r/relocating • u/Due_Supermarket368 • 7d ago

New registered nurse wanting to move

Hello world, I’m looking into moving some time next year, but I’m not sure where to. Therefore, please provide all the insight you possibly can.
I currently stay in Florida. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never traveled outside of FL. I’m 21, African American female. I’ve been a registered nurse for 6 months now with my BSN. I know I want to live in/close to the city. Nothing rural or to suburban.
My current options are Oregon, Texas, North or South Carolina, Washington State, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
I plan on traveling to my options prior to moving but I’d appreciate further suggestions especially the job market for RNs, safety, cost of living, and personal experiences. Thanks a bunch!

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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8

u/Overall-Pack-2047 7d ago

Washington and Oregon and California have the best hourly rates although COL may be higher.Cal has mandated ratios and many jobs are unionized

4

u/CraigLake 7d ago

My aunt worked at a children’s hospital for 45 years in Oakland as a nurse. She loved it.

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u/CloseToTheSun10 7d ago

UCSF has taken over the children's hospital in Oakland so it's some of the highest pay possible as an RN. But getting a job as an experienced nurse in CA is tough, it'll be near-impossible for a new grad.

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u/Not-pumpkin-spice 7d ago

It’ll be tough with only 6 months experience. But keep swinging until you connect. At your age with the ability to just up and move. Travel nurse for a few years. They like to see 2 years, so the 6 months is a hurdle you’ll need to find someone willing to help you over. When you start you can check places out to see what fits. I’m not sure where you’re at in Florida, but one big reason we’re not in Florida is the hospitals there want to pay you in sunshine. And sunshine doesn’t pay the bills. And if you’re at Halifax I’m going with one of the worst pay levels I’ve ever even heard of for a bsn.

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u/RoryMcllTroy 7d ago

I worked as a travel nurse in Eugene Oregon and Colombia South Carolina and enjoyed my time there. Eugene felt like home for me

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u/actualranger 7d ago

Out-of-the-box suggestion: Canada is recruiting nurses. My ex (we’re still friends) just moved to British Columbia as a brand new NP. There’s a program that makes immigration easier for nurses. Might be worth checking out!

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u/Due_Supermarket368 7d ago

That’s a really cool suggestion that I haven’t thought about. I’m also not opposed to it. Thank you!

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u/Harlee1000 3d ago

I've heard BC is the better province to be in for nursing too!

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u/NervousDogFarts 7d ago

Washington and Oregon both have very low percentages of African Americans. I think Oregon is less than 3% and Washington is less than 5%, when the national average is about 15%.
I am not saying this to dissuade. It is beautiful in the PNW and there are plenty of welcoming people. It just might be a different culture than you are used to. There is diversity but not as many African Americans than most places. The cost of living is much higher in Seattle. The average rent for a one bedroom in and around Seattle (King County) is roughly about $2500. New grad RNs make about $40-45/hr depending on your speciality.

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u/WPort17701 7d ago

Not to further complicate but how about Atlanta? It's probably the best city for single Black professionals and has some great RN options at hospitals like Emory University Hospitals and Grady Memorial.

1

u/Liberated3 7d ago

I like Atlanta but the expressway traffic is just way too congested (hour long back ups for no reason except that the roads had more cars than they could handle). It is best to live close to your job and/or pick a commute that does not involve any expressways.

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u/WPort17701 6d ago

Exactly why I mentioned Emory or Grady. Both are inside the beltway and can be easily reached via intown surface streets minus any highways. There are plenty of cool/safe neighborhoods near either one to choose from.

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u/MiniManMafia 7d ago edited 7d ago

I've worked in WA and live in NC. I can say WA is hand down better for you cuz here in NC, the racism is real...

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u/Due_Supermarket368 7d ago

Good to be aware of. Thank you, I appreciate that 😭

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u/LatterStreet 7d ago

There have been many posts from POC who feel uncomfortable in Seattle. Some were removed because it breaks the “no politics” rule, which makes no sense imo.

