Leave CO for beach?

Nurses New Nurse

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So I graduate with BSN in Dec and want to move out of the snow in Colorado and to more warm weather and beach preferably!! I'm looking into tuition reimbursement programs, but not much luck on a good one. Most want so much of a commitment for little pay. Any ideas on moving locations for a new grad and her fiancé whos a paramedic and two dogs? Somewhere that won't break the bank, but has a decent RN pay? I know California has one of the highest paying rates, can it be done and live there on a budget??

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OK - so this may be out of your frame of reference, but there is an area along the "Third Coast" (or not too far away) that is chronically short of nurses..... Far South Texas along the Rio Grande Border (RGB) - like MacAllen/Brownsville area. Not far from South Padre - well-known Spring Break mecca. Cost of living is much lower than SoCal. However, the area population is decidedly Latino; Anglos are a minority.

If that's not your cuppa joe, you may want to take a look at areas farther north along the Gulf. I would advise you to steer clear of the Houston metro area - too many new grads - but if you like "beachy", Port Aransas would fill the bill. You may want to explore opportunities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama - there are some great beach communities that may just float your boat (groan, I know).

Keep in mind that any of these lovely locations will also come with an opportunity to see your house go 60 miles per hour... at least during hurricane season. But we don't have to shovel snow or scrape ice off the windshield. Honestly, I can't imagine having to deal with that stuff on a regular basis. You guys are a lot tougher than me.

Best of luck on your relocation.

Thank you

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