Asheville north carolina

U.S.A. North Carolina

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Specializes in med/surg, CCU, Transitional Care.

Hi!!! I desperatly want to move to the Asheville North Carolina area when I graduate from nursing school (ADN). I have researched the pay scale vs the cost of living and I don't like what I see. I need some advice from people who actually live and work in Asheville. What is the pay scale for graduates at MSJ and Vets hospital? Any hospitals close to Asheville with good working conditions and salary? Any advice is appreciated

Thanks

Tammy

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I lived in Asheville from 1993-1996 and then moved to Dallas. I was shocked to learn this but before our move to Dallas we did our research and Asheville and Dallas had the same cost of living. And, I can't imagine Asheville decreasing any since then! NC is low paying- why don't you try going to Asheville as a traveler first?? I worked at Memorial Mission but now MMH and St. Joseph's have merged. GREAT CITY - very eclectic and diverse population. BEAUTIFUL scenery but after 6 years in TX, there's too much winter in NC for us!

Asheville is the largest city in Western NC so don't know if you want to go to any of the SMALL hospitals in adjoining counties.

Good Luck!

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I live in SE Tenn. and work in Home Health in a very rural area. I am about equidistant from Knoxville and Chattanooga and about 4 hours from Nashville, Asheville and Atlanta.

My now 8 year old daughter developed a rare medical problem last year stemming from a head injury several years prior. I took her to her Pediatric Neurosurgeon and he recommended that she see an Interventional Neuroradiologist but that there were none in Knoxville or Chattanooga that could do what needed to be done. I told him we would go anywhere to get the best care for her. We were willing to go many thousands of miles away, whatever it took.

I was shocked when he called the next day and told me he wanted us to go to Asheville- that he liked the docs there and he was confident in them. She did have the procedure done there at MSJ and stayed in the PICU in the Billy Graham Children's Center. I was so happy with not only the doctors, but the nurses and staff at the hospital. In my opinion, it was an excellent hospital and the technology was absolutely cutting edge.

Ann

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Specializes in med/surg, CCU, Transitional Care.

Thanks for the reply. When a person is on the other side, such as you were--the patient or the family--you get a totally different perspective. It's nice that not only employees as well as the people who literally need the hospitals and care are happy. Asheville sound very nice. I certainly don't want to be a number in a large fish pond. Asheville sounds like a nice place to settle down. I want to help someone and also enjoy my working conditions. Isn't that what every oneone wants:D

Thanks!!!!!!

Tammilynn

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tammilyn-

i know this is an old thread but i just found this site. i live/work in asheville & wonder if you are still looking for info, or if you decided to move here? i LOVE it here - wouldn't want to live anywhere else- but the pay is NOT why i stay...happy to give more info if you want it.

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

Hi Tammi - like FNP grrl, I just found your message. I just moved to Asheville a little over 5 monthss ago and also love being here. For me, as a single father, raising 3 children alone, it has been a wonderful place to settle and raise the kids. The schools are some of the best in the State and the moderate climate as well as wonderful people make Asheville an ideal place to live.

When I was doing my research on the area, before I moved, I was also a little sticker shocked by the economy here. But, the pay scales are a little better than where I came from. The cost of living is about the same, although the heating costs here are very high.

Good luck in your search and I hope you decide to make Asheville your home .... I am sure you will not be disappointed.

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Specializes in med/surg, CCU, Transitional Care.
tammilyn-

i know this is an old thread but i just found this site. i live/work in asheville & wonder if you are still looking for info, or if you decided to move here? i LOVE it here - wouldn't want to live anywhere else- but the pay is NOT why i stay...happy to give more info if you want it.

Hi, I just finally saw your reply. I am working very hard at school. And, Yes! I am serious about Asheville. I have heard that it is beautiful and alot like where I come from (Northwestern Pennsylvania). Where do you work. Is it MSJ? What is the pay like for RNs? Working conditions, sign on bonuses? Will my husband be able to find a job? What about the price of a house. I have 2 teenage boys. How are the schools. Just thought I would hit you with a few questions :p

Thanks for any replies

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

Asheville is a great place, although it seems like the employment opportunities are now as plentiful as they are in other areas. Don't get me wrong, there are jobs for nurses, just not as many as you might find in Atlanta or other cities. MSJ is the major employer here for nurses. New grad wages are starting at or around $17.50 per hour, which I think is the going rate for most areas. You might want to look into several different places here before you decide on a job. There is the VA (which is where I work - great place), Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher and Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville. There are other hospitals in the outlying areas, but they are a pretty good drive from Asheville.

