Jobs in Chicago

NurseRatched67 · Feb 2, 2008

Since Chicago is a large city, there is ALOT of opportunity for RN's.

There are too many hospitals to list and usually Chicago is divided into what is known as the "southside", "northside" and "westside". Eastside would mean you were working in Lake Michigan! hahahaha

Chicago has great public transportation to and from most areas of the city, but depending on where you want to live..it could still mean a long commute.

For instance...Northwestern Memorial Hospital is a huge, very prestigious teaching hospital located in the downtown area of the city. They offer good benefits and can actually help you find housing to work there. However, the cost of living in that area is high and NWMH is a bit lower in salary ranges for RN's then some of the other hospitals. Bigger isn't always better.

You have Northwestern, Illinois Masonic (Advocate Health), St. Joseph's (Resurrection Healthcare) being the larger hospitals in the city but North of downtown.

You have Rush University, Christ Hospital, Mount Sinai, Stroger, Mercy, Unv. of Chicago, UIC being bigger hospitals further South and West of the downtown area.

Then you have a HUGE amount of major hospitals in the suburbs that surround Chicago.

Evanston Hospital, St. Francis and Loyola, are just three that come to mind in suburbs north of the city limits but still very close to public transportation.

If you really want more info, let me know. I can give you some ideas of neighborhoods, housing costs and hospitals in those areas.

Catch-22 RN · Feb 3, 2008

Thanks so much for the information. Could you give me an idea what a one bedroom would go for if I were to say live on the West side of Chicago. Also what is average pay? You have been very helpful and it is nice to know that there are jobs to be had. I am going to apply for my Ill. license and plan on applying next spring. I love Chicago. I want to save a little more money out in California as I am making pretty big San Francisco $. I like California as it is my home an has been very good to me but Chicago is calling me!

Thanks again!

Jolie, BSN · Feb 3, 2008

Good luck on your move.

I'm not sure about the cost of housing on the west side, and not sure that area would appeal to you, as it is somewhat "institutionalized". The west side is known as the "Medical Center District", as it is home to Rush, U of I, a large VA hospital, and a large psych hospital. At one time, it had the highest concentration of hospital beds per square mile in the world. Not sure if that is still true. It's not the greatest of neighborhoods, in terms of appealing housing and safety, but it is improving. When I worked at Rush, many nurses and docs lived in Oak Park, a near-west suburb easily accessible by train or the Eishenhower expressway. It would be about a 15 minute trip. Oak Park is an older suburb with lots of big homes divided into nice apartments (hard wood floors, stained glass windows, etc.) Housing there is less expensive than in the city, and parking is a little easier to find.

Also, plan on applying for your IL license well in advance. IL is notoriously slow in processing requests for endorsement.

NurseRatched67 · Feb 3, 2008

The "westside" of the city is actually quite rough. However, if you are really talking "western" suburbs of Chicago, that is totally different.

Apartments in the city itself, can range from 1000 a month or more on the Northside to 2000+ in the downtown area. (you have to pay for your view of Lake Michigan sometimes!)

The Northside has many neighborhoods that are safe, moderately priced for housing (rentals) and close to transportation and hospitals.

For example a one bedroom apartment in Lincoln park in a "3 flat type of situation" may cost you 1500+ vs. a multi unit apartment building in that same area for 1000.00 a month.

Further north you have areas like Wrigleyville, Lincoln Square, Wicker Park, Andersonville etc. Areas get a little less expensive the futher north in the city you go.

You also have the North Shore suburb of Evanston, were Northwestern University's main campus is located as well as two hospitals, Evanston and St. Francis. Evanston has very "divided" neighborhoods. Some are cheap, but a bit rough and others can be as pricey as the best parts of Chicago or even more.

There are alot more single family homes in Evanston, but the average price there is about $325,000 (median price range).

It really depends on what your lifestyle is like as well. Are you looking for a house vs. renting? Will you have a car? How long would you like your commute to work be? Do you prefer to commute by car or public transportation?

Do you think you want to work in a major hospital vs. community hospital, VA hosptial or public aid clinic?

For instance, the southside has some major hospitals and lots of opportunity for work. There is public transporation, but certain areas of the southside would probably require you to have a car to get around for your travel besides work related commute.

The southside is a bit more "spread out". My suggestion would be making sure you are close to public transportation if you move to the southside. Also make sure you know the "neighborhood". The southside has a reputation of being "racially divided" in most areas. I can say this with confidence as I grew up on the southside.

While it's improved in the diversity of neighborhoods somewhat, there are still very divided lines and neighborhoods.

There are also a lot of "up and comming" areas in CHicago. My friends bought a place in the "Ukranian Village" area about 4 years ago and it's booming there now.

I've lived on the southside, northside and in the south suburbs. There is so much to choose from, it just really depends on what type of lifestyle you are looking for here.