New Grad Jobs in Mountain Towns...Unrealistic?

elkpark · Feb 3, 2015

Shortly after I graduated from school I got a job (my second job, not my first) in a rural mountain area in NC that was ~3 hrs from the city in which I went to school. It can be done. Probably depends on how flexible you are about relocating. Are you willing to go anywhere to get a job in a mountain area?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

Are you willing to go anywhere to get a job in a mountain area?

This is the important question.

There are mountainous towns in the Intermountain West (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico), the South (eastern Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, northern Georgia) and the Northeast (upstate NY, NW PA, Vermont) where nursing jobs can be found, but you'd need to be flexible and have a willingness to relocate.

There are other states with mountainous places (e.g. California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state, Utah, Colorado, northern Arizona, etc) but new grad nursing jobs are generally harder to find in these areas. Good luck!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

I feel like it's pretty easy to find jobs in mountain towns. Most new grads, IMO, prefer to be nearer major urban centers. Mountain towns, at least on the east coast, aren't generally major urban centers. I feel like they are generally regarded as less desirable places to live by most people because of the lack of amenities, not to mention the problems getting around in the wintertime. Driving on an ice-covered mountain highway with a 100 foot cliff drop on the side to get to work in January isn't most people's idea of a good time. Maybe mountain towns would be desirable if we didn't have to go to work no matter what. Hospitals don't close for snow and ice.

I know everyone in my graduating class that applied for a job in Asheville, NC got a job there immediately out of school, as an example.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

What's your definition of mountains, and what's your definitions of towns? Are you looking for a more wintry climate? Do you prefer urban or rural settings? There are a lot of mountain regions in this country, so think about where your dream job would be and go from there. Maybe you'll get lucky and find out the job market in your dream area is wide open!

RunBabyRN · Feb 4, 2015

Agreed- you need to be very flexible. I applied to position in the Tahoe basin, for example (I used to live in Tahoe), and they just don't hire new grads.

cwest2, BSN · Nov 3, 2015

That's what I kind of figured. I would love to just automatically move to a big beautiful ski town, but I know that's probably not very realistic as a new grad. Thank you for your help!

cwest2, BSN · Nov 3, 2015

I'm not a big fan of the east coast and would rather not go that direction, but other than that, I'm totally fine with going anywhere west. A rural area would be okay with me, as long as it isn't too far from a city. I'm mainly looking into CO because my entire family is out there and I'm more familiar with the state. Wyoming might be something I should look into more as well. Thanks for the help!

Nienna Celebrindal · Nov 7, 2015

I would advise getting a year of great experience at a bigger hospital first. I wouldn't have said this before I did worked at one. I work in a level 1 trauma center in socal near Big Bear. We get patients from the mountains all the time. And not just the ones an hour from us. But also the Mt. Whitney area and Mammoth. Personally I am really grateful to have gained experience in how to care for these patients. The experience is invaluable. Those hospitals have to a) know how to care for these people prior to transfer and b) know when to transfer. Yes you have other nurses and Doctors make the call but you need to know also. Does that make sense? Just my two cents. Maybe find a hospital like mine with easy access to the mountains and get some really great experience before you move to a smaller hospital?

alexklipfel · Nov 19, 2015

If you are looking to move to Colorado, I would suggest looking at St. Anthony Hospital. It is about an hour away (on a good day) from Winter Park and Copper. Its a Level 1 trauma plus they have a very close relationship with St. Anthony Summit Medical Center that is in Frisco (right outside of Copper and Breckenridge) Hardest part of living up there is actually finding a place to rent.

Julesmama28 · Nov 19, 2015

Grand Junction Colorado is a beautiful mountain town and there are two hospitals there. I know they hire new grads! Good luck in your endeavors!

RN BSN

cwest2, BSN · Mar 6, 2016

Thank you everyone for your help!! I am graduating in May, and while I have heard horror stories about getting a job in the Denver area, I have also heard not to sweat it. Do any of you have any knowledge about the job market for new grads in Denver? I am VERY anxious, very ready, and excited to leave Nebraska.