Quiet streets, leafy green parks. A more traditional way of life. These are just some of what makes Longview, a suburban town in the southwest corner of Washington state, a special place to live and work. For registered nurses looking for a place with a home-style atmosphere, Longview offers plenty of opportunity and a welcoming community.
Longview has a rich history that is deeply rooted in American tradition, and a future that is bright. Residents enjoy having easy access to Portland’s international airport and other resources while still enjoying their town’s suburban feel, including its recreational and leisure activities, its special events, and its parks. Registered nurses will find Longview has plenty of career opportunities, including a 177-bed hospital with a Level III trauma center, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, private practices, and more.
- Longview, Washington is Where Cowlitz County Gets its Health Care
A town of just 37,000 residents, Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County and home to the area’s only community hospital, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. With a level III trauma center, advanced heart and vascular care, a birthing center, cancer care, behavioral health services, and more, St. John provides comprehensive care and specialty services to more than 185,000 patients per year and offers a wide range of career opportunities for registered nurses.
In addition to the hospital, PeaceHealth offers Longview residents care from multiple sites in Longview, and there are also family health centers, clinics, urgent care centers, rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing care that support the population.
- Longview, Washington is a History Lover’s Dream
The history of Longview is remarkable. Originally referred to as Monticello by its earliest settlers, it was the site of a convention that resulted in residents petitioning for statehood. Though the proposed name of the state was “Columbia,” when Congress accepted the proposal they changed the name to Washington. Decades later, the town of Longview was created to accommodate the needs of a lumber company that was established in 1918. Its owner, Robert A. Long, needed 14,000 workers to staff two large mills, and since the local towns could not house that many people, he planned and built the city, funding most of its infrastructure with private funds. Longview’s design was based on that of Washington, D.C. and by the mid-1930s it was the fourth largest city in the state of Washington.
- Longview, Washington Nurses Enjoy Generous Compensation, Benefits, and Perks
PeaceHealth is Longview’s only hospital, and the compensation and nursing opportunities that it offers sets the tone for the town’s other healthcare organizations. The hospital holds its nursing staff in high esteem and recognizes them as the heart of their healthcare ministry. Nurses represent one third of the organization’s staff, and the system is committed to nursing excellence and to supporting and empowering nurses in their professional roles, as well as physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and financially. Full time nurses at Longview are eligible for hiring bonuses, student loan repayment programs, relocation assistance, and additional pay for specialty nursing certifications and for earning BSN and advanced practice nursing degrees. They also receive generous compensation and comprehensive benefits.
Other medical organizations in Longview, including Salmon Creek Post Acute and Rehabilitation facility, also offer sign-on bonuses, generous wages, and benefits.
- Economic Advantages of Living in Longview, Washington
Longview was originally established as a lumber mill town, and in recent years it has maintained its focus as a forest-products center. Its position on the Columbia River and access to Portland International Airport, the I-5 freeway, and rail services have supported its role in grain loading and manufacturing, and it is home to many prominent companies, including Weyerhaeuser, WestRock, Nippon Dynawave Packaging, and more. Though the unemployment rate is above that of the U.S. average, recent job growth is positive and the cost of living in Longview is 1.5% lower than the U.S. average.
- Longview, Washington Offers a High Quality of Life for Registered Nurses
Nurses choosing to live and work in Longview get the benefit of a truly enjoyable quality of life. The summertime weather is extremely pleasant and the school system is strong, with public schools spending $10,335 per student and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 19.1. The town enjoys a rural lifestyle with easy access to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, and has multiple parks for athletic activities, picnicking, and children’s play.
Longview is also home to Lake Sacajawea, which offers kayaking, fishing, and canoeing and boasts 3.5 miles of walking, jobbing, and biking trails, landscaping, fountains, and bridges. Among the most charming aspects of life in Longview is the notoriety it has earned for its Nutty Narrows Bridge, a squirrel bridge originally built in 1963 to provide squirrels safe passage across a busy road. Though it has been relocated twice, the bridge is a town landmark that has attracted international attention.
Longview, Washington is a growing city that offers plenty of career opportunities and a high quality of life for registered nurses.To get started on finding the right opportunity for you, visit Incredible Health’s website and job search platform, where top employers are waiting for you to log on so that they can reach out to you.