Hope you do well on boards and best of luck in your move here. It isa great place to live ... that is for sure!

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Does anyone know what the market is like for certified nurse midwives or womens health nurse practitioners?

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I AM RELOCATING TO ASHEVILLE AREA IN MAY.MY PARTNER WILL BE GOING TO MASSAGE THERAPY SCHOOL THIS SUMMER.I'M AN RN WITH MANY YRS. OF EXPERIENCE IN PEDS NURSING.I'M LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE AREA.I'VE HEARD THAT THE PAY SCALE IS NOT GREAT BUT THAT WON'T KEEP ME AWAY.I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US.THIS COMPUTER STUFF IS NEW TO ME SO I HOPE THIS GOES THRU.I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU. THANKS, CARLA

tammilyn-

i know this is an old thread but i just found this site. i live/work in asheville & wonder if you are still looking for info, or if you decided to move here? i LOVE it here - wouldn't want to live anywhere else- but the pay is NOT why i stay...happy to give more info if you want it.

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Carla-

I worked one day a week in Peds and 36 hrs/wk in Orthopaedics back in 1995-1996 at Memorial Mission. Ruth and Billy Graham are big donors for MMH and the Peds unit is named after them. It was brand new in 1995 and absolutely beautiful!!! And, it was a great place to work back then. Don't know how it is now. Asheville and the entire Western North Carolina area is BEAUTIFUL and a fun place to call home. White water rafting on the Nantahala south of Asheville near Fontana - kayaking/canoeing on the French Broad River in Asheville - Lake Lure - Dillsboro and the Great Smokies Railroad - Cherokee Indian Reservation - Cashiers - waterfalls near Brevard - Bryson City - Gem mines (sapphires and emeralds) and the BEST scenery ever on the Blue Ridge Parkway - you'll never tire of the scenery, I promise! And, the downtown area is interesting with art deco touches and LOTS of gargoyles on the exteriors!! PLEASE enjoy your move to Asheville and there are plenty of surrounding areas that have hospitals, too. Park Ridge - - Margaret Pardee in Hendersonville - Cherokee has a hospital and then there is the Asheville VA also. Marion about 30 mi East of Asheville has McDowell. You shouldn't have a problem getting a position. GOOD LUCK!

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tammilyn-

i know this is an old thread but i just found this site. i live/work in asheville & wonder if you are still looking for info, or if you decided to move here? i LOVE it here - wouldn't want to live anywhere else- but the pay is NOT why i stay...happy to give more info if you want it.

HI TAMMILY,

THANKS FOR REPLYING BACKTO ME.YES I AM STILL PLANNING ON RELOCATING TO THE ASHEVILLE AREA AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR DREAM IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE.WE ARE GOING TO ASHEVILLE JUNE 8 TO LOOK AT A HOUSE IN FAIRVEIW IN THE COUNTRY.I GAVE MY NOTICE AT ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THIS WEEK AND MY LAST DAY TO WORK IS JUNE 21.I'VE WORKED THERE FOR ALMOST 18YRS SO ITS A LITTLE SCARY TO BE LOOKING FOR A JOB BUT LIVING IN THE ASHEVILLE AREA IS WHERE I FEEL WE ARE MEANT TO BE.I AM SO EXCITED THINGS ARE FINALLY COMMING TOGETHER.THE PEOPLE IN ASHEVILLE ARE SO OPEN AND THE LAND IS SO BEAUTIFUL WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET THERE.I'VE HEARD THE PAY SCALE IS NOT THAT GREAT BUT THATS NOT WHY WE ARE MOVING THERE.I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US WHILE MY PARTNER GOES TO SCHOOL AT THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL HEALING.I JUST NEED A JOB THAT FITS ME-I LOVE NURSING THOSE WITH LONG TERM NEEDS.I WORKED FOR ABOUT 16YRS WITH HEM/ONC KIDS AND THEN 2YRS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS KIDS.I THINK I DO MY BEST NURSING WHEN I HAVE A CHANCE TO DEVELOPE A GOOD PT/NURSE RELATIONSHIP.MY PT'S LOVED ME AND I GAVE THEM 100% @ WORK.I WOULD LIKE TO WORK @ AN INPT HOSPICE CENTER THAT IS REALLY WERE I FEEL SPIRT LED.I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS SUCH A PLACE BUT A VERY NEEDED PLACE.I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'VE RAMBLED ON BUT I AM SO VERY EXCITED THAT THINGS ARE FINALLY COMMING TOGETHER FOR US.I'VE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO FAIRVIEW BUT ALREADY FEEL IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE FOR US. THANKS, CARLA MANVILLE:balloons:

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