Nursing in Salt Lake City as a non-LDS??

whiskeygirl, LPN · Mar 1, 2006

HI-

I have been here for over 5 years and still surviving. I moved here from Chicago so it was quite the culture shock!!! There are lots of funny laws, mainly in regards to liquor. Not everyone is LDS either. And their numbers are dwindling.

When I was talking about the "rough nurses" I think it was more symptomatic of that unit. BTW, the ER I work in is wonderful! Lots of really cool people to work with. My manager in the NICU and Nursery is NOT LDS. And I am not sure about the ER manager, but she is a really cool boss. You will hear that from staff all over the hospital, cause most know her.

I really do like it here, I love the mountains, there is skiing very close by, and I have met some really good people

Anyway, I would be happy to give you more of my one sided view of the area.

WG

LHJ_RN · Mar 2, 2006

I have lived in SLC all my life and have been a RN for 15 years. Never once have I felt that what I did was based on whether or not I was Mormon. SLC is a more cosmopolitan place than Idaho Falls. I don't think you will have any problems here. I work at the University Hospital where I have been for 10 years and I love it there! Great place to work with alot of exciting things planned for the near future. Univ Hosp is level I trauma, with LDS Hospital as well. BOth have LIfe Flight programs (at the U we call it Air Med). The U also has a high risk OB AIR MED team. The U has the only BUrn Trauma unit in the Intermountain west. Both hospitals get patients from all over Utah, Southern Idaho, Western Wyoming, South west Montana, and eastern Nevada. The U is a large teaching hospital with the medical, nursing, and pharmacy schools attached.

Living here is great, we get all four seasons and mostly the snow stays in the mountains. The summers here can get hot, but its a dry heat. Yellowstone National Park is a 5 hour drive north and Las Vegas is a 6 hour drive south. Moab is three hours away. Park City is 30min drive up the canyon.

For the most part, Mormons are very nice people and will try to kill you with kindness. If the do approach you about the church just nicely say no thanks. You won't be bothered again.

If you want to know anything more feel free to email me lhjrnAThotmailDOTcom

Good Luck!

clee1 · Mar 2, 2006

My step-family are all Mormons, and we have visited SLC many, many times.

You'd be very surprised how many non-Mormons live there, as well as the number of bars, etc. to be found therein.

pannie · Mar 2, 2006

I LOVE SLC! We had a business trip there and I didn't want to go. Thought they'd be nothing to do in the evenings...the streets would roll up, etc. I love the Mormons and availed myself of their hospitality many times. I think The Roof is the best dining experience I've ever had. Now DH just says "SLC this weekend?" and I'm packing!

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2006

Last I checked, SLC was in the United States, and you cannot be discriminated against because of religion. That being said, I one had a hebrew school teacher who grew up Jewish in SLC. (A unique experience to say the least).

It is illegal for an interviewer to ask you your religion during a job interview.

Blee

Hey,
I have been looking at Salt Lake as a place to relocate. Every time I mention this, I get a look of despair and pity. "You'll never make it out there! It's all Mormons!" I lived in Idaho Falls as a teenager, and heard stories from my dad's workplace of unqualified people getting promotions because they were LDS, or of qualified workers not recieving them because they weren't. I am not LDS, and am not interested in becoming one. I would like some feedback as to the working situation in SLC. Are the managers fair? What is the atmosphere like on the unit? As an RN, I am not looking for management, but I don't want a horrible schedule, or for my raises to disappear. Also, I saw a post here about a certain hospital in the area with a reputation for rough nurses. Is this related to religion and as seen from outsiders? Are these fears reasonable? I would appreciate all feedback, LDS and non-LDS. Thanks!

tencat · Mar 2, 2006

Howdy! I lived near Idaho Falls for six years and spent a lot of vacation time in Salt Lake. As a non-LDS person it seemed to me that Salt Lake was a lot better than Idaho Falls/Southeastern Idaho. I suppose it depends on where you are. I bet Provo is pretty interesting :uhoh21:, and I've heard that Salt Lake proper is better than the outlying areas such as Provo, Ogden, etc. It is a beautiful area, and the people are pretty friendly, but Utah is a bit too conservative for me to be comfortable living there. But if you know what to expect and you want to try living there, I'd say go for it! A lot of people really like it.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2006

I went to SLC just this last Summer for a vacation/family reunion. The family that I was visiting were my in laws and they are all very LDS. So believe me, not being one I was stressed to the max wondering if I was going to make a bad impression!

