Moving from Florida to Washington

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

So there is a good chance that my parents are going to be moving from Florida to Canada (Vancouver to be exact). I know that RN jobs in Canada are super hard to come by so I am thinking about moving to Washington and living as close to Canada as I can possibly get in the meantime. My thinking is that getting a job in the States will be a little better than in Canada.

So any info on Bellingham and the surrounding areas would be great.

I also noticed that Blaine is super close to the border as well but I don't see any information on hospitals. Where is the closest hospital? I would prefer to work at a hospital but I am well aware that I may have to look at nursing homes, hospice and home health. I am also aware that for a little while I may have to work in a non-nurse capacity. -__-

I've been checking housing prices and such but would like to know which areas I should focus on.

Thanks!

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

I think your best bet would be in Bellingham. Blaine is pretty small - just a couple thousand people. Bellingham is beautiful though - I used to visit friends that attended WWU. There is a hospital there - St. Joe's. Looks like they have a few nursing openings.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I think your best bet would be in Bellingham. Blaine is pretty small - just a couple thousand people. Bellingham is beautiful though - I used to visit friends that attended WWU. There is a hospital there - St. Joe's. Looks like they have a few nursing openings.

:) Thank you! Do you know if there is an area I should avoid? It seems like all areas are good areas. I don't see much in the way of violent areas or anything like that.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Bellingham is the only large city that close to the border. Lynden is a very nice town and only a few miles from Bellingham.

Bellingham in general is a pretty safe town. There is a large university there that is known for being crunchy. (I can safely say this as my daughter attends WWU and is a crunchy as they come), so it has a college town atmosphere.

I have many relatives and friends in that area who love it up there. I spent many childhoods running around Bellingham and the surrounding areas. Its beautiful on the San Juans. I envy your move.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

Bellingham is the only large city that close to the border. Lynden is a very nice town and only a few miles from Bellingham.

Bellingham in general is a pretty safe town. There is a large university there that is known for being crunchy. (I can safely say this as my daughter attends WWU and is a crunchy as they come), so it has a college town atmosphere.

I have many relatives and friends in that area who love it up there. I spent many childhoods running around Bellingham and the surrounding areas. Its beautiful on the San Juans. I envy your move.

Thanks for your response. I was starting to get a little worried because everyone that I talk to says what a great area it is and that seems so hard to believe. Even though the circumstances surrounding the move aren't great, I'm starting to get excited. :)