OR vs WA

Hi!

Trying to decide which state would be best to move to. I am a NICU RN, have worked in CA and TX and looking for a change. Which would be better, in your opinion? OR or WA?

Better in what way? This is a really difficult question to answer. Are you wanting city, small town, rural, coastal, plains, mountains? Mild winters and mild summers, or snow in winters and hot? Rain or snow?

I should have clarified, thank you. I guess the nursing scene, pay, patient to nurse ratio, benefits, etc. But knowing about the weather would help too! Mild winters and mild summers would be perfect. Thank you!

Mild weather, stick near the coast. As soon as you go more than 10 miles inland, it becomes much more extreme in the weather.

I can't speak for Washington, but for Oregon you can look at the union contracts at various facilities, including their pay scales.

Labor Department - Oregon Nurses Association

Thanks for the info!

Oregon has income tax, Washington has sales tax. Some people live in Vancouver Wa and shop in Portland OR to circumvent this.

On 8/5/2018 at 12:59 PM, preemieRN15 said:

Hi!

Trying to decide which state would be best to move to. I am a NICU RN, have worked in CA and TX and looking for a change. Which would be better, in your opinion? OR or WA?

How are you? Did you move or decide where to?

The best areas in WA for Hosp/RN opp.are near Olympia, Seattle and so on...however you will get a lot of rain and snow the farther you go.They have the best hospitals though.

If you like outdoor activities and a summer feel like CA and TX, you stay with OR area. But check the elevation because some parts get thick snow on winter times. I heard Beaverton has a good weather on spring and summer. I hope this helps.