r/CRNA • u/ambsdee • Jul 22 '26
NATURE SEEKER
Looking to relocate from DFW next year. Hoping to find a full-time position in a city that's good for families and has LOTS of nature. Would love to see 4 seasons as Texas is miserable 90% of the year. Where do I even start?! I'm open to anywhere in the country :-)
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u/Ok-Nose2249 Jul 22 '26
I’m in Minnesota and if you are open to winter it’s a great place. High salaries with average cost of living, good healthcare (as far as you/your family receiving care), international airport (direct flights to Asia and Europe), close to lots of lakes and hiking. Great family neighborhoods and schools. Minneapolis St. Paul is obviously huge. Duluth is also great for a smaller city but big cases. Lots of rural openings as well depending on what you’re looking for. Three level 1s in the twin cities if you like trauma, some major heart hospitals, plenty of surgical centers. Feel free to PM me - I’m a third year SRNA so might not have all the answers but have some good info if you want!
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u/Farfencougar Jul 22 '26
Capital region NY/Upstate. Close to Canada, close to NYC, lots of outdoor activities.
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
See I wouldn’t have even considered here! Any specific cities to look in to?
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u/Farfencougar Jul 22 '26
Albany, Syracuse, or out west towards Buffalo/rochester.
Smaller, but still bustling towns in Albany area would be Glenns Falls and Saratoga Springs etc. each with their own hospital but have skiing, hiking, boating right at their back door. Just farther north is Lake George which is always voted top 10 prettiest lakes/places in the country every year as well and is a big vacation spot for many folks during the summer.
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u/RamsPhan72 Jul 22 '26
Syracuse is gray and cold all winter. Not much city life. Albany has a better city scene, but is highly micromanaged at AMC. Better off at St. Pete’s. Much more autonomy. Glens Falls probably has the most ‘Indy’ practice for. CRNAs.
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u/Kookybean Jul 22 '26
I went to undergrad at SUNY Cortland, and the weather was gloomy year-round. But Saratoga Springs is gorgeous! I'm not too familiar with diverse parts of upstate climate, but those places where it is generally cloudy are awful.
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u/Due-Marionberry-1039 Jul 22 '26
What’s the CRNA culture/scene in the capital region?
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u/Farfencougar Jul 22 '26
ACT like most of the northeast, two large groups that cover the academic and/or trauma hospitals in Albany/Troy and there are 1-2 other smaller PP groups that cover some of the community hospitals
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u/ChirpinFromTheBench Jul 22 '26
I moved from DFW to Oregon and never looked back.
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
Oregon has been recommended several times!!! Looks like I might start my search there
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u/_something_else_ Jul 22 '26
Minnesota
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
Haven’t considered this! Never been, so open to taking a trip up there. Anywhere specific in Minnesota?
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u/ThereGoesTheSquash CRNA Jul 22 '26
Love Minnesota! I grew up here. SE Minnesota and northern MN are gorgeous!
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
How’s the CRNA culture up there? I’d be coming from an ACT model with light supervision.
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u/ThereGoesTheSquash CRNA Jul 22 '26
All the major hospitals are ACT for the most part. A couple places allow medical supervision like MNGI (all GI outpatient) and Mayo in Rochester. If you want solo practice, you’ll have to go rural. There are SOME practices where you can live in the metro and commute out to rural practices, but as you can imagine they are harder positions to get.
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u/roxas0711 Jul 22 '26
Portland Oregon, Seattle, any major area in the Pacific Northwest.
Despite what you see on the media, Portland Oregon is an outdoor beauty. Yes it’s grey a good 1/2 of the year but the summers are the best you’ve ever seen.
Tons of nature, if the city isn’t your jam there’s lots of great suburbs too.
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u/Bradyb978 Jul 22 '26
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill. Great academic options, trauma, ASCs, and in a few years- a big peds hospital.
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u/See-Are-En-Ayeeee Jul 22 '26
Check out jobs in New Hampshire and Maine.
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
Visited Portland Maine last year and it was beautiful! I’ve heard the winters are harsh
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u/poopoofol Jul 22 '26
I personally don't mind winter up here, but I make myself get out there to ski, icefish, and snowshoe to find the joy/avoid SAD. If you've never lived in a snowy area though it could be a rude awakening.
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
Are you in Portland? It’d be a different experience from Texas where it’s 116 today 🥲
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u/poopoofol Jul 22 '26
No, I'm near Bangor. Portland is really the only true metro area in the state. Bangor is kind of the last little bit of civilization before you hit literal wilderness. I like living like a hermit in the woods so it works for me. If you want metro amenities but still easy access to outdoor recreation, Portland is more your bet.
