living opportunities in Seattle outskirts

lmd32 · Dec 3, 2003

I guess it depends on how rural you want and how far you're willing to drive. I have a friend who lives in Roslyn and commutes to Bellevue every day. It probably takes him about an hour each way but he's always liked to drive. I know several nurses who commute over the mountains from Cle Elum to Seattle. Also crazy I think. Let's see, it's Seattle you're looking at? Would you accept a ferry commute from Bainbridge or Vashon? It's a little longer (I think the ferry alone from Bainbridge is about 30 minutes) but I never minded that commute since you got to sit and look out the window and not drive. What's always worked for me is to get a map and a compass and draw a circle around where I wanted to work at the outer limits of my commute. Then drive around inside that circle (or look on the web if you can't come and look) and see what you like.

FlyingED · Dec 3, 2003

Seattle isn't the only big city in Washington. When I took an ED job outside of Seattle my co-workers teased me about having nothing to work on but "tractor injuries". Well, that is not the way it turned out. I am agency nurse and I spend most of my time in Tacoma in the two Level 2 Trauma centers. It has been a great experience. I live in a rural area and only have to commute 20 minutes in very light traffic, traffic going to Seattle is a nightmare. Though a ferry commute from one of the islands would not be bad. Most of the Hospitals in Seattle are an easy bus ride from the ferry docks. Here are a few of the hospitals in the Seattle area.

1. Harbor View Medical Center- Level 1 Trauma Center- State hospital. I have heard nothing but good things, though never worked there.

2. Swedish Medical Center- Not trauma, nice place

3. Virginia Mason- Used to be a Magnate Hospital- I have heard they are working to regain that status

4. Providence- Recently merged with Swedish

There are others, but the above are downtown.

I would think about taking a traveler position and get the feel of the area before jumping in and taking a permanent position.

Good luck

cory

kids · Dec 3, 2003

You might also consider the south end of the State.

Vancouver is "just over the bridge" from Portland, OR so we enjoy all of the big city benefits with none of the problems. You can get rural very fast here, you can be in the Gifford Pinchot national forest in about 30 minutes and less than 2 hours to the mountains or ocean.

Vancouver has one hospital (400+ beds), Portland metro has around 10 hospitals (I think 3 are level II) within a 30 minute commute. Oregon does have an income tax but there are "breaks" for workers who don't live in OR. I heard a rumor that there are hospitals that pay a differential to make up for the taxes.

mtnnurse · Dec 3, 2003

Thank you all for your replies. I do appreciate hearing about any possible scenarios. The Northwest is a great place with so many opportunities for nursing experience---and fun!!!

maureeno · Dec 4, 2003

we have terrible traffic problems

if you work pms/nocs travel into the city can be okay

otherwise the big hospitals encourage using buses

since you haven't been here I'd recommend a trip

to check out city neighborhoods

many are lovely

and you can get to the mountains on days off

Larry77, RN · Dec 10, 2003

Traffic in Seattle is horrible!!!

A friend of mine lives 10 miles from work and it takes him 1.5 hrs to get to and from work in Bellvue.

Not for me, I live in Longview and work in a hospital with 180 beds and no traffic !

But "to each his own"

Larry

smk1, LPN · Dec 10, 2003

just thought i'd mention that they broke ground on the new legacy hospital going in in vancouver so more options will soon be available here and there are TONS or rural areas around here that you can get to within 30-40 minutes (vancouver is a strange and wonderful place, you can be in the city on one block and then 2 blocks down you are on a farm):)