New grad moving to Spokane looking for guidance

RNmeee · May 23, 2011

Welcome to Washington! Do not know much specifics about spokane area, but for WA in general, jobs for new-grads are very sporifice. Like in Omaha, there are too many new grads looking for jobs in hospital.

However, hospitals are accepting new grads for residency for July/August/September session. Its about time to apply for them. You should plan on taking NClex soon to qualify for those positions.

If you are interested in Private Duty Nursing, I know an agency that takes new grads. Let me know and I can pm you. But basically, you have to have your license before all that.

All the best.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · May 23, 2011

Spokane is an especially rough market. I would post in the washington region area. good luck!

lindarn · May 23, 2011

Hello! I just graduated with my BSN last week and am looking for jobs in Spokane where I will be moving to from Omaha with my fiance who is starting law school at Gonzaga in the fall. I am just wondering what job outlook is like in Spokane, especially as a new grad. Here in Omaha there are 6 schools of nursing and no one wants to hire new grads...I can't even get an interview where I currently work as a CNA! I'm hoping and praying things are better out there.
FYI...I work at a Children's Home Healthcare/Respite Center and did my preceptorship on a mother/baby unit so I would love to be in any related area (but also know beggers can't be choosers :) )
I would also appreciate any information about places to live, perferably close to campus that is safe and affordable.
Any information, guidance, advice, etc is greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much!

Stay away from Spokane. We also have three schools of nursing in our small community, one right over the border in Idaho, several scattered all over the state. You might try Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d' Alene. It is only 35 miles from the Washington-Idaho state border.

Nursing is awful in Spokane. With so many schools of nursing, there has never been a nursing shortage. They treat nurses like crap, the union. WSNA is worthless, to say the least. Sacred Heart opened a new childrens hospital a few years ago, but I have not seen any hospital ads in ages. PM me when you get here, and I will show you around.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

ajb96278 · May 23, 2011

Welcome to Washington! Do not know much specifics about spokane area, but for WA in general, jobs for new-grads are very sporifice. Like in Omaha, there are too many new grads looking for jobs in hospital.
However, hospitals are accepting new grads for residency for July/August/September session. Its about time to apply for them. You should plan on taking NClex soon to qualify for those positions.
If you are interested in Private Duty Nursing, I know an agency that takes new grads. Let me know and I can pm you. But basically, you have to have your license before all that.
All the best.

Thank you!

Do you know which hospitals are offering residency programs and if they are close to Spokane?

ajb96278 · May 23, 2011

Stay away from Spokane. We also have three schools of nursing in our small community, one right over the border in Idaho, several scattered all over the state. You might try Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d' Alene. It is only 35 miles from the Washington-Idaho state border.
Nursing is awful in Spokane. With so many schools of nursing, there has never been a nursing shortage. They treat nurses like crap, the union. WSNA is worthless, to say the least. Sacred Heart opened a new childrens hospital a few years ago, but I have not seen any hospital ads in ages. PM me when you get here, and I will show you around.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Somewhere in the PACNW

So you can work in Idaho with a Washington liscence? I would also love any specific hospitals to look at. We will be living in Spokane close to Gonzaga, so I would like to be within an hour of that.

Thank you for your advice :)

Harrychandler · May 25, 2011

Hi. I also live in the Spokane area and no hospitals here are hiring new grads. I work for a private duty peds company who does hire new grads but the pay is way...way below RN salary. You have to apply for an Idaho license to work there. They do ask for a lot more documentation than WA. You need a job reference plus finger printing.

notpuurfctbtgdenghns · Jun 4, 2011

Hi New Grad;

You may find work that you enjoy in Spokane. I have worked in several nursing facilities there a couple of which are a good place to work with good pay. You do not know until you try. One is called North Central Care Center, used to be privately owned. The other one is Riverview Lutheran Care Center, non-profit. You may want to talk with someone by the name of Susanne --used to be an evening charge nurse at RLCC, --a wonderful, kind, nurse, about the nursing facility.

Best of luck.

ajb96278 · Aug 29, 2011

Well, I've been here for almost 3 weeks and still nothing! Not even an interview! Frustrating :bugeyes:

newgrad5 · Aug 25, 2013

Ajb96278,

I am in the same situation you were in two years ago, and I was just wondering how it turned out and if you have any advice about places to work/not to work, etc.

lindarn · Aug 26, 2013

Avail Home Health states in its ad in todays Sunday want ads, that they welcome new grads. Part time day, and full time night is available. 1-800-637-9998.

Avail Home Nursing, Inc.

[email protected]

Have you looked into Tricities area, south of Spokane? Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco. The hospital in Kennewick was advertising for nurses in the Spokesman Review a couple of years ago. They were offering free housing when you work your shitfts, a sort of long distance commute, but they were flexible. I would check them out. The last time I checked, their pay and benefits were as good, it not better than Spokane.

As I have stated previously, I would stay away from Eastern Washington, especially Spokane, if I were you. Idaho is a, "right to work state", and VERY ANTI UNION AND ANTI WORKER.

That being said, Kootenai Medical Center, in Coeur d' Alene, offers a real good new grad internship. It is a nice place to work. Coeur d'Alene is only 60 miles from Spokane, and it is all highway driving on I-90. No traffic. Check them out.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN(ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

newgrad5 · Aug 26, 2013

I'll look into Avail. Thank you. I haven't looked at Tricities area though because I'm afraid of driving that far in the snow. Where I'm from if you get a half inch they close schools for the day haha. I looked into Kootenai before I graduated. I'll have to look again. So, is driving on the freeway not that bad during the winter then?