Living & Nursing in Washington State

The Washington Way of Life
Washington State has it all—beautiful landscapes featuring wonderful extremes. From the majestic, towering volcanoes to the small coastal islands and the rainforests in between, Washington offers a truly unique living experience for the adventurous few and the brave at heart. But in this land of contrasts, you can also indulge in refined cosmopolitan tastes surrounded by fine dining and cultural attractions while sipping vintage from the nation’s second ranked premium wine-producing state.

Experience the Evergreen State
Well-known for its skyline featuring the famous Space Needle, Seattle is a city dweller’s dream with wonderfully unique neighborhoods.

The Ballard Avenue district is steeped in Scandinavian culture, its waterfront location revealing a maritime industrial spirit. The once traditional blue collar region has given way to a trendier, pedestrian-friendly destination. Window shop along the charming brick storefronts and stop to eat at a sidewalk café. Every second Saturday brings the ArtWalk where local artists share their
creations in galleries and studios along the urban streets.

Capitol Hill has the feel of a small town within the big city. The district prides itself on the inclusiveness of its citizenry. Enjoy the free-spirited lifestyle where you can shop vintage clothing stores and drink the espresso Seattle is known for. City forefathers had once envisioned Seattle to be the capital city
and their historic homes are monuments now contributing to the character of
this diverse village.

Home to such musical icons as Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam, Seattle “grunge” is worth exploring at the Experience Music Project or the numerous live music venues.

Southwest of Seattle is the other largest port city in the state. Tacoma has also become a cultural hub in Puget Sound. Its claim to fame is in the Museum District where glass-blowing is literally the hottest draw in town. Here, you can watch glass blowers in the Hot Shop, creating their designs using 2,000 degree heat. The Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum house beautiful artistic displays of glass and are linked together by a pedestrian bridge known as the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.
Tacoma is also near Mt. Ranier, the highest mountain / volcano in the state. Mt. Ranier is covered with more glacial ice than any other peak in the contiguous U.S. With over 300 miles of park trails, you can explore the mountain’s terrain of glacier rock and snowfields.

Olympia, the capital city, is at the southern point of Puget Sound. Here, you’ll want to hop on a ferry and take in a sight-seeing tour of the San Juan Islands. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of seals, porpoises, and orca whales.

Half of the state’s population lives in the metropolitan area surrounding the ports in Puget Sound. But the second largest city is farther east. Like many cities in Washington, Spokane got its name from a Native American Tribe. Its translation “Children of the Sun” is perfect for a city that, unlike the stigma of much of the state, has an average of 260 days of sun a year.

Get Your Game On
Washington has all of the bases covered in professional sports whether it’s NFL, MLB, WNBA, Major League Soccer, Arena Football, Western Hockey League, or even pro-Rugby action. The Seattle Seahawks (NFL) are still pumped from their Super Bowl experience in 2006 and are always exciting to watch at Qwest Field.  You can enjoy Seattle Mariners (MLB) action at the Safeco Field rain or shine
now with a retractable roof. The Storm have won the league championship title in women’s basketball, and the Sounders are four time league champions in soccer.

Economic Stability
Fishing, forestry, and farming have long been staples of the economy in Washington. The state is the leader in red raspberry, apple, and Niagara grape production. But Washington has also become synonymous with technology and innovation with companies such as Amazon.com, Microsoft, Boeing, Nintendo, and Starbucks headquartered here.

Medical Industry
Washington State is a land of opportunity for nurses with so many hospitals and a government focused on healthcare for its citizens. The University of Washington sets a high standard, nationally recognized as a leader in cancer treatment (#6), ear, nose & throat (#13), endocrinology (#24), gastrointestinal
disorders (#20), geriatric care (#13), gynecology (#11), kidney disease (#16), neurology & neurosurgery (#22), orthopedics (#13), rehabilitation (#2), respiratory disorders (#16), rheumatology (#22), and urology (#34).

Virginia Mason Medical Center has been top-ranked in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders (#38) and Harborview Medical Center in orthopedic medicine (#27). (U.S. News & World Report, Hospital Rankings 2007).

Find Your Place
Washington is a place for enchantment—from the mountaintops to the streams, the open orchards to the deep green forests. You’ll find enormous opportunities for adventure in both your career and your life. Experience living and nursing in the Evergreen State!

Information for this article courtesy of Washington State Tourism and the Washington State Government.