RNnurse07

Sanuk, Thanks for the reply. There are several areas in the south that I've been looking into, Texas being one of the recent considerations and I really haven't looked into the hospital systems down there yet. But it has quickly come to the top of the list seeing as though some other areas that I thought would have a good job market do not. I'm going to do some more research and if I have some questions I will definately ask. Thank you so much :)

I agree with all others. Move, move, move. I'm in a similar situation, live and work in NE WI in LTC will have my BSN complete in May 2012 and will be looking to relocate then, there is no job growth where I am and LTC is not that satisfying. Good luck to you and your family

Hi Everyone I'm currently in Northeast Wisconsin and would like to relocate. Job market in majority of WI is tight and has been for the last 2 years or so. My experience/history and schooling include 4 years SNF nights will complete my BSN in May '12. Only 3 months experience on Med/Surg floor during school as extern position. SNF that I work at is a combo of short term rehab from fresh hips, knees, surgery and oncology and long term. I want/need hospital experience before I make my next step in my education into a DNP program, would like to start out on med/surg and transition into CICU or SICU? What are my chances and should I do anything to look more attractive to future employers? Thanks in advance for all feedback.

A.) Post Partum/Mother Baby- PRN Variable (my old unit I worked in as a PCT before nursing school- I like everyone there) I selected this one because it seems like you already like this position I could be wrong, but you didn't add any comments to the other 2 jobs. It's hard for anyone to say where you should go. My question to you is what environment will you be most happy in???? Post partum mom and baby you know what you will be working with there on a regular basis. Medical unit will have more variety of patients. Post surgical oncology working with cancer patients at all stages new cancer patients to terminal? So what will be most fulfilling to you especially since your more in nurse for the pleasure it brings and not the income???

Hi Everyone Looking for any advice someone would be willing to give. Here is some background info. I'm RN currently working night shift at SNF, currently going to school for my BSN and will be done next May. I want to relocate from my area, currently in NE Wisconsin and would really like to work in a hospital where advancement is possible from med-surg to specialty ICU. This area is over saturated with nurses and job market is slim. Besides I would like to live in an area without snow during the winter for a few years. SO I will have my BSN with 4 years of nursing experience and currently only making a little over $20/hr. Any advice of good areas to move to?? What the job market is like? How much do nurses make in the area you recommend? Pros and cons to the area? Yes I want to further my education into a DNP but of course need more experience and I need a couple of years out of school. THANKS MUCH!!!!!!

I'm in a dilemma. I love medicine and its been my passion since I was young I have always thought of being a doctor. When I graduated high school I was madly in love and settled going to nursing school since we decided to stay in the area, well the love fell apart and now I am an RN with associate degree from community college working at my BSN while working full time. Once complete with my BSN my next route was NP but recently I had meet up with a friend of my uncle who is just finishing his residency as a trauma surgeon and while we were talking about medicine and where I wanted to go with my future, he said that I should go to medical school. That really re-sparked my interest so I started doing research. After looking into programs across the country for med school, I don't think I have what they are looking for. The most classes that I have taken is 3 online courses while working full time and some of the programs do not consider that a qualified candidate even though I have an overall GPA of 3.8. Currently I need to continue working and will not be done with my BSN for 4 semesters so I do have time. I was considering taking 2 full semesters of classes once done with my BSN with a focus on biology courses to show that I can handle the work load and still get the grades. But I fear that even that will not be enough and it will be a waste of my time. I know that med school is very competitive, I dont think that my background will help me. But I have the grades and I test very well, I think I would do great on the MCAT, but I fear that because I didn't go to a 4 year college right away and take full semester classes that I put myself at a big disadvantage. Does anyone have any thoughts? Maybe someone knows someone who took a similar route as myself and they are making it? I guess I'm looking for a little inspiration and that it can be done.

Thank you so much for all of the reponses. After reading many of these reponses I feel like I am under paid. No different differential for weekends. My night shift diff is only $0.75 which sucks. The area I live in is very saturated with nurses and difficult to get into a good hospital position where I would rather be. Well I'll hold out til I find the area I would like to be in. Again Thank you ALL for the replies.

My reasoning for asking is I live in WI make okay money and cost of living rather low, I would like to get out of the cold snowy winters for a few years maybe forever. Considering moving if the area is right. I am RN so I am looking to see what other RNs are making around the U.S. Please list hourly rate and state. Thats all I'm really looking for if you would like you could include your area of work/speciality. I myself 21.09 hourly includes night shift diff. WI working in nursing home. Thanks to all who reply in advance

I would just like to pass on the advice I got from a counselor I got from my local college who used to recruite for a CRNA school in lower Michigan. She said that while they don't look down on students who have families they will look at the single no children applicants with much more interest. She said to me they want full commitment from the student for them to do nothing but school and studying. She said they would also like for their students to look into maids for house cleaning and laundry service. This counselor told me that several wives and husbands actually left their families in a different state for 2 years because they knew that was the only way they had a chance of being accepted into the program.