Snohomish County New Grad opportunities

[blue_sky_nomad]

Hello everyone, I am new to allnurses.com and I am currently in my final semester of nursing school - woohoo!

My husband is also graduating with his Master's degree and he is debating 2 offers right now - one of which is in Everett. I have done extensive job hunting where the other offer is, but not as much in the Seattle area. Can anyone tell me if there is hope for a new grad (BSN) that went to school out of state?

Obviously I do not have a PCT or CNA position as a student in a Seattle area hospital, and I didn't do that in GA either because we knew we would be moving immediately after graduating. On the flip side, I have a 4.0, a previous degree in Biomedical Engineering, and I spent a year with Americorps in a Community Health Center. My husband has been driving himself nuts weighing both options, but if there are opportunities still for new grads in Seattle, it would make us feel a lot better about choosing it (we would really prefer to move to WA over the other offer).

I have done some researching on this site and found that the Franciscan health system seems to be hiring, but I think that would just be too much for me to commute a min of 1 hr each way tacked onto a 12 hr shift. If I had to do it, I could probably deal with it - but I wanted to get more information on the N. Seattle options.

Thanks in advance!

[eeyorelov]

I not sure what hospitals are out in N Seattle, I think Northwest but they haven't had anything since last year, and last winter they had a wait list of sort that stated they don't anticipate anything till at least summer of 2010, but I have yet to see that. I in south king county and I few hospitals are already hiring for the summer. Personally, as a person who went to school out of state and graduated last year with a BSN, if you have a foot in the door already, or work at a hospital, I would start there and only search other placees if you know they won't take you. good luck!

[barnejes]

I don't have an answer for you... I just wanted to say how WEIRD it is that I also have a degree in Bioengineering and am looking to go back to school for my BSN soon :) Good luck to you! Mind if I ask why you decided to go back to school?

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

are you re-locating from outside of sea or WA or ? There are opportunities in Sea and huge amount of hospitals... however lots of students gain their 'in' by working as a CNA or as a Nurse Tech while being a student and in school. You will have a much better chance w/ prior experience... esp with economy the way it is and hospitals not knowing whether to hire or hold with the ongoing changes to regulations, etc.

if you go to maps.google.com you can search for hospitals vicinity of your destination.

[blue_sky_nomad]

Thanks for the replies - I am currently in Atlanta, and my husband just accepted a job at Boeing, so we are definitely relocating. I understand the idea of getting an "in" by working as a tech or networking during my practicum and clinicals, but unfortunately I can't take advantage of that in my situation. I wish...

I am mainly trying to get a feel for what is going on out there right now. I have looked at many hospital sites: Harborview, Stevens, Children's, Providence, etc. I will certainly apply when and where I can, but I also know that there are people that the hiring managers are seeing in person and working with right now. I'm hoping that there will still be jobs once the people who have "in's" are hired. *fingers crossed*

We are moving out there at the end of June, and I will be taking the NCLEX shortly thereafter. We are financially secure enough that I don't need to be in a panic about getting a job, but I have the personality where I need to stay busy and be challenged (ie I planned my wedding for last summer while taking summer Med-surg and Pharm! Never again, but it certainly kept me on my toes!).

PS. I switched from Biomedical Engineering because I wanted to interact with more people and actually get involved in their care vs designing products to be used by healthcare personnel to help people. All the same end goal of helping people, but I just wanted to be more directly involved (and the biology was always way more interesting than the engineering). I do feel like it was a great introduction to the critical thinking skills that are always so desired in nursing. Plus, the bonus that I didn't have the same adjustment issues as some of my classmates with regard to the testing style.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

The market is not as bad as other locations - as you can see from those hospital websites.. but it is still tight for new grads with no local or prior exp. The opportunities that are there seem to be per diem, nights, or LTC positions. I'd keep looking now, prepping on line apps at all those locations, emailing POCs for residency information/opportunities and getting a feel for where you will be/might live and the transportation around - so you can focus on reasonable commuting ranges.