MegSaid

It is worth noting that Swedish will be building a big new facility in Issaquah in just a few years, planning has already started. So, because they have so many internal transfers, the nurses who are already there will have first dibs on the new Eastside positions...my advice is get in early so that you can have your shot at one of the nurse positions at the new facility when it is built. Public transpo to Seattle is not bad - bus right from Duvall into downtown, and Swedish will give you a free metro pass. So that's just my .02! Good luck!

Hi - You will love Seattle! Definitely better winters than Michigan! You should visit in October and start looking for a position in November-ish. The programs are competitive and all the hospitals have their pluses and minuses...depends on what area of nursing you want to get into. There are usually not sign on bonuses for Residents, but I know that Swedish will give a good relo package. They advertise it as "customized relocation" which means they will pay for what you need, but won't just throw cash at you. The cost of living in Seattle can be high, or it can be low, depending on where you live. The southend of Seattle is still very affordable, and pay rates are relative to the cost of living so you can expect to make more in Seattle. Seattle has not been hit as hard by the economic downturn, and the unemployment rate is still very low, so your husband should not have too much trouble finding work, too. Good luck! The hospitals you list are all good ones, but I am biased for Swedish so I would start there! :redpinkhe

swedish definitely does not make their nurses wear all white!! not sure how long ago that was, but not true today!

I am so sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience with a recruiter at Swedish! I know the recruiters there quite well - please email me and I will talk to the recruiter and help them understand how put off you are with the experience! I am 100% sure the recruiter there would want to make it right.

I totally don't agree with this post! THis hospital has been wonderful and I would like to know what hospital is perfect, anyway? Don't take one person's word for it, folks. Swedish is a fantastic hospital and it's a bummer that this person had a bad experience and decided to write off the whole organization.

Swedish is really a great hospital! The best in Seattle, by nearly all measures. It is a teaching hospital. I don't think the white scrubs is true - I see all colors of scrubs. You should definitely work there.

I know that Seattle hospitals have great RN retention rates. Check out www.swedish.org or one of the other great hospitals in Seattle.