Moving to Helena

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Hi all,

I am moving to Helena in a week and am very excited about it. I have never been to Montana but hope it will be a good experience.. Does anyone live there or have any information on living there? I have applied to 2 hospitals in the city and will interview as soon as I can..

I am currently waiting to take the NCLEX but am in another state- I would like to take it here but there are no dates available to take it before my lease here is up so I may have to take the NCLEX in MT.. I do not have an address in Montana so applied for licensure in NC since that is where I am currently residing. Has anyone transferred there license to MT and if so, how long does it take to do so? (the woman at the BON told me it can be lengthy)..

Any info on Montana and the nursing situation there would be extremly helpful..

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I'm in Missoula but wanted to wish you luck! :)

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Hi Rohan

Thanks for responding! I was considering Missoula for a while and still might move there if the situation is better-but from this far I have chosen Helena because of their cheaper house prices.. (renting). What is the nursing situation like over in montana, I see that the pay isn't good overall-but is the cost of living reduced so that you can make it?

What do you do for fun there? My fiancee is looking forward to hunting, fishing, etc. and any advice would be appreciated-don't know too many MT natives!

Thanks in advance..

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I'm a single mom so I'm not sure I know what fun is anymore! Plus I'm getting old lol. There's always the camping, hunting, fishing stuff. I like to go out to the comedy shows, go dancing, pool, bowling..the finer things in life. ;)

Nursing seems about the same here as anywhere in Montana. We have 2 hospitals here. http://www.communitymed.org/ and http://www.saintpatrick.org/ I currently work at http://www.westernmontanaclinic.com/ I know we usually have a nurse opening or two.

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As for cost of living...I'm a medical transcriptionist currently and don't make squat. I have to work about 60 hours a week to break even. I'm still toying with the idea of going to school in Bozeman versus Missoula.

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Thank you Rohan for replying, it helps to know that someone else is there from this forum.. =)

Making arrangements now and will be leaving in a couple of days!

When does it start getting colder, as in below 60 in the daytime-will we have a few weeks of warmth left in September?

What are the reputations of the schools in Bozeman and Missoula? I'd like to continue to get my BSN somewhere there if possible-worst case I'll go online...

Thanks again for your response..

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I believe Bozeman has the bigger BSN program. I'm going to LPN school in the spring but want to do the BSN as well.

As for weather, you never know lol. We're having the lovely fire season around here at the moment. The air is full of the lovely smell of forest fires.

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Hello!

So did you ever find your way to montana? I am considering moving to Bozeman in the spring and figured I would check in with you to see how you like it out there. Im from Boston so it would be a huge move for me. Let me know how you like it!

Thanks!

Hi all,

I am moving to Helena in a week and am very excited about it. I have never been to Montana but hope it will be a good experience.. Does anyone live there or have any information on living there? I have applied to 2 hospitals in the city and will interview as soon as I can..

I am currently waiting to take the NCLEX but am in another state- I would like to take it here but there are no dates available to take it before my lease here is up so I may have to take the NCLEX in MT.. I do not have an address in Montana so applied for licensure in NC since that is where I am currently residing. Has anyone transferred there license to MT and if so, how long does it take to do so? (the woman at the BON told me it can be lengthy)..

Any info on Montana and the nursing situation there would be extremly helpful..

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Hey all! I did make it as you have probably seen in my last post.. I have been back in forth in Helena and Bozeman and it has been amazing.. Can't beat the scenery at all-I've been camping for the last 3 days and had deer standing right next to my tent in the middle of the night! =) It is what I expected in some ways although you have to see it in person- but never expected such kindness from the people, I am amazed.. Everyone has been nothing but kind my whole time here so far which makes the move so much easier..

Can't tell you too much about the nursing situation here yet, as I haven't started but have an offer in the works.. I have heard that they need/don't need nurses equally as much, but do know the pay is lower than most which I'm going to have to offset somehow..I"ve heard Bozeman has a good hospital and is larger than other cities for sure, it is your typical college town to me, a variety of people there which would be good.... Billings may be the largest but has an interesting repuation it seems around here to Montanians..

Good luck with your decison making!

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I'm glad to see you made it! I have deer in my yard all the time and they are cute faaaaaaaaaaaar away but NOT up close. They've almost run me over several times lol. I refuse to go out in the back if it's dark these day.

Let us know how your job situation works out. Good luck!

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