Moving to MI: Best place to work (Lansing, Kalamazoo, or Grand Rapids?)

[1981alaska]

Hi everyone!

I've lurked on this website for years and am coming out of the woodwork because I'm driving myself crazy and need your advice!

My husband is seriously being considered for a job in Michigan (we live out of state). The job's location would potentially allow me to work in either Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, or Lansing and where I end up working would determine where we purchase a house. By the time we would move, I will have one year of experience on a med-surg floor and be halfway through a BSN program. My future goals are to specialize in critical care and potentially get a masters degree. From my reading, it appears that Spectrum in Grand Rapids, Bronson in Kalamazoo, and Sparrow in Lansing have good reviews. Given my background and future goals, do one of these cities stand out as a city I should focus my efforts (best city for nursing job opportunities and advancement, education opportunities, hospital with happiest employees, etc.)?

Thanks in advance for your help! Any information will help relieve my immense anxiety over a potential move :)

[Truckee]

My 2 cents.

I have worked in Grand Rapids for most of my career. 20 years as a paramedic (minus 6 years in Nevada) and 12 years as an RN.

Grand Rapids.

I have worked for Spectrum. It is a fairly large hospital system with many excellent specialties. Heart, stroke, cancer, and peds. They are the level 1 trauma center and are fairly good at it. They are close to starting their transplant services. All in all Spectrum is a good hospital system... but in my opinion a little too bureaucratic. They are run like a big hospital; not enough consideration for the regular employee's.

I have worked for MetroHealth for 2 years as a charge nurse in the ED. A level 3 trauma hospital that has the beginnings of some good programs. Hearts are handled really well, strokes are getting better. Don't see many peds (very few). It is a very nice hospital to work at and mostly nice to work for. Great employees, good leadership, does not pay as good at the other hospitals in the city. I would not mind going back to work there if I were independently wealthy.

I have not worked for St. Mary's but have many close friends that do. Level 2 trauma center. Don't see many peds. Have some very good programs; heart, stroke, cancer. They also have close association with the rehab hospital in town. Very good hospital.

I don't know much about the Lansing hospitals, I hear a lot of good things. Same goes for the hospitals in K-zoo.

As far as I know you could have a very good career at any of the big hospitals in the area. You might enjoy some of the smaller hospitals too. For sure critical care is different at the smaller facilities but almost all of the hospitals are associated with a bigger hospital system. So what you might lack in acuity you would not lose on resources or opportunities for education.

Good luck, if you have any specific questions let me know, I will stop back here once in a while.

Greg

[1981alaska]

Thanks for your thorough reply, Greg! Sorry for my late response... I wrongly expected allnurses to send an e-mail if anyone replied, so I didn't bother to log in to check responses.

We made a whirlwind trip to Michigan this weekend and determined that we would settle in Kalamazoo if my husband accepts the job and I would therefore focus my job search at the jobs in and around Kalamazoo (Looks like Bronson is the main contender?). It's good to know that there are so many hospitals around western Michigan if I ever need/want to travel the extra distance! Thanks for all your information; I have heard very good things about Spectrum.

I have a hard time gauging the job market in the continental U.S... Given your experience at Spectrum, are nurses with at least one-year med/surg experience having difficulty getting jobs in the acute care setting at good hospitals in Michigan (are hospitals demanding more experience?), or is it only new grads that are having difficult getting that first job?

[DalekRN]

I work at spectrum. I had no trouble as a new grad getting right on the unit I wanted. Others do struggle but if you have experience you will do fine. Borgess is in Kzoo too. Bronson is a good place to work, I hear, all the local hospitals send their NICU babies there.