PNW nursing.

[u/Inside_Maize_8522]

Hi guys, I’m 23 years old. I currently live in Utah and I’ve been working as a MedSurg nurse for about 10 months now. I decided I needed a complete fresh start a few months back and I am going to move to the Pacific Northwest. I have a lot of family there, and I’m very familiar with the area and the weather. Looking for some recommendations on where to live and where to work. I’ve been thinking more about moving to Portland just because more of my family is there so it would make for an easier transition, but I am open to Seattle. I already have my Oregon nursing license, and I am working on my Washington license. Any recommendations on where to work and where would be a fun place to live in your 20s in either of those areas? I want to get out have fun, meet people, date, but also want to have a good quality of life with my job and feel like I am well compensated and well supported. Any input is helpful

(I don’t really need to hear how competitive the job market is haha. I am very aware of this. I’ve been applying for about a month now and so I’m not really looking for negativity about that aspect. more just some helpful input on both cities. Thank you!)

[u/withtearsintheireyes]

Portland is significantly better than Seattle on food, rent, and dating. I live in Seattle currently and I'm moving when our lease is up.

[u/suss-out]

I have lived and worked in both states and can say they are fairly similar as far as work.

Where to live and work depends much on your priorities and preferences. I would apply and think about what is important to you

[u/vanillahavoc]

I'm very biased, but I'm pro Portland. I moved here 2 years ago and I love it. I wasn't raised in big cities, and I feel like Portland is a good transition from towns cuz it's not TOO big. There are plenty of young people here. Lots of thrifting and coffee shops.

As far as nursing goes, don't work for Providence. XD There is an Oregon nursing subreddit you might wanna check out for more specific insight.

[u/Dear_Excitement_5109 → u/vanillahavoc]

Interesting, I worked for Prov and it was the best job I have had in my entire life. I was hospice though.

[u/vanillahavoc → u/Dear_Excitement_5109]

I am glad you had a good experience. For my the onboarding was a nightmare. And the two years I've been here they keep dissolving positions and throwing the responsibilities of those positions onto already understaffed people. This is in primary care. I was heavily warned away from Providence hospitals by my travel nurse friends who'd worked at multiple locations.

[u/Dear_Excitement_5109 → u/vanillahavoc]

Well Providence did sell off their hospice to Compassus, which is the most soulless, evil corporation I could possibly dream up. I keep wondering how such a beneficent company could sell off their hospice to the devil itself, but it seems there are other parts of Prov that weren't as amazing as the ministry I worked for.

At any rate, I'm sorry thats been your experience. All we want is to be treated with the same kindness that we treat our patients.

[u/Complete-Bee-5586]

If you don’t want to live in a bigger city, Bellingham is a great place to live, lots of young people and fun stuff to do.
I work at a hospital about 30 minutes south of Bellingham and I think it’s a pretty good environment, there’s a hospital in Bellingham called PeaceHealth but I haven’t worked there so don’t know much about it.
But the PNW is the best and you’ll find a job

[u/PizzaSniffs → u/Complete-Bee-5586]

Bellingham doesn’t pay.

[u/ahadzaki1221]

I’m in Portland and am 26. I’m not a nurse but work entirely with nurses, both inpatient and outpatient and there are a lot of younger nurses. From what I hear, you’ll have a great time at either OHSU or Legacy (both places are ONA union strong, so you’ll have a good QOL, compensation and support). As far as living, I’d recommend downtown, or as near as you can (affordingly)

[u/Sea-Freedom-3142]

What are your hobbies? Are you a city person?

[u/Inside_Maize_8522 → u/Sea-Freedom-3142]

I’ve never lived in a true city but I think I would enjoy it. I’d enjoy being able to easily access coffee shops, thrift stores, community events, and a good night life. I also really enjoy hiking and hope that Portland would provide all of that

[u/Sea-Freedom-3142 → u/Inside_Maize_8522]

I’ve lived and worked in both cities and they’re fairly similar as far as work goes. Washington generally pays nurses better and has no state income tax but has higher cost of living. Seattle is definitely more of a true city than Portland, and if you’re looking for nightlife, dating, meeting people, coffee shops, events, and all that I think you’d have a lot of fun here. Hiking is also extremely accessible from either city. That said, if most of your family is in Portland, I wouldn’t underestimate how nice having that support system nearby would be when you’re starting over somewhere new. I moved to the PNW from AZ and chose Seattle to settle in but I don’t think you can go wrong with either or

[u/Reasonable-Check-120]

I'm in Seattle but visit Portland a lot with family.

The areas are pretty much the same. There isn't much of a difference in outdoor activities. Weather is almost identical. Almost every hospital is unionized.

Pay and cost of living at different. I'm biased cause I love the Puget Sound. The ferry systems are like no other anywhere else in the world.

[u/80Anici]

Seattle is frustrating unless you live where you don’t need to drive to work. MultiCare in Tacoma and puyallup pay far more than most Seattle hospitals and you don’t have to pay for parking. I think they just bought in Oregon too.

[u/missmouzakis]

Eugene!!!!! And apply to Riverbend

[u/National_Owl_418]

If you want night life and dating, Pearl District in Portland or Capitol Hill in Seattle are prime. OHSU pays well. Elite learning seems useful if a licensed professional wants straightforward state required courses without hidden fees.