Osage Beach or Branson area

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Specializes in ER.

Hi all,

We are considering relocating to the Osage Beach area or Branson area and would like some input from you on hospitals in each area (ED), pay rates, what levels the ED's are, etc. We are living in Iowa now and I am curious if pay rates are compariable. I have 14 years of experience. What is your thoughts???

Thanks,

Cris

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I'm not personally familiar with each area as far as the questions you are asking, but if I'm not mistaken, there's only one hospital in Osage Beach (and no 24-hour pharmacy, lol, as my friends and I found out on a Girls' Weekend recently). I'm not sure if there's more than one in the Branson area or not?!?!

Either area is very nice; Branson is a bit more touristy for a longer period of time, while I believe Osage's big tourist time is a bit shorter during the hot summer months. At least when I've been down there in April and Novembers the crowds are very bearable!!

Best wishes whatever you decide!!

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I don't know pay rates or anything like that but as someone who has lived in or near both areas I can give you my input on that. I lived in Osage Beach for many years and I always heard people say that the hospital there wasn't a quality hospital. Now I live in Springfield which is about 30 minutes from Branson and I hear Skaggs (in Branson) is a good hospital. I really didn't like living in the Osage Beach area either, but that is just a personal opinion. I know this isn't the information you were lookin for but I thought I would put in my 2 cents worth anyway. Good luck with whatever you choose!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, OB, Home Health/Hospice.

I have an RN friend in Branson and he told me the pay was terrible. I would love to live near there and the the cost of living is cheap. Check out Skaggs Hospital. It't good size. There are good large hospitals in Springfield (30 min from Branson).

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I have no idea about Osage Beach, but I can comment on Branson. I worked for a short-time at Skaggs and hated every minute. It's a very nice, modern facility, but it just wasn't the place for me. The pay there was low, but that is just how it is in Missouri. The nurses here are willing to accept low wages so nothing will change. Anyway, off my soap-box now!

The ER at Skaggs is busy because they serve a large area. I don't believe they have any kind of trauma designation, but I could be wrong about that. If you want to work in a trauma center, there are two in Springfield (Cox and St. John's). Depending on where you live in Branson, and where you are going in Springfield, it's about a 45-minute drive.

Good luck on your search!

Jaimee

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Specializes in Med/Surg, OB, Home Health/Hospice.
I have no idea about Osage Beach, but I can comment on Branson. I worked for a short-time at Skaggs and hated every minute. It's a very nice, modern facility, but it just wasn't the place for me. The pay there was low, but that is just how it is in Missouri. The nurses here are willing to accept low wages so nothing will change. Anyway, off my soap-box now!

The ER at Skaggs is busy because they serve a large area. I don't believe they have any kind of trauma designation, but I could be wrong about that. If you want to work in a trauma center, there are two in Springfield (Cox and St. John's). Depending on where you live in Branson, and where you are going in Springfield, it's about a 45-minute drive.

Good luck on your search!

Jaimee

How come you hated workig at Skaggs and where did you live before?

Thanks! Karmil

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Specializes in ER.

Thank you to everyone for the posts. I didn't realize that Springfield was so close to Branson, so any comments on hospitals in that area, especially ED would be appreciated. Cris

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Specializes in ICU, ER, PCU, LTAC.

I was a traveler at Lake Regional in Osage Beach, and was treated very badly. The hospitals in Springfield have good reputations, also the hospital in Branson.

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

I live near Springfield, and I've worked at both hospitals. St. John's is a level 1 trauma center, Cox South is a level 2. I honestly like Cox better, but St. John's ED seemed just fine when I dealt with them when my daughter was a patient and when they'd transfer patients to the floor I worked on.

I've never worked at Skaggs or Lake Regional, but I know A LOT of people who have, and none of them have anything positive to say about either one. I currently work with a nurse who lives in Osage Beach who commutes to Springfield.

Both hospitals are hiring RNs...but the pay in SWMO is not great. I took a huge pay cut when I came here 5 years ago and I'm just now getting back to the wage level I was making before.

I do love living here though. It was worth taking a pay cut to get out of where I was before.

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