Looking to relocate to Indianapolis - Advice/Tips for a West Coast RN

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Hi All -

My husband and I have just began looking into relocating to Greenwood, IN from Portland, OR and I was hoping to get some input from any current Indiana RN's. I have my Bachelors of nursing and have been an RN for 4 years, I current work in Medical Oncology but have experience as a Neurovascular/telemetry RN as well.

I have browsed various sites online but I figured I should reach out to my nursing community to get some answers regarding pay and preferred hospitals.

I have spoken with a recruiter at St. Vincent's however she was only able to give very generalized information and I am currently looking to get specifics in terms of salaries and what not in order to determine our financial outlook as I know I will be taking a somewhat significant pay cut.

Questions/Topics

Preferred facilities - Pros/cons

Salary Information - Shift differential, additional certifications (Med/surg; OCN) Does your facility offer additional pay for certifications? Hourly vs. percentage increase for night shift vs. dayshift

Educational/professional opportunities within your facility

Any general information you think I should know...

Thank you kindly,

Ashley

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm can't comment on salaries, but just to let you know that Greenwood is quite a drive to St. Vincents. You may was to look at St. Francis or Community South. It depends on if you want to make the drive or not.

Out here, bachelors do not pay more than Associate's. It is a fairly good market and should be relatively easy to find a job especially with some experience. Each hospital does their differential different. Some pay a flat rate and others a percent.

Yes, you will be taking a pay cut, but the cost of living is extremely good here. You really can't compare the two. Have you looked at the housing prices on the south side? They are incredibly good. It's an up and coming area of the city right now. People are flocking to live down there. So, it will all work out with you taking a pay cut as your dollar goes much, much further in Indiana than Portland.

Are you dead set on Greenwood? I've read mixed ratings on their school system, in case you have kids.

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Thank you for your response. I know cost of living is quite different which is why I'd like to get an idea of the pay difference. I'm ok taking a reduction but want to be sure that it's not too drastic. í ½í¸Š

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Specializes in ICU.

I sent you a PM

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Specializes in ICU.

I think you need to make a few more posts before I can PM you. I can give a little idea on what you are asking but don't want to publicly post anything. If that makes sense lol.

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Totally understand. I'll make a few more posts about later today. Really appreciate your time!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Pay probably is based on experience but I would guesstimate that a hospital would pay you between $25 and $30 per hour plus shift diffs. Resource nurses make quite a bit more...

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Also community hospitals have been advertising sign on bonuses.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

It depends not just on pay and benefits, but what you and your husband are looking for in terms of culture. There's a big difference in Portland OR versus the Midwest, especially IN. If I were going to relocate to the Midwest, I'd consider IL or WI before IN.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
It depends not just on pay and benefits, but what you and your husband are looking for in terms of culture. There's a big difference in Portland OR versus the Midwest, especially IN. If I were going to relocate to the Midwest, I'd consider IL or WI before IN.

Indiana is a lovely place, and there's plenty of culture- thanks very much. We are not all defined by our politicians you know.

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Specializes in ICU.
Indiana is a lovely place, and there's plenty of culture- thanks very much. We are not all defined by our politicians you know.

I personally love Indianapolis. There is so much to do in the city. It has a great mix of the urban feel and country feel as well. It's developing rapidly and it's all very new.

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Specializes in ICU.
It depends not just on pay and benefits, but what you and your husband are looking for in terms of culture. There's a big difference in Portland OR versus the Midwest, especially IN. If I were going to relocate to the Midwest, I'd consider IL or WI before IN.

WI over Indiana?? I've been to Milwaukee several times and it doesn't hold a candle to Indy. And it's so darn cold in the winter. I really do like it here. And I'm a transplant as most people out here are as it is a rapidly growing area.

Chicago is not bad, but that traffic is a freaking nightmare. When I get frustrated with traffic on 465, I just think of how awful Chicago and 294 traffic is.

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