What is the job market like in WA?

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Hello, I am looking to relocate to find work. The job market for nurses is dead in my area and I have not found a job. Washington is one of the places I'm thinking about relocating to but I'm scared that I will move and I won't be able to find a job here as well. I don't have alot of experience so it makes it that much harder. I just wanted to get some advice about it from nurses who live in WA. Is is hard for new grads to find work here (I'm pretty much a new grad with only 6 months exp). Also, I'm an LPN, if that matters.

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It's pretty tight here too. I'm going to be a new grad and will be looking elsewhere in addition to WA. I think a few hospitals still use LPNs but I don't know too many in the Western WA region. Good luck in your search

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Specializes in ED.

I am afraid I must say that it is slim pickings around here for new grads.

Even more so for those who didn't already live and go to school here.

Too many of the hospitals around here have been burned by hiring new grads from out of state who get a year under their belt and then move 'back home' or somewhere else.

I just spoke with a multiple-dept manager at my facility two nights ago, and he told me it costs our facility about $65,000 to train someone new. So if they aren't likely to stick around, they don't want to hire them.

I hope this helps,

DC, ED NOC RN ADN

Abbreviations R Us :)

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I'm a new grad RN and I currently live in South Carolina but will be moving to Washington with my spouse who is in the Navy. I've been looking for months for a job and I am finding out there are few Nurse Residency positions for new grads and TONS and TONS of new grads applying. It's really difficult for me because I'll probably only be in Washington for 3 1/2 years and then it's where the Navy sends us. The only advice I can give you is keep searching and keep applying

Good Luck

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Specializes in Emergency, Internal Medicine, Sports Med.
I'm a new grad RN and I currently live in South Carolina but will be moving to Washington with my spouse who is in the Navy. I've been looking for months for a job and I am finding out there are few Nurse Residency positions for new grads and TONS and TONS of new grads applying. It's really difficult for me because I'll probably only be in Washington for 3 1/2 years and then it's where the Navy sends us. The only advice I can give you is keep searching and keep applying

Good Luck

I am a Navy spouse too. Depends where you guys will be living, there's a few bases here in WA. I graduated in May 2010 with my bsn (I went to school in Vancouver, Canada). If you are heading to Bremerton or everett there's more openings but way more competition. We're at Whidbey and there's hardly anything up here. I actually opted to take a job offered to me in Canada before I left. There is just no way I would find something for the same pay/hours here- plus it's in ER (my preference & specialty). I will keep working at this job up in Canada until we finish his 3ish years. Then hopefully where we go next won't be such a battle.

Welcome to WA :nurse:

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Specializes in SRNA.

My cousin's girlfriend is a LPN, and she had maybe 6mos of LTC experience before landing a job at the prison in Connell, WA. It's not the exciting west side of the state, but the Tri-Cities are nearby and it's a decent place to live/raise a family. Anyhow, she tells me they're always hiring nurses...of course correctional nursing isn't for everyone!

The job market on this side of the state isn't awful. The hospital i work at continues to hire people consistently.

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I think it is hard to find a job everywhere. I had to relocate, I finally found a job Good luck finding work. I think it sucks everywhere right now trying to find work. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

I am also a new grad but from Illinois and just moved out here in Dec. I just had two interviews last week and Seattle Children's and Swedish Medical Center. Both are hiring but you have to check weekly because they only post new grad positions literally for a week before taking them down. I'm lucky I just got hired at Swedish, and they informed me they are starting to do 3 more RN residencies this year in addition to the two they already have. My best bet would be to try Swedish.

Good luck on the job search!

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Specializes in SRNA.

I'm not sure if this would be helpful to all, but @Swedish on Twitter is the hospital system up there in Seattle, and if you were to go to Twitter and search @Swedish you may find one of their HR recruiters that you can interact with, if you're into the social networking thing.

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I too am relocating to Seattle, brand new 2nd degree BSN. I have a part time job lined up but not in a hospital and I really want that hospital experience....I'll check the twitter and childrens daily. Thank you!

Ps is it better to Transfer license in person when I get there or ahead of time---for shortest wait period. Thanks!

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Specializes in SRNA.
Ps is it better to Transfer license in person when I get there or ahead of time---for shortest wait period. Thanks!

When I moved to WA state from NV, I did it through the mail, and it was pretty quick. I'm not even sure that they allow walk in licensing here. Instead of a board of nursing, it's the Department of Health, which does licensing for EVERYBODY.

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thank you! i just spoke with Children's and the nurse recruiter said it could take up to 6 weeks! But that you can go in person to pay with a money order and that may speed it up. I am working with an agency and they also reported they were able to expedite licenses....hmmm, i first have to pass the NCLEX in MD...

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