Moving to SC-soon to be new grad and navy wife

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 5, 2017

Hello! I've been trying to find the right place to get some help regarding my RN career. I will be graduating this May 2017 with my ADN-RN degree and will take my licensure here in my current home state Ca. Me and my fiancee are planning for me to move to him in SC since he is stationed there for his Nuke school in the Navy. My problem is should I move there and experience a new environment or should I wait here and move with him when he gets deployed. He has 1.5 years from now until his deployment. I am also planning to work on BSN right away if possible. Also how is it like for new grads working in SC? I heard if you only stay there for a short period you will be pardoned to obtain proof of residency where you work. Thank you!

How are you handling a long distance relationship? You'll want to stay in your first job for at least a year, so if you stay in California, you'll want to stay at least a year. If you move now, you'll have time for a year of experience before he is deployed. Here's the other question: it is my understanding that deployment means he goes alone. Granted, it's been 30 years since I was a military wife and things may have changed. When is the wedding? There are benefits to being legally married when he is deployed. I don't know much of anything about S. C., but if you're willing to take the job you can get and work at it as long as you're there, you can learn a lot and look for your next job as an experienced nurse.

domo1091 · Apr 8, 2017

Hi Ruby Vee thanks for replying! We both understand the LDR and understand. With deployment, what I meant was wherever he is stationed I plan to go with him and stay there while he will be out in the ship. If I do want to move to SC we plan to get married on August but if I decide to stay we'll just hold back until he's done with Nuke school. I was hoping if being a military spouse can help me find a job there since I will have no experience yet.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 8, 2017

I don't know if being a military spouse will help you to find a job. I always found that it was an excellent "reason for leaving your last job." They cannot argue with "Relocated due to husband's transfer."

Semper_Gumby · Apr 20, 2017

I don't think being a military spouse will help or hurt you. When I moved to SC from another compact state, I had 30 days to change my license over, which included changing my residency over (driver's license, car tags, etc.). I think you can (maybe) get an SC license without being an SC resident but it won't be a compact license as far as I know. You'll want to look for new grad positions or positions that don't require experience in the area near where you would be living with him. I found my first nursing job in SC but am uncertain if the market for that is better or worse now. If you plan to get licensed in CA, why not think about applying in both places and see what shakes out? Is the CA job market for new grads still impossibly difficult?

OR-RN2011 · Apr 26, 2017

I know NC is experiencing a nursing shortage. I would guess SC is the same but I could be wrong.