Please HELP New Grad NYC to OU Medical

U.S.A. Oklahoma

Published

Hello I'm a new grad and I've just been hired by OU Medical Center. With the big move fast approaching I still have so many unanswered questioned that I should have probably already researched hahaha. If anyone would be so kind as to help me it would be awesome! I have only been to OKC for my interview once and know absolutely ZERO ppl there, so any info would be hepful.

1. How bad are the tornadoes? I am deathly afraid of storms and hear that OKC is tornado central. So where should I live? and what safety precautions should I look for in an apartment building?

2. How bad are the deer on the roadways?

3. Is OU Medical center esteemed in the OKC community?

4. Are there really no unions in OK?

5. Gas prices/ Price of milk gallon?

ANYTHING would be helpful! Thank you so much!

OKNurse2be

167 Posts

Hello I'm a new grad and I've just been hired by OU Medical Center. With the big move fast approaching I still have so many unanswered questioned that I should have probably already researched hahaha. If anyone would be so kind as to help me it would be awesome! I have only been to OKC for my interview once and know absolutely ZERO ppl there, so any info would be hepful.

1. How bad are the tornadoes? I am deathly afraid of storms and hear that OKC is tornado central. So where should I live? and what safety precautions should I look for in an apartment building?

2. How bad are the deer on the roadways?

3. Is OU Medical center esteemed in the OKC community?

4. Are there really no unions in OK?

5. Gas prices/ Price of milk gallon?

ANYTHING would be helpful! Thank you so much!

Hey and welcome to OK!! I am from NY myself, so I can identify. I am just a student, but I have lived in Oklahoma a number of years now and I am a pseudo-storm chaser :)

Anyway...

1- The tornadoes aren't that bad! Okay, so yeah we have good years and bad years, but mostly you are more likely to see tornadoes out in a field somewhere in the middle of nowhere than knocking down an apartment building. If you are worried about where to live, look for an apartment that is towards the middle of the structure and on the bottom floor. The rule of thumb is to get as low as you can and as far away from the outside walls of the structure you are in (usually bathroom or closet). They sounds the sirens here for testing every Sat at noon unless storms are expected, so don't be alarmed. Stay weather aware. We usually will know with reasonable notice if the weather is gonna get dicey.

2-You are more likely to encounter deer on the roadway on the east end of LI than here. I think I have seen deer 2 times in the 5 years I have lived here. Follow the same precautions as you would everywhere else.

3-Yes, OU is esteemed in the OKC community. It is the only Level 1 trauma center within MILES. I did my clinicals there last semester and I am probably going there again at some point and I like it a lot. It's not in the nicest neighborhood of town, but what is nice about OKC is that everything isn't very far away.

4-I am not sure about unions related to nursing but I haven't heard much about union-employer conflict so I really can't say.

5-Gas prices are a lot lower than NY that is for sure. As of right now we are hovering around the $3/gallon mark. Milk is cheapest at Sam's Club and also in the $3 range depending on if you like lots of fat (whole milk) or no fat (skim).

Good Luck and feel free to friend me if you want.

Groovychick718

13 Posts

So I guess living outside of the hospital area is my best bet. Looks like I am going to be doing some extensive searching over the next few weeks.

It's good to know cost of living is less than over here because I must admit the salary was definitely a shocker. I'm just hoping I am able to break even every month,with living expenses if not pay off some loans.

Thank you SOOOOOO much! I know my questions seem kind of silly, but I've been going crazy thinking about the little things since I'll be on my own. I think am just so NERVOUS about being in an entirely new city. It's good to know I am at a good facility. Hopefully, this will be exciting! :) Thanks again!

OKNurse2be

167 Posts

Just to give you a comparison... As an RN in OKC you will make roughly about $20/hr right? My husband and I live off one income and own a house with all that entails and have 3 kids and he makes roughly $4/hr LESS than an RN makes. I think where cost of living is concerned.. you will be just fine!

Groovychick718

13 Posts

Oh WOW. That's awesome! Definitely something different to get accustomed to. I'd love to be able to PM you but apparently I can't since I am new to the website and have less then 15 posts? lol kind of strange.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've been living in Texas for the past seven years, which is just south of the state line with Oklahoma.

Anyhow, I attended school in Oklahoma for one year ('09 to '10). My roommate and I paid $600 per month to rent a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment in North OKC near Quail Springs Mall. After our lease was up, we downgraded to a 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom apartment in northwest OKC on 50th Street between Meridian and MacArthur for $452 per month.

With the low rents, reasonable gas prices, and cheap cost of food, an RN who earns $19 to $20 hourly should have no problems surviving in OKC. Good luck to you.

