Moving to another state

[christiinaa]

Thinking of moving out of my state later this year. I'm just tired of the weather/politics, in need of an adventure and change. Some questions:

How should I do the job hunting? I need to endorse my license which I can do before moving out there. I doubt I can land a job before moving...? Can I lease an apartment without a job? I should be able to have an emergency fund to last me 6 months.... is that adequate?

A little bit about me: I have been a nurse for 4 years with experience in med/surg, acute rehab, and psych. No certifications (what should I get? I'm thinking of trying to land a tele job). Also have my BSN.

Anyone personal anecdotes/ideas welcome.

Thanks in advance!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I'd advise you against any sort of impulsive actions. Take the time to carefully investigate the employment & living situation in a new area. If you're in a compact state, the process is much simpler because you can actually work for a month on your current license while your license for the new state is in process. If not a compact state, it can be much more lengthy - get that info from the BONs you're interested in.

Go ahead and reach out to some employers in the areas that interest you. If you have specialty skills or unique qualifications, they may really roll out the red carpet for you! A specialty certification also adds value to your resume. Recruiters in my area are starting to open up their pocketbooks for AORN, CCRN, CNRN, etc... paying sign-on bonuses, picking up travel expenses & providing temporary housing for hard-to-fill positions.

I would strongly advise you NOT to move until you have a job lined up. Too many things can go wrong & leave you high and dry. It's just too risky. You also want to make sure that you're going to be content with your new surroundings, especially if you're leaving your social support system behind.

Best of luck on your new job adventure!

[aktucker]

Central Texas is a great place to be if you're looking to get out of the rat-race. Certifications are great but NOT required. Our facility has assistance with those. Contact me if your interested.