Moving to Lansing area in a few months...

tripp3horn · Dec 29, 2008

I am a student so I can't say too much about the job itself, but as a Michigander I can say that Lansing is a nice area. It's a major college town (MSU), very pretty in the summer time, nice shopping. Stay away from Flint, which is where I live, as it has a lot of crime and unemployment. Once I finish nursing school I hope to move to Oakland Co. (Detroit metro area) which is nice also. Lots of hospitals and opportunity in that area as well. Ann Arbor is very cool, another college town with U of M. Grand Rapids is nice too, but I believe there are not as many jobs available there. I would come check it out before hand, to see how you like it. The people here are very down to earth and genuine. Good luck with your decision, we'd be happy to have you!

nursing123098 · Dec 30, 2008

Hi, everyone!!
I am currently in NY and am a new RN (with about 3 months of experience on a VERY busy floor).
Earlier this year, I was offered a position at Sparrow. I am wondering if any of you can give me guidance since I am coming from such a far distance. I am considering the position seriously, but wonder if there are any other great places to work???
I am currently on a medical/oncology/hematology floor and have 6-7 patients along with a tech to help. I feel like I am doing well with it and definitely would like to stick with this patient population.
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!

REPLY:

What do you mean by "are any other great places to work" - how do you define "great"?

For me a GREAT place to work is the people and the mission focus of the hospital.

For others it is the cutting edge medical techniques.

For others it is the benefit package.

For others it is the salary.

For others it is the locations.

etc, etc.

Since you said you are moving to Lansing in a few months it sounds like you have accepted the job.

What attracted you to the job posting for you to apply in the first place?

What do you like about the job?

Use the "Ben Franklin" close when making a decision if you choose to use human decision making tools by making a list of PROS and CONS for the decision and list EVERYTHING no matter how small or large in your opinion on one side or the other and then evaluate your decision.

Did you apply anywhere else?

Were you offered a job anywhere else?

What are you seeking on a short-term and a long-term basis?

What does Sparrow offer in both those areas that appealed to you?

What is the growth potential?

Will it provide you with experience in the field you wish to pursue?

Are you going for a BSN or a MSN?

Will Sparrow support that continuing ed?

These are hard decisions and you need to make them thoughtfully and deliberately and responsibly.

As you said that is a long way to uproot your life to move to Michigan if you are not certain this is the right choice.

Congratulations on passing the NCLEX and becoming a new RN!!!!!!! :yeah:

Have a great life! :wink2:

fortheloveofnursing · Jan 1, 2009

Thanks so much for responding!

I have not yet accepted a position.

I am sending out resumes and Sparrow was the first to call and have me come for an interview.

We aren't moving for my nursing career, we are moving to the area because our children are INCREDIBLY active with horses and now other animals have entered the picture. We have vacationed in Michigan several times a year for several years and just love it there. We have met alot of really nice people and made some new friends.

Horse property is just not as affordable here as it is there. The taxes along with the price of a house with land and barn would kill us here. MI is very similar to NY as far as weather goes and it seems that the areas we have visited are full of activities for families.

As far as what I think a great place is - teamwork, ethics, pride, patient care (the list goes on).

I love what I do now - I am crazy busy for 12 hours (sometimes longer) for 3 days a week and I can't imagine my life any less insane. The days go by quickly and I am learning something new all of the time. The doctors are, as a rule, very willing to answer questions and work with the nurses. I feel that everyone who works on our floor respects each other and I have never been afraid to ask for help because folks are always there with a hand.

Even our nurse manager works as a floor nurse once in a while. We do special things for patients to celebrate holidays and special occasions.

I guess the best way to sum it up is that my floor has a family feel.

I am hoping to find something like this again.

I definitely have a strong interest in Women's Health/Oncology.

I am going to go for my BSN first, then the MSN.

It is my hope that my next job is my 'home' and that I will retire from that job in 20 or so years.

Sparrow had a position open in their women's pavilion that sounded really nice, but I want to do some shadowing first before I do anything else. They offered me a package much better than the one I currently have here in NY. But all the money in the world isn't going to attract me to a job I am not comfortable with taking.

So, I am looking at Sparrow, Ingham, and a few others. It doesn't have to be Lansing. Within an hour drive is acceptable.

