Relocation Advice?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Alright so I living in south Florida, specifically Miami and I've been searching for a job for 3 years with no success. I have gone as far as to drive 4 hours north to Orlando for an interview (because they refused to do a skype/phone interview), and still did not get a job. That was for an intro level RN position. I have been working as a school nurse for 5 years taking care of a large verity of patients in mostly self managed clinics. That isn't considered "real hospital experience" So no one here will even give me a chance...

So after 3 years and hundreds of denials I've finally applied out of state I have Hospitals actually show interest but one wants an answer while I'm still interview for another. The hospital that want's an answer is a small hospital in a very small town 2 hours south of San Antonio, Tx near the border. Its a very small hospital but I would see a large verity of patients. Most critical care cases will be sent off to larger hospitals. They offered me a job and honestly sound like they really need a Nurse

Second job is in Springfield Illinois, large well established teaching hospital that just opened up a new center so there are a lot of openings. The floor I applied for has 8 openings alone.

Both are 3/12 shifts, pay around $27/ hr and are willing to pay the same sign on/relocation bonus. My issue is that Texas want's an answer soon while I still have one more interview with Illinois. I have never lived on my own and have no family in either state so that alone is terrifying. I'm torn on what to do. I could say yes to Texas but I don't want to agree to a job just to possibly say 'sorry not interested' later. So I'm really not sure what to do... If I should jump on the offer I have or wait for a job which still has a high chance of being offered.

Hopefully I'm not too late. I just want to tell you that I'm from Springfield and I'm very familiar with both hospitals. DO NOT MOVE TO SPFLD!! You are young and the city is extremely lame, there is nothing to do there unless you enjoy Walmart. The people are close-minded rednecks and the hodpitals are dangerous to your license. In fact, they can't even keep travelers or staff. In fact, I know a traveler st Memorial right now and she's trying to break her contract because she gets 8 patients/night (tele) . I could give you a million horror stories about both hospitals. I'm now traveling, once I get traveling out of my system, I'm moving far away from spfld.

Whow Oo Thank's for the warning. I'm heading up on the 11th for the last interview so I don't officially have the job yet but I'm a bit desperate at the moment since I'm 1. Broke even with living with my parents 2. Lost my health insurance because I aged out of my Parent's plan. and 3. can't finish my BSN without a decent paycheck or someone else paying for it. I think Springfield is my best shot at getting into a hospital and at the very least getting my experience so I can have a better chance at getting hired else wear.

I have a feeling no matter where I go, because I only have an associates, it'll be understaffed. The Nurse manager was upfront with me having to care for 6-7 patients on a night shift but its Ortho so I'm hoping it evens out? I've been kinda weary since the Recruiter told me the floor had 8 openings, so I figured it was going to be far from easy.

As for the town I'm kind of a homebody who keeps to herself to begin with so I'm not too concerned with it being boring. As long as I have internet I'll be fine XD. I have a feeling I'm not going to stick around very long though. Being from Florida winter is not something I am used to at all. My goal is to get the experience I need. If thing's aren't too bad I'll stay if not I'll hopefully be in a position where I can be hired anywhere after a year and a half.

Thank you for the warning though! I'll definitely keep it in mind.

Well it sounds like you are just trying to stay above water. The one "perk" to working at either hospital is you can get plenty of OT and if/when you decide to move elsewhere, your next job will probably feel like paradise. Not sure which hospital you were looking at, but if it was saint johns, you may want to ask about a sign on bonus. A couple years ago, they were giving 10k for a 2 year commitment. Also, a nice place to live that is relatively cheap is a complex called "Monroe gardens". Good luck in whatever you decide!!

Yeah, Honestly I love my current job but the pay is not something you can live off of and there are no benefits. XD I'll try to look at it that way if I start getting frustrated with the job. The hospital is Memorial Medical Center. They are offering Relocation and a 5k sign on bonus so they are at least making it worth it to some extent. I'll keep the complex in mind, Thank you!

Ok to be honest, if I had no choice but to work at Memorial or saint johns in spfld, I'd choose memorial. During your interview, make sure you ask about what comitees you can join, department goals. And to show you've done some research on the area, you can joke around if they ask why you want to move here, tell them jokingly so you can finally experience s "horse shoe" to eat. It's a local favorite. But to answer it more seriously, don't tell them it's because you are desperate.

Oh, yeah, that's definitely true about eight tele patients at night, and I'd be surprised if there were really only 6-7 ortho patients at night. It's been a few years since I worked there but I felt like the managers tended to lowball how many patients the nurses really had (as opposed to an ideal situation). The travelers were often surprised. When I moved to a hospital where I only had five patients a night I felt like I was dreaming. I've sometimes thought I should take a travel assignment back in Springfield or somewhere similar in the midwest just so I don't get soft. It's probably easier to get your mind around as a new grad, in a way, because you don't have high expectations. My staffing ratio is better now, but I felt like nurses had more of a voice at Memorial...

@raindrop Hm I hadn't considered asking about the committees, I'll look into it. I've been doing research as a hospital as a whole and brushing up on ortho. Never heard of an horse shoe before though it looks interesting! I know not to say I'm desperate or come off as such. I did mention to the recruiter that it was difficult to get a job though.

@Bonnie - I wouldn't be surprised if I did end up with 8 patients. The nurse manager told me that the day shift had a lot of discharge and ambitions and it was overall very overwhelming for nurses who have never been on the floor. Hence me applying for the night shift.

I'm a bit weary about how understaffed they really are because they seem to be sparing no expense when it comes to them flying me up for the last interview Thursday. They are going as far as to cover any food I have at the hotel. It's amazing especially since no hospital down here would go so far for someone they were trying to hire. Just has be a bit weary as to how much of a shortage they have and whether it's about the state overall (who a whole lot of people are leaving from what I've read) or the hospital it's self.

Just wondering if your heading to Springfield :)? If no, why did you decide not to take the job? If yes, how are you liking it?

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