Mixed Messages about the job outlook in Louisiana

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I know this area, esp N.O. is still recovering from Katrina, so I'm aware the job market for nurses is very necessary. But I have been hearing alot of mixed signals about relocating. Some say that there are plenty of opportunities with high pay, then there are some who say that there aren't many jobs or the cost of living trumps any salary.

Personally, I feel that in this point of my life I'm young and able to go anywhere with a nursing degree and make the most of any experience. I would LOVE to relocate back to my hometown, but I feel uneasy.

So can anyone offer their overall opinion of the job outlook for new graduates in New Orleans? Any knowledge of new grad programs? Any advice or comments are very appreciated!!:yeah:

Wow...my wife got a job in NO so we moved down....although I still have one semester left in nursing school in AR...I will be returning there in the fall to visit. In the short time I've been down here I am shocked by some things...I was under the impression that NO would be strapped for nurses right now and offering good money...which from looking around doesn't seem to be the case. Housing is expensive....from what people have told me it basically doubled post-Katrina....overall I am becoming concerned about my job prospects after school.

DestinedRN- I don't know if you are from the Algiers area, but we moved to Algiers...we found the apartment online and could not be here to actually see it and the area....suffice to say Algiers is pretty darn ghetto. This is coming from someone who grew up in/lived in rough areas in st. louis and atlanta....I personally would choose another neighborhood to live in.

Well, yes I grew up in the Algiers area and the only reason why I would consider living in that area again is because it's home and I have family who still live in that area. Ghetto? I wouldn't go that far because I have seen so much worse.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

fist of all it doesnt matter if you have a BSN or an Assoc. degree (here in NOLA) They both make xactly the same and at certain hospitals the Charity grads are very saught after b/c of their hands on clinical experience. NOLA needs nurses and i would agree that the pay isnt the best and rent is expenive. I pay $550 for an efficency in Mid-City.

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Well, yes I grew up in the Algiers area and the only reason why I would consider living in that area again is because it's home and I have family who still live in that area. Ghetto? I wouldn't go that far because I have seen so much worse.

I didn't mean to insult by any means....just giving you a heads up if you have not been here recently. I've only been here for about a month, but from what people have told me this is new to Algiers....everything has gotten so expensive here that Algiers is one of the only somewhat reasonably priced areas to live...so alot of the ghetto element gravitated here...or so I'm told. I can tell you this...there is a heavy police presence around here and the other night when I was coming home the police had 5-6 guys laid on the ground in front of my apartment complex. If you feel comfortable here...great...I was just trying to give you a heads up...I'm not some scary suburbanite, I'm a big guy who grew up in the hood, just thought I'd let you know how I see it here now

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I didn't mean to insult by any means....just giving you a heads up if you have not been here recently. I've only been here for about a month, but from what people have told me this is new to Algiers....everything has gotten so expensive here that Algiers is one of the only somewhat reasonably priced areas to live...so alot of the ghetto element gravitated here...or so I'm told. I can tell you this...there is a heavy police presence around here and the other night when I was coming home the police had 5-6 guys laid on the ground in front of my apartment complex. If you feel comfortable here...great...I was just trying to give you a heads up...I'm not some scary suburbanite, I'm a big guy who grew up in the hood, just thought I'd let you know how I see it here now

Thanks for the heads up, the last time I was there was in November 2007 and things looked the same to me. And family tells me that its crazy expensive. I'm not offended its reality. Thanks again!!

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Hi,

How did that work out for you? Did you get to the main campus?

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Hey Ttanika,

Unfortunately, its been very hard to get a job anywhere, esp within the Ochsner system but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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Salaries for new grads aren't any higher than most hospitals in the South. The most you'll probably get is $24/hr base pay plus shift/weekend diffs. Cost of living DEFINITLEY trumps salary. My rent for a 2 bd apt. is $1000 and that's a BARGAIN here. Everything is so ridiculously expensive here. Sales tax is almost 10%. 30% of my check is eaten up by taxes and benefits. Can't wait to get out of N.O.:( I know I sound negative....just venting.

Hey

well, I graduated Vanderbilt's Program in Nashville, TN coming in May and if I work in their Nurse exterm/ Summer Residency Program, the ONLY way to get hired there or anywhere as a NEW RN here, and the pay is 12.00. give or take .50

Consider 26.00 to be extremely Lucrative.

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