Living and Nursing in Nebraska

Nebraskans know the good life. Strong communities of hard-working individuals, a dedication to a clean and safe environment, tremendous opportunities for prosperity found in a quality educational system and solid economic conditions are what make Nebraska the perfect place to call home. In fact, because the state is so consistent in quality of life surveys across the board, Nebraska ranks among the top 10 states in the nation year after year. 

Living in Nebraska… Endless Opportunities

Nebraska offers a superb balance of lifestyle choices with its rustic, pioneer heritage accessible to urban conveniences. Omaha’s Arts & Entertainment District features the Old Market where you can find a variety of activities including a gallery walk through the art scene and a range of fine dining and upscale nightlife venues.

Historic neighborhoods like Field Club, Dundee, Happy Hollow and Hanscom Park are part of a concentrated midtown revitalization effort. Here, trees line the streets and the historic architecture speaks volumes, while the rich cultural diversity of the community draws you in. Midtown Omaha is full of iconic guideposts-- the bell-towers of St. Cecilia Cathedral, the Mutual of Omaha tower and dome, the Joslyn Castle, the Blackstone Hotel, the Gerald R. Ford Birth Site and the mansions in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Lincoln is the second largest city with more than 240,000 residents and is both the state capital and home of the flagship University of Nebraska campus. As a result, Lincoln has a small-town ambiance with the benefits of a major metropolitan area. Identified as an “Entrepreneurial Hot Spot” (National Policy Research Council), one of the “Best Places for Business” (Forbes.com), a “5-Star Business Opportunity Metro” and “5-Star Quality of Life Metro” (Expansion Management Magazine) and one of the “Hottest Midsize Cities,” Lincoln’s accolades prove that it’s a great place to call home.

One of the hot spots is the transformed warehouse district now known as the historic Haymarket. Trendy restaurants and specialty shops pepper this creative arts haven where young people enjoy the loft apartments and a 24-hour lifestyle. You’ll want to stop at a sidewalk café for coffee and then take a leisure stroll around the farmers’ market for some fresh baked goods.

By contrast, if city life isn’t your thing, you can experience prairie life in the High Plains. The remote countryside of the Sand Hills has been referred to as one of the last unexplored frontiers. The scenery is full of abundant images from expansive corn fields, rolling pastures, winding rivers and wetlands, to the largest hand-planted forest in the country. Every year, bird watchers and photographers visit here to witness this central flyway zone for close to 25 species of migratory birds including the whooping crane. What a spectacle to take in when these wetlands are transformed into layover stops for travelling cranes, geese, and ducks. 

Wherever you decide to settle in Nebraska—town or country—you’ll find strong communities comprised of socially responsible citizens who take pride in themselves and their state.

Get Your Game On

There’s no question that if you live in Nebraska, you’ll be a Cornhusker fan. Nearly 80,000 people converge on the University of Nebraska campus each Fall as Memorial Stadium becomes a city unto itself. Indoor Football League fans can choose between the Omaha Beef and the Lincoln Capitols. Baseball fans enjoy the Omaha Royals, a farm team to the Kansas City Royals and can take in the Northern League’s Lincoln Saltdogs action at the Haymarket during the summer. Hockey is also a big sporting fan favorite. The Lincoln Stars and Omaha Lancers are part of the U.S. Hockey League West Division.

The Great Outdoors

Nebraska is flush with lakes and reservoirs for boating and fishing and diverse streams for floating. Lake McConaughy, in the Prairie Lakes Region is a favorite among locals who refer to it as “Big Mac.” It is Nebraska’s largest reservoir with white sandy beaches and trophy level gamefish. This piece of water has it all whether you are a sailboater, wind surfer, swimmer, water skier, scuba diver, hunter, ice fisherman or any other outdoor fun seeker.

Regattas and angler tournaments are common especially in the southwest part of the state. Rainbow trout, walleye, white bass, and striped bass—you name it. Nebraska is a great place to fish!

Nebraska’s plentiful rivers also provide picturesque views and exciting pace for floaters. Backpacker magazine has recognized the Niobrara River as a top 10 destination for canoeing and tubing. More than 90 waterfalls cascade into the river passing through Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.

Because of their love for the great outdoors, Nebraskans have a dedication to preserving the environment. Arbor Day, a holiday devoted to planting and taking care of trees, originated in Nebraska City. The state consistently ranks high in air and ground water quality with tight ozone standards.

Comfortable Living

Nebraska benefits from a stable economy based primarily on agriculture. The beef and cattle industries place Dakota City and Lexington among the top meat-packing centers.

Due to its low cost of living across all major categories including housing, transportation, and healthcare, the state enjoys competitive wages and salaries.

Medical Industry

Nebraska is well known for its high-quality, affordable healthcare facilities. Nebraska Medical Center has been nationally recognized as a leader in cancer treatment (#39) and in neurology and neurosurgery (#41). St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center has been ranked among the top 50 hospitals in orthopedics. (U.S. News & World Report, Hospital Rankings 2007).

The state boasts state of the art technology and one of the nation’s highest hospital beds-to-population ratios. The average daily cost of a hospital stay is almost 30 percent lower than the U.S. average.

Find Your Place

Nebraska has it all and in abundance. Safe communities with walkable cities, wide-open prairies, short commutes, and exceptional nursing opportunities for career development and advancement explain why Nebraska truly is a land of endless possibilities.

Information for this article courtesy of The Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.