Best Place to Live/Work in Virginia

Kurious RN · Oct 22, 2009

I lived in the Hampton roads area for 6 years and I loved it! It's an area that always has something going on. You have Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, and Virginia beach all within 45 minutes drive. You have Colonial Williamsburg, Bush Garden, a Water Park, Museums, Parks, Festivals, and the beach! Newport News is the cheapest place to live. There are a lot of hospitals in the area too. I did nursing school in Sentara hospital and it's a nice place to work according to some friends that work there. Best luck to you!

>30yrsRN · Oct 22, 2009

I was there about two years ago in a tVacation. I fell in love with the Area, I love the Holiday Winter Season there.Well the Rockerfellows sure know where to invest their money;) It was a warm week actually weather was 38 degree one day and the rest were in the mid 70s', The Ferry is great! I was surprise to see Jamestown was selling New Houses in such a Historic Land and they were reasonable price to. I was just wondering what are the wages for a RN in that Area?

lamazeteacher · Oct 23, 2009

When I got my nurse's license in VA, I was surprised to learn that it's one of many "compact" states. You have a license in all those states when you have one in VA and vice versa. Reciprosity means that no additional exams are necessary, as long as the BON accepts the educational req's of the state in which you were licensed before. I've had good experiences talking and going to the BON in Richmond, VA. It's very cooperative and helpful.

Richmond as the capitol and largest city in VA, has a lot of interesting areas, architecture and events. It was sinking into corruption for a long time, and then a Governor was elected who was able to get budgets out of red ink. He is now chairing the Democratic Party in Washington, and someone new will be elected Governor in Nov. It's a good time to get to know people, as a volunteer with a political candidates' campaign offices. You'd learn a lot quickly about the make-up of the constituents. Reform of Health Care isn't a popular cause in VA.

I'm at the opposite end of the rainbow than you are, in that I'm at the end of my career. Migrating from Canada to California in the early '60s gave me insight into the needs to consider when travelling far from home to a new life, though. I was told to choose where I lived carefully, as I'd probably meet my husband there. A friend of my sister's who lived in northern CA suggested that I choose the peninsula, south of San Francisco, and I loved it there. I did find it strange that the medical center where I worked had stated objectives that were above patient care! The infighting and political nature of nurses was very foreign to me, so I ended up working for a physician on staff, as his "nurse Friday", for a year. I learned a lot there.

Sometimes things work out by happenstance. My life changed permanently when I met the man who would become my husband, when I went to the laundry room of our apartment complex. He had 3 roomates from Law School and lived across from the apartment I shared with 3 other nurses who worked at the medical center there. In those days, dangers that exist today were largely absent, as crime was minimal. However I remember choosing the place where I lived because it was next to a first rate university. I like discussions with intelligent people..... Also there was an incredible shopping center nearby.

My daughter lives in Williamsburg, VA and I moved to a condominium there in 2003. VA seems to arrange housing into what we'd formerly have called tracts. The rules and regs in the new development of attractive townhouses I chose are very strict, and accordingly the people there are pretty rigid folks, (they support the rule that unrelated people can't share a bedroom!?!), most are white middle class, and married. The few singles are older women who outlived their mates. Some units are rentals (from $900 to $1100); and William and Mary students (predominantly in law school) are renters, or their parents bought the place for them. Sentara Hospital is nearby and has a new grad program.

The many outlets make shopping great! The CIA's training at Camp Perry happens there. Real estate is quite reasonable. If you end up buying a place within the city boundaries, the real estate taxes are comparatively low, and garbage collection is free. Schools are very good, there. Tourism is the main source of income, and history interests many residents. The docents for the historical area wear costumes from the period when settlers were coming from England in the 1600s. It's funny to see them at the supermarkets, banks and some restaurants, and military uniforms are all over.

Virginia Beach is flat, flat, flat and people there love the ocean. It's very nautical with many beach communities (expensive), and singles and tourists abound. Fabulous shopping is all over the place. The crime rate is higher there, so security is bigtime. I haven't noticed slummy places there, and schools are OK, I hear.

Military installations abound in Hampton, Norfolk (naval base) and the Peninsula.

