New grad! Small town or Portland? HELP!!

smk1, LPN · Jun 29, 2006

As a student, I can't advise on the job situation yet, but it sounds like you are young and like to have fun and P-town is the place to do it. You have two problems. The cost of buying a house in Portland is ridiculous so you will probably need to rent which is "wasting" money in some ways. Add that to the fact that you will probably be able to buy a house in Cottage Grove and reap the benfits of appreciation when you sell... well Cottage Grove seems to be the more fiscally responsible choice. However, you are only 24, single with no kids once, and you have plenty of time to move out to a small town and "settle down" later. Good luck on your decision.

Quiltedstar · Jun 29, 2006

My advice would be to take the job in Cottage Grove. It seems that everyone says the first year of nursing is the hardest, it'd be better to take a job that will be less stressful so that you can be more successful. After the first year you can always move to Portland and you should be able to have more job opportunities because of your experience.

You can always drive in to Portland a few times a month to see your friends. Anyway, that's how I'd reason it out.

worknurse · Jul 4, 2006

Hello! I need advice!
I am currently going through a very tough life choice... I was offered a position on what is rumored to be a "very very very stressful" telemetry floor in Portland... where all my friends are and all that fun things to do that I LOVE. I don't have any kids and I'm 24 so part of me just wants to live life in the city while I'm young.
But then I was offered this job in Cottage Grove Community Hospital. The hospital is amazingly beautiful, the nurse-patient ratios are suprisingly low, they have offered me the most perfect job for me- but it is in little tiny, boring Cottage Grove. I have family there but no friends... I even get bored in Eugene (25 minute drive). I could probably buy a house in Cottage Grove but not in Portland for a while.... but do I want to make that committment?
I know the first year of nursing can be hell. Is it worth it to move away from all things you love for a good job? Or would it be better to stay in a stressful job where you would for sure be happy, have a support system, and lots of fun things to do?

You have to start somewhere! My first job as a graduate RN (from Oregon) was at the largest hospital in the US. USC/LAC County (General Hospital) almost 30 years ago. It was a blast but I had great supervisors and over the years I have found good leaders (mentors) are a rare breed. It all depends on the team and leaders you are working with and your own sense of self.

If the team respects their manager and work well together then GO FOR IT no matter if you're in the big city or small town. If the turnover is rapid, every 1-2years BEWARE!! Cardiology/telemetry is a great learning area but very stressful. My recommendations? Follow your passions and be smart. Realize that it will take you 3-5years at anything to master what is going on.

Bluee · Jul 6, 2006

I love Portland so I'll try not to be that biased, but I can't help that.

You should take a holistic approach, which means you have to factor in all of life's lovely elements. The four main elements that always pop into my head (in no specific order of importantance) are personal, vocational, financial, and romance. Some would include spiritual too. Sometimes I wish these things always weren't so tangled together!

Being a new grad, a presumably lower stress environment of the Cottage Grove hospital would be beneficial to your immediate mental health. Some could argue that you would want the more challenging hospital, so that you could learn nursing 'better' and 'faster'. I don't consider that as much though because you can still learn that stuff later (the brain stays malleable for a long time), and you could probably use a break from learning anyways!

Just as important, if not moreso, is your romantic future. I know it can be hard thinking about your romantic future given your young age and the impression of limitless opportunities out there. 10, 20 years down the line, heck even during retirement, they all sound like a bad fairytale. But now is your best time to secure your romantic future, just as you would (and are) securing your financial future. And a good way to do that is to attack it with statistics! Simply put, you are going to meet more suitable bachelors in the great city of Portland than you would in Cottage Grove. I don't know how else to explain this, but I personally find it important. But if you're not that picky with men, then Cottage Grove should work out just fine :chuckle

A job is temporary. Love is forever. Well, at least it should be. Also don't forget that Portland is a beautiful city, although I am sure Cottage Grove is also beautiful. The traffic and cost-of-living is not as high as other comparitively urban areas, and you get the benefit of living on the great west coast. I love it here.

smilin_gp · Jul 7, 2006

What about applying at a smaller hospital nearer Portland? Tuality, Salem, ect. Or another floor at the same facility? I'm with ya that telemetry floors are pretty stressful.

tinderbox · Jul 10, 2006

The traffic and cost-of-living is not as high as other comparitively urban areas, and you get the benefit of living on the great west coast. I love it here.

Seriously. I agree. I'm so sick of hearing how "expensive" Portland is and the stresses of living in a "big city" like Portland. Give me a break. Portland is a very small and liveable city, and I say Pack your bags and give it a shot in the "big city". The "expenses" are totally worth it. It's a lot cheaper here than other metropolitan areas.

BTW I started in telemetry as a new grad. Yes, it's hard, but take as many educational opportunities as you can (ie., classes, in-services, internet resources, experienced RNs), and you'll learn so much and be amazed at what you can do.

smk1, LPN · Jul 10, 2006

The traffic and cost-of-living is not as high as other comparitively urban areas, and you get the benefit of living on the great west coast. I love it here.

Seriously. I agree. I'm so sick of hearing how "expensive" Portland is and the stresses of living in a "big city" like Portland. Give me a break. Portland is a very small and liveable city, and I say Pack your bags and give it a shot in the "big city". The "expenses" are totally worth it. It's a lot cheaper here than other metropolitan areas.

BTW I started in telemetry as a new grad. Yes, it's hard, but take as many educational opportunities as you can (ie., classes, in-services, internet resources, experienced RNs), and you'll learn so much and be amazed at what you can do.

I love Portland, but as someone who grew up there and now live across the river in washington, the expense is a factor. One of the major reasons is that the housing prices have skyrocketed in the last 4 years and wages have NOT kept up. I do think that from what I can see of nursing wages, they are pretty good here though, but if you are joe smoe living in an apartment making 10 dollars in 2000, when you could buy a decent starter home for around 130k, it is disheartening to see your wage increase to maybe 12-13 dollars an hour if you are lucky but see the ave. price for a decent starter home jump to over 200k and with that property tax increases as well. (slightly nicer homes have jumped far more in price). Portland isn't as expensive as some places, but proportionate to the average wage level of the people living here, it routinely makes the forbes list of expensive/overpriced cities to live in, couple that with a rather high unemployment rate and you can see the not so nice side of stumptown. Still, it is a fun place to be, unique, nice dining, shopping and scenery, and you can still find decent rent.

pegbord · Jul 11, 2006

Jaimenicole my dear!! You are so young and I am so impressed that you had the wherewithall to complete all the steps required in doing prereqs, getting accepted into a nursing program - and sticking with it --- not to mention passing the nclex too. There is a lot of dedication and stamina required in entering this profession. That alone deserves a great big CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As far as Portland vs Cottage Grove: My first instinct is to totally validate your considerations regarding the "sensible and more settled-down" option of Cottage Grove. I would tell you to pat yourself on the back for having carefully reviewed various perspectives. Then I would tell you to throw on those Nikes and sprint your way to Portland. Live, Laugh, Play, enjoy being single and responsible with a good paying job while being surrounded by the friends you love.

My dear, 25 years ago a male friend of mine once told me that to pass through Portland without stopping in for a while is like letting a beautiful woman pass by without saying hello. I dont know if that sounds sexist - maybe --- But I adore how he said it and I know his intent was to not let such lovely opportunities for life experiences pass you by.

There will be time for Cottage Grove later ------ Go and experience the city while your single!!!! Cheers!

rngreenhorn · Jul 12, 2006

Hello! I need advice!
I am currently going through a very tough life choice... I was offered a position on what is rumored to be a "very very very stressful" telemetry floor in Portland... where all my friends are and all that fun things to do that I LOVE. I don't have any kids and I'm 24 so part of me just wants to live life in the city while I'm young.
But then I was offered this job in Cottage Grove Community Hospital. The hospital is amazingly beautiful, the nurse-patient ratios are suprisingly low, they have offered me the most perfect job for me- but it is in little tiny, boring Cottage Grove. I have family there but no friends... I even get bored in Eugene (25 minute drive). I could probably buy a house in Cottage Grove but not in Portland for a while.... but do I want to make that committment?
I know the first year of nursing can be hell. Is it worth it to move away from all things you love for a good job? Or would it be better to stay in a stressful job where you would for sure be happy, have a support system, and lots of fun things to do?

I was reading through your post and contrasting the words you use for each possibility i.e. Portland: "all my freinds, fun things, LOVE, city life, young"; Cottage grove: "little tiny boring, committment." Sound like the choice is clear. True you describe Cottage Grove as the "perfect job" and Portland as, "very, very, stressful." But your work is NOT your life.

My advice: Get your ass to Portland post haste... come back to Cottage Grove later if you decide Portland is not for you. This way you will have no regrets. Plus you will be even more desirable for the nurse recruiters in Cottage Grove with experience in a "very, very, stressful" tele unit at a big hospital in Portland.

PS just so you are prepared. Your first three month of the job (at eithor place) is probably going to suck really really bad. But it gets better, every day you will become more and more confident. I wish I had had your determination at 24. Good luck!