To move or not to move?

Hi, I have always thought that taking atravel assignment would be a good way to check out a new area.

Personally if it were me, if I was offered the job in Boston I would take it. I think you would be in a better position to relocate after you have a year or two under your belt. Of course if you are not offered the job there this is all irrelevant.

Also things to consider is what support system do you have in Boston as far as family, ect. Can you get by without them in the south until you get on your feet?

Good Luck!

Hi, I have always thought that taking atravel assignment would be a good way to check out a new area.

Isn't it hard to get a traveling nursing job as a new grad?

yeah, most require a year experience.

Hi, I am trying to figure allnurses.com out, I am new at this obviously! I am not sure if you got my 1st response so......I have always liked the idea of travel nurse assignments to go somewhere for 12 wks, 16 wks, etc and get a real feel for where you think you might want to live. I personally have not done it, but maybe that would be an option for you to consider, if you haven't already. I even know people that have done that in the same city they live in! Good luck!

Personally if it were me, if I was offered the job in Boston I would take it. I think you would be in a better position to relocate after you have a year or two under your belt. Of course if you are not offered the job there this is all irrelevant.

Also things to consider is what support system do you have in Boston as far as family, ect. Can you get by without them in the south until you get on your feet?

Good Luck!

I actually have a twin in SC a brother in Boston and friends all spread out in the south so I am not worried so much about getting on my feet. I am just worried about getting a job. ( O yea, and passing my boards in a month.)

Well I'm in the same boat. I'm graduating in May and taking the boards in June. I'm thinking about relocating out of state also. So this is my input: I wouldn't move until you get a job, unless you already have enough money saved up to support yourself for a good 4-6 months. With what I have been reading on this site everyone is having a hard time finding jobs, especially new grads. So my plan is to apply everywhere. If you get a job offer in Boston I would take it. Stay there a year, get experience and good references. Then I think moving out of state would be easier. Sounds like every hospital only wants to hire people with experience. But if you get an offer somewhere else then pick which one you want.

I'm not moving unless I can get a job set up first. So if this means I have to wait and stay home another year then that is what I'm going to do. Plus I'm thinking it would be easier to get a job near home being a new grad because the nurses that come from your school already have a reputation in the area. Plus you may be able to pull some strings at hospitals you did your clinical rotations at, or the very least a preceptor ****.

Also I'm pretty sure that you may need experience to be a travel nurse. You might want to check out the VA hospitals. They accept licenses from any state. http://www.vacareers.va.gov/vacareers_Occupations_Travel_Nurse.cfm

Good luck with the job hunt!

If I get the job in Boston should I stay here?

In this job market, the proverbial bird in the hand is worth its weight in gold. I wouldn't turn down a certain job offer for the mere hope of an opportunity elsewhere. As far as travel assignments, they would not be open to you as a new graduate.

I'm in the same boat. If you have a definate interview and get offered a job, take it. The south will always be there. Get you're expirience in familiar surroundings then move on when you're ready. If it's meant to be, then somthing will open up for you down here when the time is right.

re: travel assignments...that is correct. Any agency you check with will ask you first if you have at least 1 year acute care experience in the past 2 years.

The past 2 years part may be variable from agency to agency, however the 1 year acute care experience is standard. As far as researching new grad opportunities, try shopping the large corporation's websites like Tenet, HCA and Kaiser Permanente. For instance, I know some of Tenet's postings say they will consider new grads, and they have a posting for new grad internship coordinator-so they must have internships. All of those corporations have multiple locations in different parts of the country. Good luck! Re: getting a job someplace warm-it depends on your funds. If you have enough funds to support yourself while you look for a while, you can be choosy. If you are offered a job where you really don't want to be, and want to start "clocking" the 1 year's experience that you will need to move elsewhere, then go for it. Ditto, if you do not have the luxury of having funds while you look.

I would move in a heartbeat...I'm actually moving to another state for a job (but still in the midwest). I actually received an job offer from South but I declined and decided I like four seasons:)))

If you can get a job in your current city (Boston?) I think that's better. New grad transition is tough enough without adding any other stresses. It makes me sad to see new grads who decide (like so so many) that that first year is the time to get married or have a 1st baby. I'm not passing judgment, it would just have been too much for me.

But if you can't get a job, the South is a great place to go. You mentioned SC. I did a brief assignment in NC and it was gorgeous, the weather was pretty mild, but we did have snow. I wasn't there for the Summer, but humidity didn't scare a girl from Florida.

I frequently encourage people to move to other areas for new grad jobs. Moving and having a job is 10X better for your practice and future job prospects than waiting to start your new profession. Particularly with nursing, where your nursing education is really only started when you graduate from nursing school.