Possibly moving-multiple questions

1) I personally like my neck of the woods, Maplewood. Since it is close to Downtown and close to the burbs, Beaverton/Tigard. Very wooded here. I like seeing green! Sellwood is quite nice on the East side. Northeast is very nice, could be a bit pricey though. Check out Yelp.com to find out more regarding neighborhoods in PDX in the Yelp chat forum, many have had the same question.

2) Hiring freezes do exist, no rumor. However if you are specialized, say an ER nurse or

OR with experience, there's always exceptions to the rule. Be sure to land a job here before you move!!! However, if you can get your Washington license along with your Oregon license. You'd have no problem landing an ICU job in VANCOUVER just over a bridge and you're there. There are tons of ICU positions in VANCOUVER!!! Check it out at oregonlive.com! I tell no lie.

3) Providence is a mammoth of a hospital system with sinister looking icons (catholic or something) in all of their hospital lobbies, rather creepy. That aside it's a cool place to work, however depending on the department you work in. Some can be rather clicky there, so it can be difficult to fit in.

Legacy has no union and some nurses I know complain about their hours being cut back and holiday pay being removed to pay for this (crazy huh?!). Legacy doesn't have the mammoth hospital status that Providence has, so more quaint in a way.

Pay scale for both hospitals are good at around 31.00 to 35.00 depending on experience. Remember though, that the tax rate here in Oregon is high to make up for the non sales tax status. So your pay check can be rather slim, if you are comparing it with another state working at the same pay scale. I wouldn't avoid working at the various hospitals, especially with this terrible economy.

4) Pros: wow it's so beautiful here in Oregon. Great bike hike town! A lot of rain, especially last month, the month of May. Keeps it GREEN! Most of the time the rain is merely drizzle, not rain like seen in the Month of May (downpour hell). Best Library system ever! (when you pay your taxes remember this!!!). Cons: Generalization: aloof Portlanders who are difficult to make friends with (rather clannish), feel as if every out of stater is stealing their jobs. COLD. Notice how few will respond to this thread even! High taxes. No place to shower after you ride your bike to work in Portland! (You'd think this wouldn't be the case in a bicycle heaven, such as this place is. Course the Docs have theirs ("Arrg!")

WOW! What great feedback! I can' thank you enough-interesting, you were right about how many replies I would get. We nurses are an interesting bunch, aren't we? We realize there is a nursing shortage, yet continue to worry about someone "taking our jobs". I explained this to a few other nurses here in Albuquerque-that travelers were actually good for the unit's staffing problems, since the hospital has to pay them such high wages (and money is the only thing that gets management's attention, as we all know). They all acted as if I had re-invented the wheel. Honestly, can't we all just get along? :)

Anyhoo-much appreciated. I'll keep in touch-it will be a little while until we hit the road.

Thnaks again!!!!!

Update-we are moving thigs up (too hot and no jobs here for DH). Should be in that neck of the woods in a month or two!!!!!

Could you tell me more about Vancouver??

Eugene is south of Portland with two hospitals, both with very few openings at the moment and 60 new grads from the local college competing for a dozen jobs.

I love Oregon and if couldn't live in Eugene, I'd be in Portland. Lots to do and see. Beautiful country, mountains, lakes, great bike paths.

The advise given previously is sound. No matter what you decide, find the work first and then move.

Vancouver is rich in nursing jobs.

Weather is the same as Portland.

Check the Washington Forum for more info.

Im just curious from some of you people in this region responding to this thread already.... What is the reason that pay is so high in WA and OR? I have been looking at positions up there in the OR and they pay $40-45/hr. Traveling companies pay the same too. What is even more strange is that the cost of living is relatively low..... My wife and I plan to be up in your neck of the woods next summer to kick off my 3 year traveling stent. Im just curious....

Remove California and New York and Oregon is considered one of the highest priced places to live. The Willamette Valley was in Money's top 10 (sometimes 5) most exp real estate in late 1990's early 2000's. Assume it's still that way.

However, that being said, there is a lot going for us here.

Portland has several hospitals, Salem has one. There are many small towns in between and further on down the valley. If you do end up away from Portland, know that Salem is the only Trauma hosp outside of Portland and Eugene. The small towns feed there. Thus the little town hospitals (Silverton, Dallas) have a local rep for being wonderful with fast service and friendly people. Yeah, they have no trauma! Meanwhile in the state cap, you have all the homeless, prison families and high public assistance crowd who use the ER as their personal doctor, along with all the traumas for 50 miles around. It is the busiest ER in the state, literally. It's not all ER though, and there have been several new buildings added in the last 10 years with one opening about 18 months ago. For the most part, a clean modern facility.

The wages are thanks largely to strong union. I'm represented by ONA (Oregon Nurses Assoc.) Love them. Not only have I seen my pay increase over the 10 years I've been a nurse, but they are adamant about safety. Most of the rooms in our hospital have ceiling lifts, needleless access for IV's, etc.

If you don't have a strong union, check out the ona's website and contact them. Maybe they can help you.

The wages for nurses in Portland Oregon is the best kept secret. 4 large hospital/medical systems help keep the compitetion and wages increasing. Oregon Health Sciences University, Legacy Health System, Providence Health, and Kaiser Permenante. Nurses are paid more that Seattle WA, nurses. The new grad job market forced me to move inorder to find a job, but those with experience will have it made. Try and land a job in Vancouver, you have no state income tax :)

Are you still looking in Oregon? I, personally, enjoy per diem. I get 45 dollars an hour, sometimes up to 48 working for MedStaff. They have a large contract with Providence. If you're into working a more sporadic schedule, I would recommend that for Med Surg. I know they pay above 50 an hour for specialty. Just an option. I preferred travel in the past, but have found this to supplement while being able to stay home.

The wages are thanks largely to strong union. I'm represented by ONA (Oregon Nurses Assoc.) Love them. Not only have I seen my pay increase over the 10 years I've been a nurse, but they are adamant about safety. Most of the rooms in our hospital have ceiling lifts, needleless access for IV's, etc.

If you don't have a strong union, check out the ona's website and contact them. Maybe they can help you.

Does large hospitals like Providence have a nurses union?

Thanks for the info :)