Up north in Coeurdalene

[Jocie]

Hello everyone... Well i'm going to school right now and will graduate with my RN in may of this year. I'm very excited but a little nervous about boards of coorifice. I see alot of people from Boise area. I'v thought about moving down there but i really like it up here in the north. Not to many job opening up here either but I already work at the hospital as a phlebotomist and have been told it won't be to hard for me to get on as an RN.

[DMoon]

Hi Jocie--

I'm envious! Originally from southern Idaho but went to school in Moscow--now living in the Dakotas, which are lovely in their own very large, flat way, but nothing like northern Idaho!:chuckle You're making me homesick...

Best of luck with school! I'm sure you'll do well wherever you go.

Dakota

[JMinCO]

Jocie, I'm jealous. My husband and I are in CO transplanted from MT and are hoping to relocate to CDA in a year or two. I was wondering what's the job outlook for a L and D nurse there. I have training from a tertiary care unit here in Denver, lot's of high risk OB. I'll have years when I'm ready to move. I'll work in Spokane if need be. In fact, I've heard you make more there anyway. Is that true? Do you have any insight on the chance of getting on in L and D? What are wages and incentives like? We're hoping to buy a home in the older neighborhoods, near the lake, parks and downtown. We don't mind renovating. Do you live in this area? What do you recommend? I'd love any feedback you could give me. Thanks, J.

Hello everyone... Well i'm going to school right now and will graduate with my RN in may of this year. I'm very excited but a little nervous about boards of coorifice. I see alot of people from Boise area. I'v thought about moving down there but i really like it up here in the north. Not to many job opening up here either but I already work at the hospital as a phlebotomist and have been told it won't be to hard for me to get on as an RN.

[lindarn]

Jocie, I'm jealous. My husband and I are in CO transplanted from MT and are hoping to relocate to CDA in a year or two. I was wondering what's the job outlook for a L and D nurse there. I have training from a tertiary care unit here in Denver, lot's of high risk OB. I'll have years when I'm ready to move. I'll work in Spokane if need be. In fact, I've heard you make more there anyway. Is that true? Do you have any insight on the chance of getting on in L and D? What are wages and incentives like? We're hoping to buy a home in the older neighborhoods, near the lake, parks and downtown. We don't mind renovating. Do you live in this area? What do you recommend? I'd love any feedback you could give me. Thanks, J.

I moved to Spokane from California in 1989 when I married got married. My husband was active duty at FAFB.

I found a nursing saturated area between the ADN program at Spokane Community College, the LPN program there as well, and two BSN programs. Also, there is an ADN program at North Idaho College in CDA.

Last year Deaconess Medical Center here institued 9 % pay cuts across the board, except for the departments that had unionized. Whoever was unionized, didn't get cut. The nurses FINALY voted to unionize with 1199, after the techs, aids, secretaries, had unionized with them as well. The hospital gave back 6% as of this year, but still not up to last years leval.

Just last week, Sacred Heart laid off ALL OF ITS LPN'S, and 60 more of other staff because of unpaid bills from the uninsured. Thery are hiring RNs and more CNAs to make up for the LPNs.

Overall, there is not alot of job activity here for nurses. The papers ads at Deaconess and Sacred Heart have been almost empty. I would advise you to obtain a firm job before moving here.

Lindarn RN, BSN, CCRN

[lindarn]

I moved to Spokand from California in 1989 when I married got married. My husband was active duty at FAFB.

I found a nursing saturated area between the ADN program at Spokane Community College, the LPN program there as well, and two BSN programs.

Also, there is an ADN program at North Idaho College in CDA.

Last year Deaconess Medical Center here institued 9 % pay cuts across the board, except for the departments that had unionized. Whoever wasn't unionized, didn't get cut. The nurses FINALY voted to unionize with 1199, after the techs, aids, secreatries, had unionized with them as well. The hospitla gave back 6 % as of this year, but still not up to last years leval.

Just last week, Sacred Heart laid off ALL OF ITS LPN'S, and 60 more of other staff because of unpaid bills from the uninsured. Thery are hiring RNs and more CNAs to make up for the LPNs.

Overall, there is not alot of job activity here for nurses. The papers ads at Deaconess and Sacred Heart have been almost empty. I would advise you to obtain a firm job before moving here.

Linda Gusch, RN, BSN, CCRN

THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE IN THESE AREAS. Last year Deaconess

In the above post. I meant that only departments who weren't unionized got pay cuts.The departments who were unionized DID NOT because they were under contract. At Sacred Heart, the techs, aids, secretaries, LPN's etc. ALL unionized under 1199 as had Deaconess. The nurses would do well do dump the Washington State Nurses Association with their next contract in 3 years and organize under 1199. They got royally $crewed with the contract that WSNA had bargained for that they just signed in January.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, WAshington

[JMinCO]

Thanks for all the info, as sombering as it was. I can't believe a 9% pay cut. I was a new grad here last January, but with some experience as an LPN so I got the upper end of new grad pay scale. That's $19-21, + shift differentials ($2 eve, $4 nocs, $1 w/e [LOL], and $4 call). I'll have 2+ yrs exper when I plan to move but hopefully I won't have to take a pay cut. The cost of living is a lot higher here too, so that should help. Do you know what RN's with a couple yrs exp get hired on at, salary wise? And are you're shift differentials comparable? I appreciate any info you can give. Also, how's the public schools in the s. hill area? Thanks, J.