need advice/opinions on where to relocate!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all =)

I think the last time I posted anything on allnurses, I was still applying to nursing school. Now I am proud to say that I am more than 1/2 way through my program (and cannot WAIT to be finally working). I graduate in August and will hopefully take and pass the NCLEX in the fall.

I have known for a while that I want to relocate to somewhere new when I graduate. I have lived in MA for my entire life and I am so anxious to travel. I'm hoping to work for a year or two in another state and gain some experience so that I can become a travel nurse. I have nothing holding me back, no boyfriend, family is healthy, etc. so distance is not an issue.

Does anyone have any thoughts on an exciting place to live/work for a new nurse?? Right now my only plan is to apply anywhere and see where I end up...

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Look at the compact states: one license good in several states. I am in NC and I can work in many:

List of Nurse License Compact States - NurseTogether

People often misunderstand the ways in which compact nursing licensure works.

For instance, I am currently licensed in Texas, which is part of the Nursing Licensure Compact. If I were to relocate to Virginia (another compact state), I would still need to obtain a Virginia nursing license. This is because I can work in Virginia using my Texas license for a grand total of 30 days. Once the 30 days elapses, I will need a Virginia license to continue practicing nursing in Virginia.

The Nursing Licensure Compact is beneficial to travel nurses and people who live near state lines.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
People often misunderstand the ways in which compact nursing licensure works.

For instance, I am currently licensed in Texas, which is part of the Nursing Licensure Compact. If I were to relocate to Virginia (another compact state), I would still need to obtain a Virginia nursing license. This is because I can work in Virginia using my Texas license for a grand total of 30 days. Once the 30 days elapses, I will need a Virginia license to continue practicing nursing in Virginia.

The Nursing Licensure Compact is beneficial to travel nurses and people who live near state lines.

Exactly. For someone who lives in Maryland they can work in DE or VA without changing their permanent residence or getting another license. Someone who lives in southern VA can cross the boarder in NC to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
North Carolina has plenty of new grad positions open, Atlanta, Florida-Miami, Texas-Dallas, Washington-Seattle, Colorado-Denver, Missouri,

Kidding right? I don't there anymore but the market for new grads was totally saturated....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why not go for the gold? I had a travel assignment in Hawaii, only 3 years ago... at that time they were hiring new grads.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here is the thing with relocating that lots of people do not tell you....some towns,esp rural towns,are not that welcoming to strangers.

Also,really,seriously do research. Texas near the border is always looking for nurses to work there.

The reason? Texas has the highest malpractice rates of any state in the country.

You see where i am going with this?

Florida pay rates for nurses stinks badly.I knew some lpn's making $14/hr.

You also never mentioned if you have a Bsn.

If you do not,i would say do not move until you obtain it.

Some places you will not be able to find a jod AT ALL without it.

Be flexible. You might not be able to work in a hospital upon relocating but there are other areas of nursing like ltc,prisons,home health,etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Honestly? You would serve yourself better to work for a couple of years where you live and then travel. I know that is not what you want to hear but you should consider remaining open to that possibility. It is difficult to find a job as a new grad. It has been estimated as much as 48% of the new grad population is still unemployed one year later. Add to that having no connections and trying to find a job in a new market and you slash your odds even further.

I would suggest you apply out of state wherever you like, but also apply like mad where you live, with the mental preparation to accept a job, if you are fortunate enough to get an offer, wherever it may be. The longer you go without a job, the older your education becomes and the more you are in danger of becoming an "old" new grad, which means most employers see your skills as too rusty. You will have a far better chance of traveling if you are employed. ;)

I live in the DFW area. Texas is completely saturated with new grads in all the major cities, with Austin being the tightest market. Look here only if you don't mind a very rural lifestyle.

Best of luck. This is an exciting time for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Apply everywhere that sounds interesting, but VISIT THE PLACES YOU APPLY. I cannot stress this enough. Don't just come to your potential new city for the interview - come down a couple of days beforehand to get a real feel for the culture of the city. Hotels are expensive, but stay at least three days. Especially since you are single and mobile (read: totally alone in the world in a brand new place), you really need to get whether the place is going to be a good fit for you BEFORE you interview. Go out to bars, go find a local band playing, and talk to people who live there and ask them what they like/dislike about the city. Join meetup.com before your interview and see if you can find a meetup in your potential new city while you are in town for the interview. When you get that elusive interview, and the hiring managers are excited about you, it's easy to get swept up in that wave of emotion and be excited about the place that just offered you a job. It's easy to find good things about an area when you are excited about getting hired. You will be more realistic about whether the location is one you can tolerate if you explore the town with an open mind before you are interviewed/hired. Just remember - you're only working 36-40 hours per week. There are 168 hours in a week. The vast majority of your time will be spent outside of work.

I feel like people downplay the psychological effects of just picking up and moving as a new grad. Being a brand new nurse is an intense amount of stress. Moving to an environment that is brand new and where you know no one is an intense amount of stress. Finding out AFTER you move there that you hate your new town with a burning passion, on top of the two previous stressors, can break you. Just think about the studies done on people in solitary confinement, how it doesn't take long to break someone who's totally alone... granted, in your new town you are not going to be locked in a box, but if you are very different from the general population where you move and you are unable to assimilate, you might as well be locked in that cell in a prison. Take it from someone who figured this out the hard way - there are worse things in the world than being unemployed a little longer so that you make sure you find a job that's a good fit for you in a place you can see yourself living. You HAVE to be able to enjoy where you live if you are moving alone. You literally don't have anything else in the world but you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment