Nursing is my oyster...now where to live

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It has been said many times on these boards that nursing is a whole world of opportunity. As someone who will be graduating soon I am begining to look at various opportunities. Perhaps some of the experienced nurses or even travel nurses would like to share where they think some of the best places to train, work, and live are.

Thanks.

You did not do your daughter a disservice by moving so much. My father moved his family all over the country when I was little. This was before people relocated every 5 years or so. I believe that this gave me many advantages in life. I am comfortable in almost any setting. I never meet a stranger. I am able to adapt quickly to my circumstances. I think these are good traits to have, in our society. I also feel it will help me in my nursing career, as I plan to move again when I finish school.

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You did not do your daughter a disservice by moving so much. My father moved his family all over the country when I was little. This was before people relocated every 5 years or so. I believe that this gave me many advantages in life. I am comfortable in almost any setting. I never meet a stranger. I am able to adapt quickly to my circumstances. I think these are good traits to have, in our society. I also feel it will help me in my nursing career, as I plan to move again when I finish school.

Thanks for those kind words! I never felt that we had done her a disservice until we moved here....around people who are "from here." In military circles, everyone moves so frequently. I'm glad it worked out so well for you!

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I'm not a nurse yet, so I can't post about working conditions for nurses here in Tampa. I would advise you not to move to Florida. At least not to the Tampa area. The cost of living has increased dramatically here over the past few years. They are plowing down trees and forest left and right to make ugly subdivisions filled with basically the same house with a tiny yard over and over. Oh, also drugstores, Walmarts, convenience store/gas stations and supermarkets. Those are also popping up in abundance. It's not a pretty sight when there's a super Walmart on almost every corner. Ugh.

I was born and raised here, but I can't wait to get out. I like to see some nature around me. I'm moving to Tennessee after I get my nursing degree. It's gorgeous and lush with just enough city to balance it out.

Oh boy, urban sprawl. I HATE IT! I am in Tennessee but love the ocean and was dreaming of Florida one day. But I guess the money grubbing land developers are taking care of that. What is bad is that it is happening in Tennessee. Every weekend there is a 100+ acre farm being divided up in narrow lots (I call them landing strips) and sold to put up trailers on or subdivisions with ticky tacky houses all in a row. It's disgusting. I wish there was something to do about it. Makes me grieve and want to cry, like that old commerical with the Indian.

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I have been doing research on Houston. So very big. However, a great cost of living city. I guess it just depends on what commute times are. I also like the fact it is close to the gulf, though that may be a problem with hurricane season. My husband thinks what I want is ridiculous. I WANT DEEP BLUE SKIES!!!! None of this midwestern gray days. I am completely mood affected by it. I do not mind really hot summers as long as the rest of the year is temperate. I also like great working conditions and friendly people. I wonder if such a place does exist????

Ditto. I lived in Houston for a short while as a teenager. Houston is incredibly hot, but that is why we have air conditioning. Houston also had huge flying roaches. But in spite of it I liked Houston. My husband hates Texas (he's a New Yorker) and doesn't have any desire to be near the ocean. I just don't understand how he couldn't appreciate it.

I may just have to say goodbye to my husband.

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Specializes in med/surg, hospice.

Hi All !

First off- I do not live in "the ATL" but in a town about an hour and half away in NW Georgia called Rome.

Thanks for posting the sites! I have visited a couple of them before but there were also a couple that I had not seen. They are really good.

And as for being in a military town; that is the problem! I DID live in military towns and now I am spoiled, spoiled, spoiled :roll . Everyone here is pretty much from here and man, does it ever show! I miss the instant family atmosphere of being in the military...very much.

I agree that moves with the military are far from a disservice to your children (of course, lots of this can depend on the child). There is still great continuity in the military, even with frequent moves. That continuity plus your families security is the source of stability and security for a child...not a street address!!!

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If your children graduate from high school here IN Georgia, they are eligible for the Hope grant, which will pay for the bulk of their college tuition . It is typical Georgia climate: AKA "Africa hot" in the summer.

Oh, and most importantly: nursing jobs are PLENTIFUL.

So: if you have any questions for me I will be happy to answer them and if (please, God) anyone has some community recommendations for me...lemme know!

I have some good friends there but I just don't like Georgia. For one thing, the cops line the freeway and the overpasses with their radar guns pointed at you. Also, the taxes are ridiculous. And the aroma you get (the clay?) is odd.

But in all the people are nice. Just not my kind of place.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Okay, so I gotta put in a word for West Virginia. It's pretty nice, here. The nursing shortage doesn't seem as severe as some places sound, but there are jobs. Pay is decent--about average. My base is just over $20/hr as a first year nurse. Cost of living is also pretty average, although in my area real estate is going up fast. I'm in a college town, so rents are high, too. Climate is so-so. Hot, humid summers. Mostly mild winters with occassional "big" snows and cold snaps (I lived in Colo. as a kid, but around here 6 inches is a blizzard). Beautiful spring and fall. Low crime rate and not many natural disasters. Lots of nature, but not a long drive to urban centers like Pittsburgh or DC. Schools aren't notoriously great, but you can get an education if you want to, and they are pretty safe. Pretty good place to raise a family, all around.

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Specializes in Float.

Who is moving to Florida? I think everyone from Florida is moving to TN! lol (where I lived in East TN we jokingly called it Little Michigan because of sooo many people moving there from Michigan..but all over there are a lot of Floridians moving here... but seriously is anyone left in Michigan? LOL)

Mommy

You can bash Florida all you want. Hopefully people will stop moving here so the price of houses will come down and I can finally afford one! haha. I love living here, just struggling to afford it.
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Specializes in med/surg, hospice.
Who is moving to Florida? I think everyone from Florida is moving to TN! lol (where I lived in East TN we jokingly called it Little Michigan because of sooo many people moving there from Michigan..but all over there are a lot of Floridians moving here... but seriously is anyone left in Michigan? LOL)

Mommy

Up in the mountains in NW GA they call the "half-back's" ....because they moved down to Florida from up north, got too hot/too disappointed and then moved half-way back; landing in GA! :roll :roll

I imagine that the same could be true of Tenn. :coollook: .

I really want to move to Florida...to the panhandle. The problem is; I don't just want to move there ...I want to move there plus back in time to the 60's/70's ....sure wish I could meet someone who could help me arrange that! Any pointers????

:gandalf:

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Hi everyone! Well I live in Sacramento, Ca and I am sick of the city. I just moved from San Francisco and I need a change. After I graduate nursing school I would love to live in the mountains. I want it to snow in the winter, and be sunny in the summer. I would love to live near a ski resort where I could ski in the winter but then mountain bike or kayak in the summer. Right now I am REALLY considering Winter Park, Colorado or Lake Tahoe, Ca? Any advice? Comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! Thanks so much!!! This is the best website!!!

Jackie

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

If you like to ski in the winter and bike in the summer, Reno and the surrounding area would be ideal for you. The weather is terrific and all the outdoor recreation you could want is all within 30-60minutes away. You have at least 10 ski resorts within an hour's drive, including Squaw Valley and Heavenly (I don't go to either but stick with the local love, Mt. Rose). I enjoy the weather and the scenery here quite a bit but I do wish the cost of living would decrease just a tad....for this former Texas gal, the cost of houses here is just mind-boggling. I think about the beautiful home we had near Lake Houston that was less than 100k and that same house would easily go for around 350k here! Ouch. But it's a nice area and I guess compared to CA, the cost of living isn't too bad. I think it's probably similar in cost to Winter Park, as Colorado can be a bit expensive as well.

Melanie = )

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Specializes in geriatric, hospice, med/surg.

Ever consider the south? North Carolina gets my vote. We have mountains and seashores....variety of fantastic hospitals that are magnate and of national reputation. Other areas of nursing if hospital nursing doesn't appeal to you. NC seasons are varied, you can definitely tell when each season ends and another begins. Mild weather except for pretty humid in the summer. Friendly folks, most of them wave to you driving down the rural roads on their tractors or in their cars! Seriously consider it. Great place to live and work...

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