Atlanta questions

Jay Levan · Mar 30, 2005

Atlanta is a great place to work, they have many hospital chains, some of which are Emory University Hospitals, Piedmont, Wellstar, and the least inviting (In my opinion) is Columbia Hospitals. I work strictly for agencies (6) and am able to schedule any shift I want. I also "Travel" to Atlanta for 4-13 week assignments. It is somewhat expensive to live in Metro Atlanta but you can find reasonable rents for appartments, and mortgage rates for homes 20 minutes from town. Overall cost of living is about half of what you are experiencing in Pittsburg. Salaries depend on your qualifications, and your ability to negotiate. The good situation you are in, is that you may do your negotiations on-line :coollook: Before ever leaving your present local address. Negotiating is a tricky business, especially here in the DEEP SOUTH :uhoh21: It is considered

To Direct

for anyone, let alone Yankees, to make statements, so always try to ask questions :rolleyes:

I moved to the area in 1984, to southerners I was a Damn Yankee then, and I am still in the same catagory today :angryfire If I were in your shoes, I would explore through agencies, to see if you can obtain a contract, short term,(4) weeks or longer (8-13) weeks, that way you can explore the many avenues available to you, and get your own take on COL, salaries, etc. etc. without giving anything up in your area. Travel Agencies provide housing, travel pay, utilities, Sign-on, and completion bonuses, renewal of contract bonuses, as well as other perc's, however again you must have the ability to negotiate with them, because if you do not ask the proper questions about benefits, they will not mention them. Suggest you sit down one day and dome some math on just what you would need, so that you are not left holding the bag, on expenses you might incur. Certainly I would be happy to coorespond with you and answer any querstions you might have on this endeavor. They (Agencies) might ask what area of town you would like to be housed? If they do, try to pick something close to the hospital, but not downtown. Traffic patterns in Atlanta are very clearly defined, and if you get stuck in one trffic jam you will see that to travel metro-Atlanta you must be inside the I-285 Loop before 6:15am and not be scheduled to leave before 7:15pm. When I go to Atlanta for work I prefer 11am-11pm it allows you to miss most major traffic.

Never flash your headlights at a vehicle without their headlights on

Gangbangers consider this good enouigh reason to shoot at you :angryfire Not trying to scare you just giving you a tip. I'm sure you have your own particular problems in Pittsburg, no different from Atlanta. :coollook:

unknown99, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2005

I now live in Ohio, but recently moved here from Metro Atlanta. I lived in Acworth, which is about 25 miles north of Atlanta. It is a great place to live and raise a family. I lived in a small subdivision off of Bells Ferry Road. There is great access to all areas of shopping, dining, entertainment, as wll as easy access to all your major hospitals. The cost of living is average; I had a 5 bed/3 and a half bath 2 car garage on a little over an acre for $150,000. I loved it there, and would go back in a heartbeat. My husband's job is what keeps us in Ohio.

chuma · Apr 4, 2005

Atlanta is a great place to work, they have many hospital chains, some of which are Emory University Hospitals, Piedmont, Wellstar, and the least inviting (In my opinion) is Columbia Hospitals. I work strictly for agencies (6) and am able to schedule any shift I want. I also "Travel" to Atlanta for 4-13 week assignments. It is somewhat expensive to live in Metro Atlanta but you can find reasonable rents for appartments, and mortgage rates for homes 20 minutes from town. Overall cost of living is about half of what you are experiencing in Pittsburg. Salaries depend on your qualifications, and your ability to negotiate. The good situation you are in, is that you may do your negotiations on-line Before ever leaving your present local address. Negotiating is a tricky business, especially here in the DEEP SOUTH :uhoh21: It is considered for anyone, let alone Yankees, to make statements, so always try to ask questions I moved to the area in 1984, to southerners I was a Damn Yankee then, and I am still in the same catagory today :angryfire If I were in your shoes, I would explore through agencies, to see if you can obtain a contract, short term,(4) weeks or longer (8-13) weeks, that way you can explore the many avenues available to you, and get your own take on COL, salaries, etc. etc. without giving anything up in your area. Travel Agencies provide housing, travel pay, utilities, Sign-on, and completion bonuses, renewal of contract bonuses, as well as other perc's, however again you must have the ability to negotiate with them, because if you do not ask the proper questions about benefits, they will not mention them. Suggest you sit down one day and dome some math on just what you would need, so that you are not left holding the bag, on expenses you might incur. Certainly I would be happy to coorespond with you and answer any querstions you might have on this endeavor. They (Agencies) might ask what area of town you would like to be housed? If they do, try to pick something close to the hospital, but not downtown. Traffic patterns in Atlanta are very clearly defined, and if you get stuck in one trffic jam you will see that to travel metro-Atlanta you must be inside the I-285 Loop before 6:15am and not be scheduled to leave before 7:15pm. When I go to Atlanta for work I prefer 11am-11pm it allows you to miss most major traffic. Gangbangers consider this good enouigh reason to shoot at you :angryfire Not trying to scare you just giving you a tip. I'm sure you have your own particular problems in Pittsburg, no different from Atlanta.

Hi, I'm trying to move to Atl this summer. I decided to take a travel assignment but not too many jobs in my area, post partum. You mentioned negotiating with the agencies, what is appropriate to ask for in terms of salary and housing? What else can I expect them to cover ie travel expense like car rentals? What do you think about med surg as a travel assignment, I haven't worked med surg in a long while. Any feedback you can give would be appreciated.

nursingFJ · Apr 6, 2005

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond, but I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to respond to me and give me some advice. I am still working through somethings, but the information was appreciated! :)