I am definitely open for suggestions & I truly appreciate your help!!

jenhen82 · Jan 7, 2009

Have you already accepted the position? I found this post in a search for "jobs in Lansing," as I, too, moved here from out of state. Jobs here are scarce unless you enjoy home health or traveling outside of Michigan. I know that I will receive numerous messages from Michigan lovers for this message, but I DO NOT RECOMMEND TAKING ANY JOB IN LANSING. Jobs are plentiful outside Lansing, however. Well, maybe I should rephrase, jobs are plentiful here, but they are tied up in union bids. The local hospitals post jobs even if the positions are tied up in bids amongst union workers. Union workers can go back and forth over keeping a current position or taking another within the same hospital for long periods of time while "outsiders" interview for the same positions. You may even be offered a position only to receive later information that a union worker has decided to take the exact position that you were already offered (and maybe counted on). Cost of living is insane if you don't want to live near gunfire and/or drug dealings. A safe 1 or 2 bedroom runs 850 on up/mo. Also, utilities are particularly more expensive than other geographic areas. I have lived in 4 other states, and this has been, by far, the most expensive, most discouraging, and financially unbalanced (I won't get on my political/financial soapbox as it would take too long). I hold two jobs right now, one fulltime and another perdiem, and I am only able to average 30/hours of work per week between both of them. I am using savings to pay bills. I'm dying to get out, but my husband is in law school. He does not work, so I carry the burden. I have always heard that nurses are needed everywhere...but not here! Local community college graduates from the most recent RN program had little success gaining employment.

Even though you have been offered a position, be sure this is where you really want to be before accepting. Also, be sure you ask for moving costs and/or some sort of sign on bonus in addition to a guarantee that the job will not be taken back last minute!

NursKris82 · Jan 11, 2009

Sparrows a good hospital. Believe me, if you want it- take it! I just graduated at the top of my class with experience as an LPN from LCC, which has a very high regarded nursing program, and I can't find a job in Lansing. Some of my pupils did, but they applied early and only a few of them. I am waiting to hear back from Allegiance in Jackson, abouy 45 mins away, and it seems like a really nice hospital. God bless on any decision you make. Don't get me wrong- I love Lansing, it's a great place to live, but RN jobs are scarce right now.

BrayaRN · Jan 11, 2009

I moved from the Lansing area about a year ago. I worked at Ingham as a nurse extern until I graduated and moved to the Upper Peninsula. For many months I worked as a nurse aid float, so I had the opportunity to see many of the floors. It is definitely the older of the two hospitals. There is no tube system and not much was computerized what I left. It is a major heart center with a new, beautiful heart building, however, I know that is not your specialty. The women and children's building is fairly new as well. The second floor of that building in the oncology floor which is very new and nice. I believe all of the rooms are private as well. Everybody I know that worked there was pretty well satisfied with their job. They are a unionized hospital. It is smaller than Sparrow with less specialties.

As for the Lansing area, I liked it for the most part. The western side of town, Delta Twp, is fairly nice. East Lansing is where MSU is located and it is certainly a college town. There are a lot of nice suburbs. I would stay away from South Lansing, however.

The economy in Michigan was already slumping before the nation took a turn for the worst. I would assume you could probably get a great deal on a home in the area. The home we purchased in the Upper Peninsula was not much cheaper than what we could have gotten down in Lansing. However, renting a nice, luxury apartment 2 bedroom will run around $1000/month.

Of course U of M is about an hour away. My cousin works there and loves it. Foote Hospital in Jackson is about 45 minutes away, however, the pay is less, and they are non-unionized. My clinicals were there and most nurses were not very satisfied by the jobs.

Hope this helps.

fortheloveofnursing · Jan 13, 2009

Good Morning, All!!

I am SO appreciating all of your help!

We are currently looking at a home in Dewitt but haven't set our hearts on it.

I have another interview next week at Sparrow - the person I originally interviewed with is no longer there and I am going in to meet with the new recruiter. My understanding is that things (employment-wise) have really changed since my first interview!!

Since my move will not be happening until at least May, my hope is to have a position lined up beforehand.

I am also looking at Ingham. I have heard good things from a couple of people who work there.

Seems like as much as there is a nursing shortage - it's difficult to get a job anywhere. Our floor has lost a couple of nurses recently, but is not looking to replace them. I was the last RN to be hired on the floor since July. It is tough out there, but it will get better - we all just have to hang in there!