Ship building is the main industry, but that has slowed considerably with resultant unemployment. Hampton has revitalized its downtown, and Nasa has a museum there but there are districts that aren't as desirable as others, there - many "projects". You don't want to be stranded in the dark in some areas there. I worked in HH with most of my down and out patients living in Hampton.

Newport News rests on its laurels, and has a few community colleges that have good reputations and employ a lot of people. It is the commercial hub of the peninsula between Richmond and Hampton. I couldn't get the directions straight there, as the east side of it is where I thought the west side would be.....

As a Canadian living in CA most of my life, I wasn't prepared for the prejudice in VA of the people with whom I worked and lived. Intellectually I knew it must still be present, but the blatant intolerance and preset expectations took my breath away. There are many Hispanic people who work in jobs no one else wanted, until jobs were at a premium..... Luckily I made a friend of a neighbor who tolerates my intolerance, and I vent at will.

I hope this rambling has been helpful.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Oct 23, 2009

Hello fellow Canadian!!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 23, 2009

I am tired of the "city life"...therefore the DC...Northern VA area does not appeal much to me. I have done some research and I am almost sold on Richmond..anyone from there..been there?

Richmond is still "city." Smaller areas would be places like Charlottesville or Winchester, but there may not be as many jobs there.

CASTLEGATES · Nov 3, 2009

This is just my personal opinion: I have traveled through the US for the past 14 years as a consultant for a global company doing educational programs for RN's. Virginia would be my first choice to relocate for a nursing position for several reasons, one being the climate, also the economy is in decent shape, and is centrally located on the east coast and an easy drive to the DC area. Having been at all the Sentara Hospitals in the Va. Beach, Hampton and Norfolk areas
I found the hospitals administration of high standards related to patients and staff. Roanoke is another area, not as easy to get in and out of as the airport is small, however I did enjoy the hospitals. My personal choice is Winchester VA. the Hospital is well positioned financially. The nurses were of high caliber, and were treated very well by administration. The ICU's are very busy, well staffed and state of the art equipment! Again these are my assessments and personal preference. I would suggest if you plan on relocating to VA. Winchester is a must to visit. Winchester is an area that is growing but still has that old town feeling with the historic districts and tree lined street neighborhoods. Good Luck, and congratulations!

I'd steer clear of Winchester; reputation isn't that good and although it does "seem" like a nice place (why I chose that facility, as well and made the mistake of MOVING there), oh my did I make a mistake! I put in my time and headed for the hills. I'm pretty tolerant but it's a culture alike none in all the states I've worked in. It does come off looking and seeming great but I learned that was skin deep.

Benefits and pay weren't as good as others but that's because they're the only game in town. If you're in the area, work for the VA north of there and in a few years your pay will be double with triple their benefits.

I won't go into specifics but I will never forget it (versus some OK hospitals that are easy to forget cause they blend in with other places through the years).

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 3, 2009

I live in Winchester, but I drive the 35 miles to work in another ED, for another health system, on purpose! I know some of the RNs who work at Winchester, and they're great. I recerted my ACLS and PALS there last winter, and did TNCC there in a few weeks ago. As far as educational classes go, they are top notch. I have a friend who went from the ED where I am to a different unit at Winchester, and she's enjoying it. But castlegates is right -- only game in town. It's only a few miles from my home, so it would be nice to not drive so far ... but I'm not sure the cut in pay would be worth it for me, and I do have other reservations about working there that I won't go into.

And castlegates, I was LMAO when you said you "put in your time and headed for the hills" -- I thought, "Winchester IS the hills!" LOL. It's a pretty small town, but it is growing.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Nov 5, 2009

Hmmm...definitely a lot to think about.

I am planning to move to the N. VA area next spring or summer, and I was wondering what the job market is like right now. I have a sister in Arlington, so I'd like to move somewhere in that area, or at least in comfortable driving distance of Arlington. (I live in Honolulu right now, so the prospect of paying $1000/month for a studio doesn't really faze me!)

I am an RN with 12 years of experience in LTC--anyone have any insight into the job prospects in that area? (for someone with experience.)

