hospital.

I like living here. I live in the Green Valley area, but have also lived in Summerlin. The cost of living is high, but I tend to be pretty frugal. I don't eat out much, drink Starbuck's, etc. My daughter's school seems to be pretty good, and the Summerlin schools were great. We do plan to enroll our daughter in private school next year though. My complaints about the area are the heavy traffic, crazy drivers, and the transient nature of the town. I've lived all over the world and I'm pretty happy where I am right now.

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Specializes in Gyne Surger/Oncology.
I work at St. Rose and am very happy with the hospital and the people I work with. They don't offer a sign on bonus, but pay is competitive. My hospital will train people in Level II NICU because of the shortage of qualified nurses. I don't know about L&D though. St. Rose has traditionally been the prized place to work. We're working toward gaining magnet status. It is union, but it is not an adversarial relationship with the hospital.

I like living here. I live in the Green Valley area, but have also lived in Summerlin. The cost of living is high, but I tend to be pretty frugal. I don't eat out much, drink Starbuck's, etc. My daughter's school seems to be pretty good, and the Summerlin schools were great. We do plan to enroll our daughter in private school next year though. My complaints about the area are the heavy traffic, crazy drivers, and the transient nature of the town. I've lived all over the world and I'm pretty happy where I am right now.

Yay!! I can't wait to move! I just have to write the NCLEX and get all that visascreen stuff done and then I'll start applying for a job. Do ADNs get paid a lot less than BSNs? I'm just wondering how that works there. Also if you can tell me, what are shift differentials like?

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Just remember what ever you do in Vegas stays in Vegas unless you are OJ!! :lol2::devil::lol2:

Sorry bout that I just could NOT help myself this morning LOL

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

I am originally from Vancouver, BC. What I am able to give my children from living here is alot more than what I would have been able to afford in Vancouver. A $250,000 house in the Vegas area would be the equivalent to a $750,000-1 million dollar home in Vancouver and suburbs. Because the whether wasn't always great in BC (okay rained a whol 350 days a year) I found that I couldn't do anything outdoors with my kids, and now they are always playing in the backyard (with the exception of the 100 degree weather in the summer.) I am also looking into private school for my children but the school system isn't really that bad. My daughter has had great teachers and she is in the GATE program at her school. FYI, my kids have probably been to the strip so few times they could count on their hands, they get excited to see it as if they are tourists. Vegas isn't as "sinful" as people like to make it seem. I have lived in a few other big cities and to be honest every place has it's pro's and con's. You will never know how it suits you until you can actually be here...some people love it and some hate it but those feelings are really personal opinion and preferences.

As far as your husband goes, my best friend was able to get a working visa under her husbands visa. He is a Canadian nurse in California who was sponsored by the hospital and when filing the paperwork was able to get his wife a working permit--I dont know what you're exact situation is, but I would double check on that.

Good luck and I wish you the best in your decision!

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Specializes in cardiolgy.

i have been lv for a little over a year. i am from the east coast, so being a rn out here is difficult. i am use to dr being on call and present on my unit, so when we needed them they were there. in lv i worked in a micu, if i needed the md i had to call the attending md who could get very nasty. i reported 3 md's while working there. maybe i am just spoiled. i am not use to it.

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I lived in Vegas for 12 years, but was not a nurse then. We moved to Mississippi, and have lived here for about 8 years, and I hate it. We just returned from a Vegas trip last week.

I saw some of my old friends, and things just clicked. Sure, the houses are small, the traffic is bad, etc. But here in Mississippi, especially after Katrina, there is nothing to do and we will never have any real friends.

We will be giving up 5 acres of land and a huge house to move back to Vegas, the goal is two years. And our daughter will be going to school there.

Compared to living in the Bible Belt of Mississippi, where everyone is closed-minded and set-in-ways (my daughters best friend asked her two weeks ago if she was "saved,") I can't wait to get back to Vegas.

Another thing, when I lived there - I did alot of skiing, both in Nevada and Utah, and traveled at least once a year to California and Mexico. So while Vegas may be "limited" in some ways, it is in a great location and other things are close by.

Mississippi has added years to my life, wrinkles to my face and lbs to my hips. It's such a sedentary lifestyle here. So whatever it takes, we're leaving.

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
i have been lv for a little over a year. i am from the east coast, so being a rn out here is difficult. i am use to dr being on call and present on my unit, so when we needed them they were there. in lv i worked in a micu, if i needed the md i had to call the attending md who could get very nasty. i reported 3 md's while working there. maybe i am just spoiled. i am not use to it.

This is just what happened to me the other day. Ugh. :angryfire

I was just thinking of coming there as a travel nurse. I figure I my as well look around before I make a big commitment.

I would like to find somewhere to settle out West before I make my return to the East. :redpinkhe

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