To move to MO, or not to move....

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hello,

[color=#483d8b]i am a uw-madison nursing student graduating in may. i am thinking about moving to the stl area, but feel as if i don't know enough about the area/healthcare systems in the area. i have had an interview at bjc and have a job offer in a neurosurgery/neuro step-down unit. i have an interview set up at st. luke's in the near future in general med-surg as well. both seem be to great hospitals, but i have never had clinical or personal experience at either places. i have also been a little turned off by the starting salaries which are over $3 less per hour than the hospials in the madison area (from other forums on here, this seems to be the case in most places in stl?) i do have about 1 year of experience working as a nurse intern and nurse tech on an orthopedic/neuro/neurosurgery unit in la crosse, wi. please help...i feel like i am running out of time...

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I don't know much about the facilities from a working standpoint...I did a semester of clinicals at a BJC facility (they're LARGE) and didn't care for it or the atmosphere there....

St. Luke's (the Chesterfield facility) is MUCH MUCH smaller and seems more intimate...I have only dealt with them from a pt standpoint and always had good experiences (I don't like their billing folks however!)....I am currently doing clinicals at an SSM facility and LOVE it...they have several in this area; all in lovely areas of town....I have seen a few nurses post on here that they enjoy working at SSM; the nurses on the floor I am at now seem really happy and the hospital was very welcoming to us students....I have talked to 2 or 3 nurses who are acquaintances who work for SSM and LOVE it....I think there's someone -- NurseNan (?) -- who posted on here and works for SSM and said if you mention her, you both get a bonus or something....maybe see if you can find a posting on here from her and try to get some information?

So that's my rather biased knowledge...doubt it's much help, but hopefully someone else can add more info....

As a former L.A. girl, I love St. Louis....it's a great "big town" with a little town feel....lots of lovely rural areas to live in, or more upscale city areas if you're in to that....the zoo, the Cardinals, historical towns, casinos, concert venues, a good local airport, just all kinds of stuff to keep you happy!! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Oh, one last comment about salaries...I think they're fairly commensurate to the cost of living here...I know one young nurse at the facility I'm at was talking about the house she just bought...another recent graduate on this forum mentioned she had friends she just graduated with who were buying houses here already....you certainly won't starve with our "lower" wages...

Oh, one other thing about BJC...depending on which facility, parking can be a problem....if you want free parking I understand it's a hike...and I don't know if you're forced to walk after-hours, but I wouldn't do it as near as the main hospital is to downtown. The other facilities probably don't have that problem....St. Luke's, Missouri Baptist, Barnes West, and most other facilities that are NOT located downtown don't have the same issues I'm sure...

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Thank you so much for your (speedy) replies! I am going to look into SSM as I have heard a lot of positive comments about it on here.

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

Just to add to what wdwpixie said....

I did clinical rotations at Barnes-Jewish (and maybe on the same floor as your job offer, 11500?) and worked as a tech on their liver/kidney tranplant surgical floor. I liked working there mostly for the learning experience. Barnes takes on some of the most critical patients, and you will learn so much working on any of their floors. However, the work is a bit stressful because of having those critical patients and having a nursing shortage just like everywhere else (especially in medical/surgical areas). Working on the liver/kidney transplant floor was SO busy, but I learned so much during my time there. And I got VERY good at venipuncture!;) We had free parking, but it was a hassle because it was so far away. They do provide free shuttle service from the parking garage to the hospital though, so you don't have to walk unless you want to.

Best of luck as you decide on a facility! SSM has great facilities as well, so definitely check out all of your options. There are many excellent hospitals in St. Louis, and I'm confident you'll find one that fits you if you decide to make St. Louis your home!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Say hello to the newest RN....passed NCLEX on 2/26/07!

Hey, congrats!! Sounds like you definately deserved it!! I'll be anxious to read posts about how the "real world" is post-NS!! :bowingpur

:cheers:

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.
Hey, congrats!! Sounds like you definately deserved it!! I'll be anxious to read posts about how the "real world" is post-NS!! :bowingpur

:cheers:

Thank you! My test shut off at 75 and, like all the other test-takers, felt like throwing up because I thought I failed. I'm just glad it's over and I don't have to look at those NCLEX review books anymore!

So far, I've been in orientation for three weeks on a L&D floor. It's stressful. Now I know why everyone talks about surviving the first year of nursing!!!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Thank you! My test shut off at 75 and, like all the other test-takers, felt like throwing up because I thought I failed.

How funny....well, not funny at the time, I'm sure....but, well, you know...I just hope I make it that far!!

So far, I've been in orientation for three weeks on a L&D floor. It's stressful. Now I know why everyone talks about surviving the first year of nursing!!!!!
I'm not even thinking that far ahead just yet...I had a lousy week in clinicals this week...one thing that keeps me going is that it was a bad DAY in general -- MY fault -- not anything anyone did to me...and that perhaps that I haven't screwed up like this every week means there's hope...and that this was a learning experience....yeee gawds....

I know you're going to be fine....then when you talk that guy in to coming back to the Loo, you'll be a shoo-in @ St. John's!!

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congrats beccazn on passing the nclex, i just passed 2 weeks ago- what a relief!! i do have some ???

my family and i are looking to relocate. we so much want to buy a house with some land. we have boys who like hunting and doing that boy stuff. anyway, we like small towns, but i want to be near a large town for shopping!! any suggestions?? we are actually flying out to st. louis to check out the surrounding area in a couple of weeks.

this may be obvious but what are the ssm hospitals, i would love to check them out. they sound great. anyway, any info anyone would like to give would be great!! thanks again for any info!!

:bowingpur :bowingpur

mirasol

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.
congrats beccazn on passing the nclex, i just passed 2 weeks ago- what a relief!! i do have some ???

my family and i are looking to relocate. we so much want to buy a house with some land. we have boys who like hunting and doing that boy stuff. anyway, we like small towns, but i want to be near a large town for shopping!! any suggestions?? we are actually flying out to st. louis to check out the surrounding area in a couple of weeks.

this may be obvious but what are the ssm hospitals, i would love to check them out. they sound great. anyway, any info anyone would like to give would be great!! thanks again for any info!!

:bowingpur :bowingpur

mirasol

congrats are in order for you as well! i had to laugh when i saw your post, because if you have boys that like hunting then st. louis (and surrounding areas) is definitely right up your family's alley. i lived in jefferson county, about 35 miles south of st. louis. plenty of land available, rural but still close enough to the city. however, it can be a bit "hillbilly-ish." i'm not too much of a hunter myself, but the residents there are so much into it that they would showcase their pictures of kills for deer season in our local newspapers. ;)

to see some of the st. louis ssm hospitals, here's a website: http://www.ssmhc.com/internet/home/ssmcorp.nsf. if you are interested in becoming a pediatric nurse, cardinal glennon is a fantastic facility!

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You might consider Kansas City area as well. Missouri is really a great place to live. AND like someone else said.....the cost of living is great...that may be why salaries are a little lower, but worth it in the long run.

Good luck

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wow that must be some hi society newpaper!! :lol2: i'm sure my boys would think it's great!! thanks for the info. i'll give that area a look. i'll be sure to bring my overalls!!!

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