What State Should We Call 'Home'?

[live4today, RN]

DH and I are going to relocate to a permanent stomping ground possibly the latter half of January 2004. We are debating on which state to settle down in. I thought I'd seek advice from my Allnurses pals since so many of you have either travelled, lived, or may now reside in the areas we are looking at settling down in.

The four choices we have thus far are: Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, or North Carolina. While he was home on leave, we visited two of the four places, and like them both.

If you know of the job possibilities in these states for nurses (he's a nurse too), let me know. He already has his Bachelor's in Health Science Degree, and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in hopes of one day managing a hospital (to show the powers that be how it's really done.) The man rocks bigtime!

I am planning a return to school to become a social worker UNLESS I find a hospital that treats its nurses like human beings and professionals to boot! :)

Any helpful hints/suggestions would be appreciated.

[Wheeze-ESB]

I have lived in both Indiana and North Carolina.

Indiana (especially, well almost only Indianapolis) has a plethora of hospitals, teaching hospitals and private. In regards to education, Indianapolis has IUPUI (which is a combo of Indiana U. and Purdue U. both phenomenal schools - IU for MSW), it also has a couple other more expensive schools (notably Butler). The one and really only reason we left is the weather. Winter is brutal, well essentially like almost all Midwest states(including Illinois :)). But that's what led us to N. Carolina. Unlike Indy it has a few "large" areas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Triad (Greensboro/Winston-Salem) all have major hospitals and colleges. I'm not familiar with all the different hospitals but I did a search recently on AllNurses regarding pros & cons of WakeMed, Duke and Chapel Hill (all in the Raleigh area) and I was able to glean some very useful information about which hospitals I essentially want to avoid.

I hope that helps some small bit.

[angelac1978]

I am partial to Virginia/N Carolina as I grew up there. however, Indiana is a nice state, if you don't mind cold winters (same goes for Illinois) I've been to Indianapolis a few times and it is a pretty cool city.

A

[BarbPick]

take a travel assignment and get the free housing and tax benefits

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I'm partial to North Carolina as I lived there much of my life. They've got awesome beaches and mountains. They are fast becoming a retirement destination, so it's a great place to grow old. The winters aren't as traumatic as upper states. There are some awesome cities like Raliegh-Durham (Durham being called the City of Medicine).

[live4today, RN]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! :)

The two states we visited were IL and IN thus far, and we lived in NC and VA during our military assignments in years past.

We both like IN with the exception of the midwest winters. We still are unsure of IL, but they do have a full service military base there so that would be a plus. If we lived in IN, we would always have to drive two plus hours to the nearest military base for our healthcare, but it would be worth it if we settle there.

VA and NC are also beautiful states, near the ocean, and don't have the harshest winters to deal with as IN and IL do.

We chose those four states to research thus far, and so far, Indiana is winning by a few positive points.

Hmmmmmm...time will tell. :)

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Virginia, while beautiful in the mountain areas, sux as far as wages in these same beautiful parts.. the farther SW you go, the prettier, but also the lowest paying and most economically depressed. Also a "Commonwealth State".. pretty sukky.

N.C., on the other hand is FABULOUS !!! Definately becoming the #1 "white collar" state in a hurry. Has not only the beautiful mountains, Asheville, Boone, etc., but the beaches as well... moderate temperatures , and the payscale is MUCH, MUCH better !!! People are still warm and friendly... yep, I'd go with N/C. in a heartbeat ! Great hospitals in the Raleigh-Durham area as mentioned above, as well as some others.

Yaaaaaaaaaaayyy !!! She's moving to N.C. !!!

[nowplayingEDRN]

I put in a vote for NC.....beaches, the ocean, access to federal facilities (if that is what you need) Hey! What more could one need than the beach and the ocean! (okay so I am speaking for my self!! :roll )

[ladyjane]

Another vote here for North Carolina. We were there (Charlotte) over the wk-end. If I lived there I would only be 3 hours from the most fabulous beach, instead of the 6 I am now!

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Although my daughter has lived in Virginia over seven years, and the colonial atmosphere the area has, including such oh so beautiful caverns such as Luray Cavern, and the Blue Ridge Highway, and such very pretty plantations, and so much Civil War history, and those gorgeous mountains; if I was to have a choice between the two, I probably would choose North Carolina. I've been to the Biltmore House in Ashville, and I noticed that many of Ashville's hospitals are specialized hospitals, as well as a huge medical center, including a branch of the University of North Carolina.

Echonomically, I have heard about several people moving to North Carolina due to their growing economy.

Can't help loving Virginia, though. It's gorgeous!

Fran:nurse:

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

What's wrong with Delaware and tax free shopping or SE PA --no tax on clothes!

Crozer pay is thru the roof with your experience(Chester PA---right above Delaware)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

What's wrong with Delaware and tax free shopping or SE PA --no tax on clothes!

Crozer pay is thru the roof with your experience(Chester PA---right above Delaware)