Any nurses relocate to MN from Texas or elsewhere?

[ashera]

http://www.ncpamd.com/seasonal.htm Good site on SAD.

Yes, Tim - Catluvr is correct in saying that this affects a lot of people - but...it's not just in MN - People all over can be affected by this type of depression. It is very real -
But......

Catluvr - Tim never said he was a nurse - his wife is. He simple said he did not know of any people who were treated for this. And why would he? Most people don't walk around with a sign that says - "I take Zoloft...I have SAD" -so don't be upset with him.

Tim - I very much appreciate your input - you have me thinking in different ways and areas. Thanks for sharing your info on your wife's situation.

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[missmousern]

I was looking up some stats and found this forum and had to add a bit. You were wondering about job opportunities and moving to MN . I am a RN living in Alexandria, but have worked in St Cloud for 12 years. It is a 60 mile breeze of a commute. There are nurses working there who live anywhere in about a 60 mile circle (Brainerd, Willmar, The Cities) By the way "the cities" is MPLS/ St Paul and anything remotely near there to those of us in "greater MN". Best pay is of course in the cities. St Cloud is pretty close. I have found it to be a good place to work. Good staffing, positive enviornment etc... Pay drops off significantly west of St Cloud. I think they do OK in Rochester of course.
There are quite a few opportunities for making the LPN-RN transition. I did it myself several years ago. You can't throw a rock in MN without hitting a lake or a community college. So I am biased for your St Cloud option. Hope you like MN.

[ashera]

Originally Posted by missmousern

I was looking up some stats and found this forum and had to add a bit. You were wondering about job opportunities and moving to MN . I am a RN living in Alexandria, but have worked in St Cloud for 12 years. It is a 60 mile breeze of a commute. There are nurses working there who live anywhere in about a 60 mile circle (Brainerd, Willmar, The Cities) By the way "the cities" is MPLS/ St Paul and anything remotely near there to those of us in "greater MN". Best pay is of course in the cities. St Cloud is pretty close. I have found it to be a good place to work. Good staffing, positive enviornment etc... Pay drops off significantly west of St Cloud. I think they do OK in Rochester of course.
There are quite a few opportunities for making the LPN-RN transition. I did it myself several years ago. You can't throw a rock in MN without hitting a lake or a community college. So I am biased for your St Cloud option. Hope you like MN.

Thanks much for you nice reply! Been a week or more since I've checked. Still trying to sell my home in San Antonio - might be pretty close - and then....I'll make my decision as to where to go. Had hoped to know what I wanted to do and where I was going to do it before now! At least - I've learned soooooo much about MN and still think it's my very best option!
Appreciate the input about St. Cloud.

[JenLee]

I'm a nurse here in the Twin Cities and missed this thread earlier.

All US states have reciprocity as far as nursing licenses: if you pass the board exams in one state and have no restrictions on your license anywhere; you can apply and get your license in any other state as long as your license is in good standing. MN does not belong to the interstate nursing compact, however; and therefore you HAVE to have a MN license to work as a nurse here.

SAD is a real and serious problem; those that have it use the lights and may need meds, especially in the winter in the northern latitudes. Most do not go around telling everyone about it, however.

As far as where to live and work in the state, MN has as many places for nurses to work as anywhere else in the world. I have found that there are certain personality traits in each of us that make us favor big cities or small towns, or teaching hospitals or community hospitals. I've worked in both a big city hospitals and also in a tiny 25 bed community hospital and all sizes of places in between; think about what you feel most comfortable in as it will help you decide where you should be.

And good luck!

[mayrod]

Hello My wife is a RN BSN DON, she may be some one you should talk to for she may be able to help, with a job also. her name is Cheri, and you can email her , also check out edgewood vista .com I am a hopsice chaplain for edgewood vista .

have a great day

[ashera]

Mayrod - thanks so much for your nice note. Where are you located? There are several Edgewood Vista Hospices -
Hospice nursing is my first love!

[Hatless Wonder]

I'm a nursing student in Boston, looking to move to MN after I graduate next May. I love snow and cold weather (I hate rain), and Hubby has relatives in MSP.

I'm open to anyplace that isn't too isolated, but I'm leaning toward the Twin Cities because I like city life, I'm in an interracial marriage (I'm Black, Hubby's White), and I've read that MSP is a great place to raise interracial kids. I've heard that the Mayo Clinic is a great place to be a nuurse, but I have no idea about the area.

[catluvr]

I grew up near Rochester. Extremely Liberal city, so I would imagine Interracial is very welcome. I have many great friends that like it, though I have met people that like bigger cities that hate Rochester. If you want a larger city with Rural feel, Rochester is your thing. From my experience, not many great restaraunts or entertainment, but nice for families. Lots of Racism though between Blacks and Somalians in schools like Mayo, etc. People in MN not as nice as easterners from my experience. Kind of cliquish from my experience. Mayo Clinc and Hospital system is a nice place to work from what I have heard. Physicians from T.C. tend to like MPLS/STP better from what I have heard. Rochester is geared to international market as treats lots of mideasterners, etc. T.C is more local based for client load.

It is all what you prefer. You have to visit in January to see if you really like it.