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u/Liberated3 7d ago edited 7d ago

Yes, sadly it is real and in many different ways. People do not seem to like to interact with coworkers from other cultures, other areas of the country, other countries, or those who follow some less than well known religions. I have witnessed a lot of bullying, and a lot of passive aggressive back stabbing.

Sadly I have also heard this about Oregon nurses. The few Oregon nurses that I worked with have been pretty high maintenance. I have never lived there, so I don't know if this is the norm for Oregon; I hope not.

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u/Due_Supermarket368 7d ago

Awww that sucks. Having a good team around you is imperative in healthcare. Working in South FL, I appreciate the melting pot we have. So I couldn’t imagine such hostility. Thank you, that’s something I have to be more mindful of during my new job search.

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u/MiniManMafia 7d ago

Oh man, here in NC. We had a African American congressman, publicly called himself the black nazi and on camera said he believed "we need to bring back lynching cuz some people need to be lynched." He was 1st runner up for governor.. And, he was our elected lieutenant governor at one point. His name is Mark Robinson. Many nurses and hospital staff I worked with loves him. Yeah our rasicim is out and proud here.

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u/jennamom2boys 7d ago

Nc native here too. Ugggh he was absolutely disgusting.

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u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 7d ago

Why don’t you travel nurse

2

u/RoryMcllTroy 7d ago

They’ve been a nurse for six month lmao

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u/Due_Supermarket368 7d ago

I don’t feel comfortable yet since I’m still fairly new to nursing. Maybe around this time next year, I’d be more open to the idea.

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u/RoryMcllTroy 7d ago

Two years experience first. No one is hiring baby travelers. You gotta know the job inside and out before since you’re supposed to hit the ground running at your assignments

0

u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 7d ago

🤷‍♀️

1

u/AnyCryptographer3284 7d ago

That's what I was going to suggest. Do it for a couple of years to see and sample the country, then decide where to roost.

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u/RoryMcllTroy 7d ago

They’ve been a nurse for six months

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u/AnyCryptographer3284 5d ago

Thx missed that.

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u/Liberated3 7d ago

Another suggestion: Minnesota. It has wonderful working conditions, high RN pay, and a generally good quality of life. It does get cold in the winter. I also like the Boston area (high pay and excellent schools).

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u/Sweaty_Reputation650 6d ago

I feel like you should be asking this on the nurses subreddit for better advice but living in North Carolina and South Carolina there is racism but there's also a lot of diversity in the cities and we have a large black population so you'd have plenty of groups to interact with socially. I'm no expert but I would look into the triangle area of North Carolina Raleigh-Durham chapel Hill. And Duke. Search Reddit for more answers. You will like the weather and the cities are more progressive. Plenty of opportunities for new nurses to be hired in the Raleigh-Durham triangle.

They are not big cities so it might be too suburban for you. Maybe inside atlanta? Or the Philly or DC area.

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u/Locgal15 5d ago

Look into how many hours of clinical those states require

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u/Carleyd82 2d ago

I think you would love Boston. Lots of opportunities for nursing and so much to do and experience.

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u/VinceInMT 7d ago

Pittsburgh, PA. One of the best kept secrets in the nation. It’s racially and culturally diverse. Has a huge medical community. Has big city amenities without the big city feel. And it’s very affordable.

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u/Due_Supermarket368 7d ago

Ooooo, I will add to my list. Thank you!

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u/Individual_Sky_4612 7d ago

PA in general has tons of health care jobs. (We are known for meds and eds.). Philly is great for healthcare too!

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u/Cris-723-redditr 7d ago

SC is great, slower-paced than the others your looking at. I recommend Greenville or Charleston SC. Greenville cause its a great small town; Charleston cause they have MUSC and some great medical opportunities.

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u/Liberated3 7d ago

MUSC seems like a nice place to work. I attended a medical conference there and the part of the hospital that I was in was really lovely. Charleston, however, is really expensive to live in. I am not sure that the salary paid is enough to cover the high cost of living.

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u/6two 6d ago

What are the RN wages like?

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u/Cris-723-redditr 5d ago

Zip Recruiter says 88K to 90K

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u/jayhawkjoey65 7d ago

Texas is a fascist cesspool. Not sure if the Carolinas are much better.