CA RN to IN RN? (Fort Wayne, Lafayette: 2013, transfer, school) - City-Data Forum

DarrettsGirl · 08-03-2010, 08:48 PM

I am a 10 year cardiac RN in California. Hubby and I are considering moving to IN since we now have three kids and want to rear them in a more family friendly state. What is the work climate like for RNs in IN? Level of autonomy? Also, are there any cardiac hospitals in IN? Any info is appreciated

domergurl · 08-04-2010, 06:34 AM

most excellent! have you thought about what part of the state you want to move to???

DarrettsGirl · 08-04-2010, 09:54 AM

We are considering Hamilton County, and we're trying to find all the info on that part of your state. Hubby is a land surveyor here in CA and wants to be no more than 30 minutes commute to a city when we move. Right now he commutes well over an hour <plus BART train ride> to the bay area, and he doesn't complain, but its terrible. As far as my original thread goes, I guess I don't have to work in IN. Believe it or not, we have RNs here who live in the midwest and fly in to CA <once a month> to work as nurses. Crazy, but I'm actually considering that just to move our family to a quieter place.

domergurl · 08-04-2010, 12:32 PM

wow ... people really do that???? They must be making beaucoup bucks to justify the cost of flying out.

Start with Zionsville, Carmel and Fishers ....

cdr18 · 08-04-2010, 11:29 PM

If you want to stay away from a major city, I would consider Fort Wayne. It is big enough, definitely family friendly, and has five hospitals (two of them are very nice)! Just a suggestion and they have really nice suburbs.

domergurl · 08-05-2010, 07:55 AM

St. Vincent and St. Francis have very highly regarded cardiac practices.

Ravekid · 08-05-2010, 08:35 AM

Indiana is a fat, lazy, nicotine addicted state, so we have a need for healthcare, which means a need for nurses. I know some nurses, and work with spouses/relatives of nurses, so I have heard a lot:

-If you want to make money, you will need to work in a hospital. St. Vincents, Community, and Clarian (soon to be renamed Indiana University Health) are large hospital companies. Wishard Hospital is the Indy "poor folks" hospital, and they are building a brand new hospital with an opening in 2013. There is also a VA hospital in Indy as well.

-If money isn't that big of deal, there are many health clinics and doctor offices to get a lesser paying, Monday thru Friday, no weekends job.

-If you want to advance, you will need an advanced degree. You can be an RN here with just an associates, but a Bachelors Degree gives you more opportunity. There are numerous public and private universities, colleges, etc. offering four year degrees. I am not sure which ones offer master/PhD type degrees.

-I heard that the Indiana RN exam is slated to get harder. I have also heard, a few years ago, that the younger nurses coming out of nursing school don't seem to be as knowledgeable as in prior years. I know of at least one hospital that has started to pay veteran nurses a little more to be "teaching nurses" or a go to type person for the new nurses with questions. I wonder if they are making the test harder to try and prevent dumb folks, or those who graduated with some sort of crutch, from getting their full RN license??

-My friends I know work in hospitals. They make at least $55K/year, and likely make closer to $60K/year. In years past, many always seemed to talk about how over-time was always available.

Good luck!

DarrettsGirl · 08-05-2010, 09:32 AM

California is a fat, lazy, nicotine addicted state as well (even with the smoking laws) so I'm in my element on that one!

Don't get a nurse started.

California NCLEX exam along with New York are the hardest states to pass, so our licenses are transferable with the proper paper work. Coming from another state into CA I've heard that you have to challenge the NCLEX to practice.

Thank you for the great info on hospitals to work at, and the salary estimates. I am thinking that it would be better for me to work at a cardiac cath lab or heart clinic, since I don't know if I'd survive the culture shock of switching hospitals. The idea of not working weekends is sooo tempting.

KSlass · 08-07-2010, 11:01 PM

If you do pick Zionsville, you can get to the new St. Vincent's Heart Hospital on #31 in just a few minutes. I go to the IN Univ. Eye Hospital on Highway #31 & it is just behind the new St. V's Heart Hospital. THE CARE GROUP also has their own Heart Hospital on the East side of INDY. Zionsville is on the west side. The older St. Vincent's & Peyton Manning Children's Hospital would be close to Z-ville also. Lafayette, IN, is a quick run north of Z-ville on I-65. They have 2 hospitals plus are building another brand new one. It might be finished-not sure.

domergurl · 08-08-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSlass

If you do pick Zionsville, you can get to the new St. Vincent's Heart Hospital on #31 in just a few minutes. I go to the IN Univ. Eye Hospital on Highway #31 & it is just behind the new St. V's Heart Hospital. THE CARE GROUP also has their own Heart Hospital on the East side of INDY. Zionsville is on the west side. The older St. Vincent's & Peyton Manning Children's Hospital would be close to Z-ville also. Lafayette, IN, is a quick run north of Z-ville on I-65. They have 2 hospitals plus are building another brand new one. It might be finished-not sure.

Isn't IU getting ready to take the hospitals in WL over?