Want to move to FL

[Shelly0928, BSN, RN]

Hi all. Just seeking your perspectives here. I want to move to Florida from the Pacific NW. I am a nurse with 20 yrs experience mostly in outpatient surgical services. I thought about taking a travel job to get down there, but with all this uncertainty thanks to COVID, was afraid that an outpatient gig might get canceled if elective surgeries stop, and then I would be stuck.

Ideally, I want a change anyway, so am thinking about hospitals and a different specialty all together.

Would you

1-take an agency job to get to the desired location.

2-apply to hospitals and wait for an offer, then move.

3-or, just relocate, and find something once you get there?

I do not have kids to worry about, but I always thought selling a house is better to do in the Summer time because of school calendars.

Any feedback appreciated!

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I would wait until the pandemic was under some sort of control e.g. a viable vaccination was in use. Also I would (if things are stable for you now) wait and see about how bad the recession was going to be.

Remember, in a lot of places it's "last hired, first fired"...

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I would start getting experience in the new specialty NOW while still in the PNW, and move in a year or so. You'll be a much more desirable candidate in a (hopefully) much more stable job market.