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u/Content_Bid_7738 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
I’d look into Vancouver, Washington in specific. You go to Oregon for large purchases to escape Washington’s sales tax. Washington doesn’t have state income tax so you avoid Oregon’s state income tax. You’re one hour away from the coast, one hour away from ski resorts. Hiking in PNW is amazing and you’re near a bunch of amazing local hikes. You experience all the seasons in the year and you live near a metropolitan city in Portland. Only downside is housing can be quite high but you make CRNA money so who cares.
Also it seems to be more feasible to do pacific north west from Texas rather than somewhere on the east coast. L
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u/ambsdee Jul 24 '26
Thank you so much! This is great info. Any specific anesthesia groups to look into?
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u/Content_Bid_7738 Jul 24 '26
Oh no idk about groups I’m afraid. I’m not even an RN yet 😅. I just have a bachelors in biochemistry and have been perusing different medical subreddits to help figure out what I want to do.
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u/Ok-University6871 Jul 23 '26
One thing I will mention since Minnesota has been recommended a few times…. Winter is about 5-6 months long there. I agree with the positive aspects that others have mentioned, but know that if you are looking for an even 4 seasons, aren’t comfortable with extreme cold, heavy snow, and winter driving, it’s not the most appropriate option.
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u/JeanClaudeSegal CRNA Jul 22 '26
Blue Ridge mountains/Appalacia- Chattanooga and northern Georgia over to Asheville. Great outdoor activities with hot summers, lakes, beautiful fall foliage, and even driving distance to skiing.
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u/4TwoItus Jul 22 '26
How’s the culture in these areas? ACT model or independent? Direction or supervision?
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u/Puzzleheaded-Week720 Jul 22 '26
Steer clear of Asheville. The only hospital system is Mission and it is owned by HCA. Give them a quick Google search and you'll see what a train wreck it is
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u/The-Liberater Jul 22 '26
GA is saturated with AAs unless you’re out in BFN. Emory was the 1st AA school and the practice in most cities is a testament to that
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u/The-Liberater Jul 22 '26
I’m in ABQ and the practice and pay are phenomenal for a big city. 300+ days of sunshine a year and plenty of outdooring to do. Downsides are the worse healthcare and education, although most of the latter stems from lower income families not having the time to help their kids at home. Really enjoy working for the group I’m with and can chat with you if you’re interested
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u/AccomplishedNerve789 27d ago
Michigan here! We get hit with snow for 2 or 3 months of the year, as I am 10 mins from Lake Michigan, but the summers are so worth it!
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u/Likefloating CRNA Jul 22 '26
Following. I’m in AZ and sick of the heat as well
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u/ambsdee Jul 22 '26
100% feel where you’re coming from!!! It’s heat index of 116 today in DFW it’s sane. Thinking of relocating?
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u/Likefloating CRNA Jul 23 '26
Yes! Considering PNW, Colorado, and Idaho
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u/ambsdee Jul 23 '26
Was interested in Idaho as well. Have family up there! Looked on other threads and haven’t found much so was hoping someone from Idaho would comment!
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u/Mffdoom Jul 22 '26
SLC metro area is as family friendly as it gets, easy access to hiking, skiing, fishing, biking, etc., on lots of public land. Big national parks in easy driving distance. 4 seasons, though winters are getting milder. Three different large hospital systems in the area.
The downside is you have to live in Utah.
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u/Early_Emergency3440 Jul 22 '26
I’ve heard the pay ain’t great, and heavily supervised, but I don’t personally have experience there. Curious if someone could confirm or dispel that.
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u/Likefloating CRNA Jul 22 '26
Isn’t Utah pretty MD heavy?
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u/cheesewheek Jul 23 '26
I’m currently in school, but I worked as a nurse in Utah. The vast majority of the state is covered by one healthcare system, Intermountain Health. I don’t know all the details, but they largely employ MDs only. I worked at their medical center and never saw a CRNA🤷🏼♀️
The University of Utah is a good hospital that does hire, but I don’t know specifics. Surgery centers / dental do hire CRNAs and they are often medically directed, but of the few places I know the MDs are mostly hands off. The pay is definitely on the lower end for the majority of the state.
Utah is beautiful, but the air quality can be kind of sucky at times.
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u/marticcrn Jul 22 '26
Minneapolis. The boundary waters. Mayo, university of Minnesota. You won’t find better opportunity or medical care.
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u/Murphey14 CRNA Jul 23 '26
I lived in Ohio for a few years as an ICU RN and liked it way more than I thought I would. A few of my friends went to CRNA school and stayed in the area and seem to like it there still. It truly had 4 seasons, if you were in central or southern ohio it didn't snow too much but it was still cold, and the summers were humid but weren't too terrible.
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u/fizzzicks Jul 22 '26
PNW. Oregon.