BlueKat

I worked at Ingham Regional and like it very much. It's not as large as Sparrow therefore it tends to be a friendlier place. It is also the cardiac hospital in the area if you are interested in that field. As for what area is good. I live in the Charlotte area which is nice. Homes / property tends to be higher priced if you go east of Lansing (E. Lsg, Okemos, etc.) That is why we chose to live in Charlotte ... we got more house and land for a lot less than we would have paid east. Hope this helps.

I don't have any 'you knows' to add but just wanted to say ... I have lived in Michigan for 10 years now and though I have been on a number of airline flights around the U.S. and have always noticed that the emergency exits are ID'd in 2 languages, the first of course being english. It was just last week that I noticed that the 2nd language was not french but spanish. Took me 10 years to see that it was not 'sortie' (is that right?) I don't speak french or spanish. Can't remember how it's said in spansish.

Whether it be an RN / RPN / secretary job the best and quickest way to get to Michigan is to apply for jobs in Michigan. When the hospital / company agrees to hire you they (the hospital) can help you get the working visa. It is much quicker to get to Michigan if you are being sponsored by an employer. I was born, and educated in Canada and came to Michigan over 10 years ago. Hope this info helps.

I left 12 years ago with no regrets. I'm now in a position that I could never have in Canada and enjoy it everyday.

Has anyone heard about these new regulations the US is requiring for foreign nurse, including Canadian to have? I just heard the tail end of it on the news today. I am living in Michigan so probably won't be affected by it but I am concerned about my fellow Canadian nurses. With the nursing shortage being so acute and will be worse in the US, doesn't seem a smart thing to do. Any comments or information?

Interesting thread. I've wondered what the divorce rate is for RN's, especially the higher level; management, administration. Seems the higher level of nurse, the higher divorce rate. No divorce here though, married for 19 years and going strong!

I believe that you are not a "Registered' Nurse until you pass the boards. When you graduate, you are considered a graduate nurse from a 'nursing program'. Registered does not take effect until the passing of the boards. Yes?

Maybe a different title would change the public's impression of what RN's do. I'm thinking that we might be 'Healthcare Engineers'. Seems a lot of professions like to use that 'engineer' title, even a sanitation engineer seems to get more respect!

Hubby is an RN as well. When people ask me 'what does your husband do?' I tell them, 'he's an RN as well'. Response, "Oh a male nurse"? Well, he is male and he is a nurse so I guess he is a male nurse. I'm a female nurse. It irritates me how people refer to gender/occupation that way.

I think you're reading more into than there is. Let it go ... life is too short!

I graduated from a Canadian school but never actually worked as an RN in Canada. I immediately took a position in Detroit. It was OK but didn't feel that I got the mentoring I should have. Later I moved to a mid Michigan hospital and was much happier there. I have since left the hospital scene altogether. The one positive thing of working in the US is that there are many more opportunities available to RN's other than hospital nursing. Of course the nursing shortage is more acute in the US than in Canada so if you take a position here you'll probably work harder - physically and mentally. The money is good, especially once converted to Canadian funds. Although I do enjoy my current job and remain in Michigan ... it is not home. All my family is back in Canada and I do miss the closeness. That's my spiel.

Maybe some do. I don't think its the majority by any means. More than anything I think its just that's how the younger people are these days. Showing belly buttons, etc seems to be the norm these days. Younger people seem to go by the creed 'if you've got it flaunt it'. I don't agree with it but that's just me. Just a thought ... Females who dress showing more than they ought to are not usually the marrying kind. I think in general men would want to marry someone who is less of an exhibitionist.

Would anyone want to be kept alive in this situation? I think not. It's not a life at all. I don't mean to sound cold hearted or anything but this is also a drain on the health care system that is overloaded as it is. We can't take proper care of those who really need it. The cost of health care is unbelievably high. More out of pocket costs, etc. Reality Check.

I have a bunch of old RN magazines from 1998 to current. Does anyone know if there is someplace that can use these? It seems a shame to just throw them out but I am running out of room to store them. Thanks!