I heard that the women were going to bake all day for the fourth of July, and the men were going out to do things and have fun. Heard that we women get to be on baby sitting duty, and they even talked of a crochet lesson for me! I was so nervous and really thinking "darn this vacation is sooooo going to bite!!!!!". Lets just say I am not a homemaker sort, heck...I couldn't bake a pie or anything even with a gun to my head! Let alone babysit babies!!!! I was soooooooo upset and stressed!

I arrived in a nice conservative dress, planned on hiding my smoking big time and carried a little travel sprayer of fabreeze, hid a beer or two for myself for the Fourth celebration, bought some yarn for crochet, brushed up on my baking skills, and just held my breath...

Oh my did they have a GREAT laugh!!! They knew I would be nervous and said all this just to tease me! We went out having fun all the time at picnics, at the Lagoon Amusement Park, and many events. Awesome folks, they drank non alcoholic beer and never blinked twice when they saw me trying SLC area brews! We had a BLAST!!!!!

My misconceptions and the stereotype had me so nervous and upset about my vacation before my vacation that I wasted good energy! I have never had such a fun time! And the folks were very very very friendly, and just awesome!

So don't let misconceptions ruin anything! How about visiting first and see the area and people before making the move? I loved SLC!!!!!! And we are planning another trip there soon! It was a blast!!!!

pannie · Mar 3, 2006

TriageRN, you're so right about the people. It's now one of my favorite places to go - summer and winter. The people of SLC, particularly those helping visitors at Temple Square are lovely. I think perhaps their influence is also felt on the ski slopes. Much more courteous skiers than other places we've been.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

You all have my curiosity UP, and I'm dying to go to SLC now! It would be nice to go somewhere that people remember how to be COURTEOUS for a change. I enjoyed this thread immensely!

whiskeygirl, LPN · Mar 3, 2006

Hehe, yeah but its kinda freaky when you drive into a neighborhood and everyone waves as you drive by, and you have no idea who they are.

I don't see the area as being more courteous than other places I have lived but in general the crime rate is low, cost of living is low and the mountains are really pretty here.

MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I went to SLC just this last Summer for a vacation/family reunion. The family that I was visiting were my in laws and they are all very LDS. So believe me, not being one I was stressed to the max wondering if I was going to make a bad impression!
I heard that the women were going to bake all day for the fourth of July, and the men were going out to do things and have fun. Heard that we women get to be on baby sitting duty, and they even talked of a crochet lesson for me! I was so nervous and really thinking "darn this vacation is sooooo going to bite!!!!!". Lets just say I am not a homemaker sort, heck...I couldn't bake a pie or anything even with a gun to my head! Let alone babysit babies!!!! I was soooooooo upset and stressed!
I arrived in a nice conservative dress, planned on hiding my smoking big time and carried a little travel sprayer of fabreeze, hid a beer or two for myself for the Fourth celebration, bought some yarn for crochet, brushed up on my baking skills, and just held my breath...
Oh my did they have a GREAT laugh!!! They knew I would be nervous and said all this just to tease me! We went out having fun all the time at picnics, at the Lagoon Amusement Park, and many events. Awesome folks, they drank non alcoholic beer and never blinked twice when they saw me trying SLC area brews! We had a BLAST!!!!!
My misconceptions and the stereotype had me so nervous and upset about my vacation before my vacation that I wasted good energy! I have never had such a fun time! And the folks were very very very friendly, and just awesome!
So don't let misconceptions ruin anything! How about visiting first and see the area and people before making the move? I loved SLC!!!!!! And we are planning another trip there soon! It was a blast!!!!

too funny!!! good for you having such a cool family!!!