Relocating to Ann Arbor/Detroit Area--HELP!!

KrisRNwannabe · Mar 2, 2005

Hi erin!! I used to work down that way, but have never been able to afford living down there. You are really close to the University of Michigan hospital. they are always hiring. i do believe they have 12 hour shifts. Ann Arbor is very expensive to live in because of the college. A friend of mine just bought a house down there for 300,000. Most everyone I know commutes at least 40 miles to get away from the area. I think Rns at UofM start at 19 or so. hope this helps. also try rent.net for some apartment prices and I think you can search for houses too.

Kris

eborgelt · Mar 2, 2005

I live in Toledo, Ohio, but work at University of Michigan Hospital. Rn salaries start around $21 an hour. Very good benefits. many choices in the way of medical coverage. Vision and dental. Copays are not that bad. Retirement is excellent!! If you put in 5% of your salary, the U doubles that. Always openings depending on what area you work in. Plenty of variety and you see a lot being a teaching hospital.

Elizabeth LPN

KrisRNwannabe · Mar 2, 2005

http://www.med.umich.edu/mchrd/mna/appendix.htm

Hi Erin!

Above is a link I got from the the UofM web page. This is wage schedule from the nursing contract. They actually start at 18.68 per hour. If i lived closer I would work there. lots of interesting cases. people from all over michigan and the surrounding states go there. good luck.

kris

military spouse · Mar 2, 2005

Thanks for the info. I looked at the attached payscale and it looks as if it is fairly difficult to make over $25/hr. Is that true? Maybe I'm just spoiled:)

Thank you,

Erin

CarolineRn · Mar 4, 2005

Thanks for the info. I looked at the attached payscale and it looks as if it is fairly difficult to make over $25/hr. Is that true? Maybe I'm just spoiled:)
Thank you,
Erin

Hey Erin! Congrats to your husband and family on his retirement from the military!! I'm getting ready to move to the Ann Arbor area myself, and have been doing alot of online research, maybe I can help you with some links I've found re the "U".

If you looked carefully at the contact of wages that Kris posted, you'll see that was from the last (I don't think current) contract that began in 2001. That link goes into detail about the clinical ladder, and gives a pretty good idea of how they advance nurses.

Here's another link-- more simplified, from Aug '04.

http://www.med.umich.edu/nursing/benefits.htm

As you see, it looks like they pay those with more experience at high end--28.35/hr.

BUT here's a link to the salary/wage contract they are currently (or just finished) working on. Actually, it's still listed as "tentative" so who knows if it's just not been updated yet, or if the university and the union are at a standstill? I beleive someone (maybe Kris-- not sure) told me yesterday on another thread that the contract has been agreed upon, so there could as yet be changes to this union website-- Anyway, take a look down the contract, they certainly are planning on taking care of the nurses who advance along the clinical ladder, much better than Florida, at least! I just hope the clinical ladder is realistic and achievable.

http://www.umpnc.org/summary.htm

I was just going to say that the benefits are awesome, but I'll bet with your husband being military, you're pretty well set in that dept.

I have had nothing but time on my hands the past few days. LOL! But I am doing as much research on the area as I can. And Kris wasn't joking when she told you about the high cost of living up there. But there are some really, really pretty suburban and country areas that wouldnt be too much of a commute for me. I'm willing to sacrifice a little to get the change of seasons, though!

For a city-to city comparison try this website:

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html

Best of luck to you, Erin!

military spouse · Mar 7, 2005

Thanks everyone for the responses!!! This is such a big move for us and it involves a huge paycut for my husband (did you ever think you would hear that from a military family?). Also, he is limited in where he can live (20 minute recall to the airport in Willow Run). I've never been to Michigan, but he was there a few weeks ago.

Caroline, have you heard back from the hospitals to which you have applied? I just applied for my Michigan license last week so it will probably be awhile before I can actually begin the job search. Taxes and real estate seem pretty high there. There are some new condos being built in Canton that my husband said are real nice. We've never lived in a condo and I'm not too sure what to expect. Seems nice with the pools, gym, etc.

Thanks again,

Erin

CarolineRn · Mar 7, 2005

Thanks everyone for the responses!!! This is such a big move for us and it involves a huge paycut for my husband (did you ever think you would hear that from a military family?). Also, he is limited in where he can live (20 minute recall to the airport in Willow Run). I've never been to Michigan, but he was there a few weeks ago.
Caroline, have you heard back from the hospitals to which you have applied? I just applied for my Michigan license last week so it will probably be awhile before I can actually begin the job search. Taxes and real estate seem pretty high there. There are some new condos being built in Canton that my husband said are real nice. We've never lived in a condo and I'm not too sure what to expect. Seems nice with the pools, gym, etc.
Thanks again,
Erin

Hey Erin!

I have heard back from several units I forwarded my resume too at both hospitals I applied to-- The U and St Joes-Mercy (Both in Ann Arbor). In both cases, a nurse recruiter contacted me the following day, we discussed the areas I would be interested in, and one day later I have offers from both hospitals! The U is interested in putting me in their CTICU-- which is pretty close to what I have been doing, and St Joe's wants me in their step-down. Also, I put a resume on rnwanted.com's website, and have had nurse recruiters calling me for all kinds of places. (I have OR expericence too). And I am a fairly new RN, so I'm a little suprised by all the responses I've gotten. I just got a call from St Joes' as I am typing this-- they are interested in speaking to me for a Hospice position! (I've always been intrested in that, too!)

My advice to you Erin, just apply for all the units you're interested in-- they may be willing to train you, and this move may turn out to be a real-career booster. So far, it's looking that way for me, and I couldnt be happier!

You are right though, Ann Arbor's property taxes arereally high! We're considering renting for awhile, and then maybe get something outside the city, maybe Chelsea or Dexter, or even Ypsilanti. (for some reason, my hubby doesn't like Ypsi, but it's a little more affordable there)

One bad thing about moving to Michigan from Florida is that in FL, we have no state taxes. I think it's 3.5% in Michigan, maybe that's why the pay is better.

Anyway, best of luck to you, Erin!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 7, 2005

Having just moved from MI in the last couple months I can tell you it is expensive to live in Ann Arbor- mostly because of the college. The pay in the area is higher because of the unions. Not all hospitals are unionized but it does have a trickle down effect. As far as the wage scale posted above that is the old one the expired last July. If I recall correctly I think the lowest a nurse who is not a new grad makes is just over $21 an hour with top of the scale being around $32 sn hour. Also few nurses working there actually live in Ann Arbor- I know one who travels from Toledo, OH and another who use to travel from Grand Rapids.

Here is the link for the jobs web site it also has links for Hr and benefits.

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http://websvcs.itcs.umich.edu/jobnet/postings_byjobfamily.php?campus=AnnArborHealth

rj

military spouse · Mar 8, 2005

I appreciate all of your responses. The cost of living is discouraging, but we received a DVD of Ann Arbor yesterday and it looks beautiful. We've been living in desert communities for the past several years and I can't wait to see grass. Our daughter and dog won't know what to do with themselves :)

Caroline, how long did it take you to receive your Michigan license? I just applied last week and I believe the app said about 6 weeks. That's great that you are interested in hospice. I worked for hospice for about a 1 1/2 years when we lived in El Paso. I loved it! Of course, I had a great boss! I'm hoping to find something part-time when I get there. We have a 7 year-old and with my husband's crazy schedule it would be nice to not have to always be dealing with childcare.

Thank you,

Erin