Groovychick718

13 Posts

Okay, Is that a good neighborhood? I just ask because I am going to be on my own, so safety is a huge priority for me. Also the prices you mentioned, is that with or without utilities, because I've noticed that quite a few places seem to not include anything...I'm thinking it would be easier to have most things included..Especially heat which can be REALLY pricey

OKNurse2be

167 Posts

The Quail Springs Area is generally a pretty safe neighborhood. What is also nice is that you have EVERYTHING close by... literally. The mall, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Target and a slew of fast food and other restaurants. There are a number of nice apartment complexes right around there too, one of which my mother used to live in. Generally speaking, I have not seen apartments with utilities included unless it's lower income housing. However, that being said, utilities here in Oklahoma are not very expensive in comparison to NY prices. You should be able to afford a 1 bedroom apartment, and have the basic utilities (electric, gas, trash/sewer) and stay comfortably under $1000/month, especially in the winter. Summer might push it over slightly depending on how cold you like your apartment to be. Cellphones and Cable is not included in that estimate, because I consider those to be "luxuries."

The area I mentioned also has easy freeway access.

I hope that helps!!

Groovychick718

13 Posts

Hmm see that's what I've been having a hard time with..my girlfriend who is over in PA just got a new job and her rent including ALL of her utilities is $600 maximum, in a very nice neighborhood... she is going to be making more than me about $5/6 dollars more...So when I hear that my living expenses are going to be in the ballpark of $1000 dollars and that I will be making significantly less than my friend, it makes me kind of think that the cost of living compared to the salary is a little off in OK..No?

OKNurse2be

167 Posts

Yes and no. I can definitely see your point, however when you compare salary to how well you can afford things that are necessary, you will most likely have plenty for the necessities and quite a bit left over. I checked prices at one apt complex I like in the Quail Springs area and it runs anywhere from $430 for a 1 bed efficiency (small) to $560 for a 2 bed 2 bath (decent sized). This particular complex also has a very nice and well maintained pool. Depending on where you go in OKC you are going to see prices above and prices below. This is a very well maintained complex, but not considered luxury apartments. Gas prices are lower than most surrounding states and electric and gas are reasonable. Car insurance is also cheaper than say for instance in New York, and we don't need to have the vehicles inspected. In reality, it balances out in the end. :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Hmm see that's what I've been having a hard time with..my girlfriend who is over in PA just got a new job and her rent including ALL of her utilities is $600 maximum, in a very nice neighborhood... she is going to be making more than me about $5/6 dollars more...So when I hear that my living expenses are going to be in the ballpark of $1000 dollars and that I will be making significantly less than my friend, it makes me kind of think that the cost of living compared to the salary is a little off in OK..No?
You cannot really make a fair comparison of pay rates in these two states.

PA is a northern state known for strong unions, so of course the nursing pay rates are going to be competitive with the cost of living. OK is partly in the South and partly in the Midwest, has no unionized hospitals, and is generally not known for offering competitive nursing pay rates.

It is a regional thing. Most of the states in that region (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc.) pay staff nurses terribly and are vehemently against unions due to regional traditions.

You must also realize that OKC is a much smaller city than NYC, but is totally flooded with nursing programs that churn new nurses into the local job market every few months. When too many nurses are in a local job market, this tends to keep wages low due to oversupply.

University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southern Nazarine University, Oklahoma City University, Central Oklahoma University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Rose State, Redlands, OCCC, Platt, and other schools offer nursing programs that graduate new nurses into the OKC area.

Groovychick718

13 Posts

You cannot really make a fair comparison of pay rates in these two states. PA is a northern state known for strong unions, so of course the nursing pay rates are going to be competitive with the cost of living. OK is partly in the South and partly in the Midwest, has no unionized hospitals, and is generally not known for offering competitive nursing pay rates. It is a regional thing. Most of the states in that region (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc.) pay staff nurses terribly and are vehemently against unions due to regional traditions.You must also realize that OKC is a much smaller city than NYC, but is totally flooded with nursing programs that churn new nurses into the local job market every few months. When too many nurses are in a local job market, this tends to keep wages low due to oversupply. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southern Nazarine University, Oklahoma City University, Central Oklahoma University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Rose State, Redlands, OCCC, Platt, and other schools offer nursing programs that graduate new nurses into the OKC area.

Got ya...It's just a little scary knowing I won't have much wiggle room every month :( ..I guess I've got to get used to the Southern Midwest. I see what you're saying about unionized labor...but the funny thing is here up north when you DON'T have a union the pay is much more...I guess I thought since there. Less unions then the pay would be competitive

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