need advice for possible relocation to princeton

lee1 · Feb 26, 2004

I am planning on relocating from Kentucky to Princeton, NJ and was wondering if anyone had any advice for possible job searches. Also, I will be a new grad nurse and am wondering if I should take the NCLEX in new jersey or transfer to new jersey with a KY license. any advice????

You may be in for culture shock and money shock. House cost are tremendous in this area. Princeton has a nice community hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is only 10 miles north in New Brunswick. Depending on which side of Princeton you live, Robert Wood Johnson at Hamilton is a nice Community hospital and Philadelphia is approx 30 miles south.

I am sure you can transfer your license, take it where it is easier for you but you can possibly check it out on the NJ Board of Nursing site or call them.

TraumaNurse · Feb 29, 2004

When my wife and I were relocating to NJ to be near her family, we looked at the Princeton area since that is where they live. We could not afford a small condo, let alone a house. It is VERY expensive, especially if you compare it to Kentucky! A small carpenter-special shack can run you $300,000 ++. We ended up moving to south Jersey just outside Philadelphia and couldn't be happier. There are a few good hospitals in the region, but the pay will not support the cost of living. If you are independently wealthy or your spouse makes great $$$ then it is a beautiful area to live. Good luck.

jaimealmostRN · Feb 29, 2004

My home town!!! Princeton is a beautiful place, with extremely high taxes! In the past few years traffic has also greatly increased. As another poster wrote, Robert Wood Hamilton and New Brunswick are about 30min away in oppisite directions (both nice, with good pay). The Medical Center at Princeton is a nice but very small hospital. I volunteered there in high school and found it to have a nice atmosphere, intelligent staff and a newly remodeled ED (no trauma/high acuity). Areas around Pton are slightly less expensive (taxes, homes) such as North Brunswick, Princeton Junction, West Windsor, East Windsor,Cranbury, some areas in Hamilton. I recomend finding a good realtor and spending a week in the Princeton/Central Jersey area to find a good neighborhood/town. The Nassau Inn is in the heart of Princeton and will give you great access to shopping,restaurants, and has a few relators within 5 min driving distance. The Inn can be a little expensive but has great tourist service and puts you smack in the middle of the Borough and Township of Pton (the 2 halves, both nice).

rnmaven · Mar 23, 2004

I am planning on relocating from Kentucky to Princeton, NJ and was wondering if anyone had any advice for possible job searches. Also, I will be a new grad nurse and am wondering if I should take the NCLEX in new jersey or transfer to new jersey with a KY license. any advice????

Good luck on your move: on the job search issue, look at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick first. It would provide you with an excellent University setting for your initial new graduate nurse training. The other community hospitals in the area are: RWJUH at Hamilton, Somerset Medical Center, St. Peter's Medical Center. From Princeton, you could also commute to the Philadelphia area. Or look at the hospitals in Trenton.

My first pick is still Robert Wood in New Brunswick because it's the main campus for the medical school, lots of learning and excellent nursing standards.

As far as a license goes........I don't know. I guess if you take the exam in Kentucky you could transfer the license......I think it's a few hundred dollars to do that kind of transfer but I believe all states recognize reciprocity now. You should check with the State Board of Nursing in Newark, NJ and ask them what would be required before you make your decision. If you're thinking of ever returning to KY, then I would take the exam in KY..........quite honestly, when you see the housing costs you might just stay there anyway!

Good luck!:)

luanne123 · Apr 22, 2004

Good luck with the move and welcome to NJ . There are quite a few hospitals in the Princeton and surrounding area. I work at the medical center of Princeton and my husband is on staff at two hospitals in the area. Private message me if you have any specific questions.

lee1 · Apr 26, 2004

Good luck on your move: on the job search issue, look at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick first. It would provide you with an excellent University setting for your initial new graduate nurse training. The other community hospitals in the area are: RWJUH at Hamilton, Somerset Medical Center, St. Peter's Medical Center. From Princeton, you could also commute to the Philadelphia area. Or look at the hospitals in Trenton.
My first pick is still Robert Wood in New Brunswick because it's the main campus for the medical school, lots of learning and excellent nursing standards.
As far as a license goes........I don't know. I guess if you take the exam in Kentucky you could transfer the license......I think it's a few hundred dollars to do that kind of transfer but I believe all states recognize reciprocity now. You should check with the State Board of Nursing in Newark, NJ and ask them what would be required before you make your decision. If you're thinking of ever returning to KY, then I would take the exam in KY..........quite honestly, when you see the housing costs you might just stay there anyway!
Good luck!:)

RWJ in New Brunswick does NOT have any job openings right now UNLESS you want to do some areas of pediatrics and oncology. They are overstaffed right now in some areas and some changes may be coming soon that will "right size" them.