Where to find welding jobs in Alaska?

Nursing in Seattle of Alaska?

• Hi all, I am a new graduate nurse in Seattle. I have been looking for hospital jobs western washington since late march. I have not found one or even got a call for an interview in any hospital in Washington for that matter. I did get a job from a blood center and I will start in 2 weeks. It pays 26/hr....I have not yet factored in overtime. Moving to Alaska was my back up plan, if I did not get a job in Washington-Seattle. I am now getting calls from Alaskan hospitals that will give me the experience I need to get my foot in the door in the nursing profession. Nurses out there know that new grads find it very difficult to get a job in the market but once you get experience the doors open. So I wanted to know whether I should still interview with hospitals in Alaska and maybe take a job if they offer it. They pay much higher in Alaska. One out patient clinic said they would pay me 31/hr, so over time would be great. I heard some hospitals in Alaska pay $38 or even more. I could pay off my student loans off quickly and get experience. I am happy to get a job at the blood center and being able to live and stay in the Seattle area but at the same time I need hospital experience and I don't know how long before I will get a hospital job in Washington. The market here is so tight, I can't even get an interview around here. I have also gotten calls from Montana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Should I hold out for my dream job in Seattle or take a job in Alaska if I am offered? Note: I am single with no children or credit cards. I just have student loan debt to pay off. Lived in a variety of cities before.

• Answer:

  If you are young, then while it's going to cramp your style for the amount of time you are there, it's better to have been there done that while in your youth. At this stage in my life, I don't think you could pay me enough to live in Alaska. Well, there are some seven or eight figure numbers that could get me to move there for a period of time, but what's the point of having money if you hate your life? Anyway. The market in WA isn't "tight". Most health care jobs require experience and this is true of most employers in the US, especially for major organizations and in major cities (and their burbs). I know plenty of Seattle area physicians, and Southern WA physicians, and Spokane area physicians, and as is the problem across the board in health care, the problem is with the employees, not a lack of jobs. If you want to stay in Seattle and all the jobs are experience only, then it's time to take a lower patient care job and volunteer using your RN. If you don't have your BSN, then you may need to go back and get that.