Thinking of Making a move to St. Louis Missouri

[saraaileen76]

I am currently a nurse in Sacramento. I graduated may 2010 and have been working since September 2010. I think I am having a little burn out as well as some life changes I think I need to make. My best friend who is like my sister moved to st Louis 4 years ago and I have yet to find someone l can confide in or feel comfortable around, but my family is in Sacramento area. I am single with no children. I am thinking of moving out to st Louis but I know. Othing about how nursing in Missouri differed from California. Are there nurse to patient ratios, if not what tasks do I as a nurse do if I have 6-7 patients. So many questions and no one to answer them.

[Pixiesmom, BSN, RN]

You might get better replies on the Missouri forum. If you want to move a little farther east we have a lot of openings.

[Luckyyou, BSN, RN]

There are no hospitals in the Saint Louis area with unionized nurses, so we do not have any protected nurse:patient ratios (to my knowledge at least). When I graduated last year, the job market was terrible. I would most definitely suggest applying for and securing a job before moving here. The cost of living is low and it's a nice place to live, however.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I have worked in a number of states over the years and people are people where ever you go. Hospitals have different rates of staffing and working conditions even within the same city, so I doubt you will find much difference. You should most definitely research the area and have a job lined up before you make the move though.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Well, first and foremost are you an LPN/LVN or a RN? RN's may have better abilities securing employment in a hospital setting, vs a LTC setting, however, there are usually homehealth jobs available for both disciplines. St. Louis has unionized hospitals (Mercy Hospital) is one that used to be, if not still is. Mercy hospital is located in the heart of St. Louis Suburbia.

They also have on in Washington MO which is outside of St. Louis, approx 45 minute southwest. I too believe that once you make a genuine connection with a person, it is so hard to have the disconnect, but family is also important. Mo does NOT have nurse/pt ratios in many institutions, and therfore it may be a culture shock if you are ued to 1:4, or 1:6 depending on the setting. Housing is not as cheap as say Texas is, but you will surely find it reasonable, especially compared to California. Mo has state and federal taxes to be paid as well as personal property yearly...YUCH... but again it all depends on whether you own or rent something. Just like with California, if you move here, you'll learn the areas to stay away from for personal safety sakes, and those which will be okay to visit anytime of day, however, the world, it is a changing, so care should be taken in all instances. Feel free to private message me if you want to "chat" some more.

[Luckyyou, BSN, RN]

Mercy is no longer union.

[panpan]

Ｉam from st. louis and I want to move to sacramento lol... The job market here is only bad for new grads, but if you have experience in med/surg then it should not be a problem！　Ｉknow cost of living is higher in sacramento and some nurses start at 30-40 dollars an hour. Here the avg is around 20's ... but cost of living is definitely cheaper! St. louis is definitely a good place to start a family.