Would like info on relocating to Langley

[sameasalways]

Hi, I might be relocating to Langley from North Carolina within the next six months tops, possibly next 3-4 months. I have been working on a Med/Surg floor for the past year and when I move I will have 16-18 months of experience. I have never worked anywhere else nor have I lived in Va..therefore I am wondering what type of salary I should expect, what type of neighborhoods/middle school/high schools are best (I have two kids that age). I understand my nursing license should automatically transfer to Va from NC.

Currently I was hired on at my hospital with the understanding that I would not get a raise after my first year due to budgeting, therfore my current wage is exactly what a new hire would make. (20.00/hr). I would like to be able to pull in a few more dollars per hour if I move although I have seen the new grad RN rates posted here which are lower than what I presently make. I feel that 22/hr would be fair of me to ask. I have also heard good things about Sentara from your posts here except for their 5th floor. I also heard some bad comments about Bon Secours? I am not familiar with any of these facilities or the location but if anyone is from near Langley AFB and has any helpful information regarding relocation/housing or the hospitals/salary and which ones would be a good place to work I am all ears.

I am not sure how to best describe the floor I work on a resume so as to accurately reflect the pt's we get because there are a few other floors at the hospital here that call themselves med/surg but we are the only floor in the hospital that gets all the post-op's. The other floors calling themselves med/surg get the long term chronically ill pt's. One side of our floor is all orthopaedic and the other side is surgical (lots of abdominal/GI surgeries on that end) as well but sometimes we get medical pts too. I am interested in Women's health or Women and Infants as well as Behavioral health nursing if that counts for anything, but obviously the most important thing to me is the work environment/professionalism/good management. Thanks for any input I really appreciate it! I woudln't want to be stuck on a horrible floor or have my kids in a bad school.

[Kevin RN08]

My understanding is if your child want School of the Arts or IB they have to (A) be a resident of the county/district they are applying to (York, Williamsburg, Hampton, Newport News) (B) apply and be accepted.

For instance you may choose to live in the Tabb district of York County, your child want SoA so they apply and are accepted they will then be bussed (sp) from Tabb High to Bruton High for SoA. I would imagine it's the same in Williamsburg, NN and Hampton.

I would echo the previous poster's comments, but would add select areas of NN. Personally, I worked on the Naval Station in Norfolk while living in Williamsburg and it was MISERABLE! I spent atleast 15 hrs a week commuting 45 miles door to door, the standard was 1.5 hours each way and frequently one trip of >2hrs (1-2 every 2 weeks). Though that traffic is much of the motivation to go to Nursing School. I now drive 50 miles to Richmond in an hour with a coffee-snack stop.