Appreciate any insight anyone might have...

Arkend · Nov 5, 2009

I'm thinking about moving to the Norfolk area. Does anyone know how much Sentara pays their resource pool nurses or how much agency nurses make? Thanks in advance.

Lewyswife · Nov 6, 2009

I am a LPN in Roanoke VA studying to get my BSN I work for the VA hosptial which is a great start I think but the Roanoke Valley is a beautiful place , not overpriced and if you search Roanoke Times Classifieds you will see there are jobs here in the valley and you have your choice of 3 different hosptial systems , the biggest Carilion also has a great website welcoming new grads to there workplace pay I am sure is not bad as I do well for a LPN , something to check into and it is a great small city !!!!

lamazeteacher · Nov 6, 2009

this is just my personal opinion: i have traveled through the us for the past 14 years as a consultant for a global company doing educational programs for rn's.
i've had significant experience in nurse education, and would love a job like yours. i'm an empty nester and free and a very experienced global traveler.
virginia would be my first choice to relocate for a nursing position for several reasons, one being the climate summers are unbearably hot and humid (for me), also the economy is in decent shape, richmond has been getting back on its feet, but suffered greatly before the current mayor....and is centrally located on the east coast and an easy drive
to the dc area. having been at all the sentara hospitals in the va. beach, hampton and norfolk areas
people who i know, say the dc commute is horrendous, even from maryland and especially in northern va areas. the highway 64 corridor is a nightmare, most times and especially near the tunnel from hampton to norfolk, which flooded not long ago, and still has water piping that is questionnable!!
i found the hospitals administration of high standards related to patients and staff. sorry, i have to intervene here. i've been a patient at sentara williamsburg, and found the care abominable and catered food lousy.
my rn ran from room to room without changing gloves or washing her hands. when i reported that, (after discussing the policy there with her - and received a rebuke for it, the infection control nurse made no effort to talk to me about it when i asked to see her, and when i told risk management about that and the fact that upon admission, the chance for a bleeding scan was lost (i was hemorrhaging from somewhere in my lower gi tract, for the second time in two years, and that scan is only applicable during heavy blood loss, which i had when the ambulance brought me to their ed, gave their report to a nurse, and then i was left on a guerney behind a curtain, sleeping for two + hours before anyone saw me.
three hours later i was taken to the telemetry floor, transfused with two units, (after the blood count that was finally taken, revealand dangerously low rbcs and hgb and hct). on day 3 the bleeding seemed to slow, so the opportunity to know the location of the bleeding has never been found since, even with the swallowed camera. upon discharge the hospitalist (a fp) said that my k was critically low, and i needed high doses of it, that would be prescribed. i asked for the prescription as i was wheeled by the nurses' station, and they said no prescription had been given, but the order was in my chart and the hospitalist was unavailable. they said to ask my pcp for it, but he told me to get it otc...... i reported all that to the risk manager, who did nothing about anything..... it seemed to me that the thinking was that my age of 70 was an ideal time to leave this world....they'd have fewer complaints if all oldsters left.
maybe my experience there was the exception, proving that hospital care at sentara's many facilities is great.....
roanoke is another area, not as easy to get in and out of as the airport is small, however i did enjoy the hospitals. my personal choice is winchester va. the hospital is well positioned financially. will funds be as freely allocated there, after the reform of health care bill is passed?
the nurses were of high caliber, and were treated very well by administration. upon what was that opinion based?
the icu's are very busy, well staffed with a ratio of? and state of the art equipment! again these are my assessments and personal preference. i would suggest if you plan on relocating to va. winchester is a must to visit. winchester is an area that is growing but still has that old town feeling with the historic districts and tree lined street neighborhoods. good luck, and congratulations!

staunton, 1 1/2 hours drive east of richmond is in mountainous country, and historically intact (no distruction from the civil war - ok, yankee uprising). there is a restaurant there serving southern cooking that is the best (i like spicy food, and enjoyed the bland offerings immensly).

you need to be somewhat accepting of good 'ol southern thinking and prejudice, if you want to get along anywhere in va (except maybe around dc), and not horrified by the simmering anger of groups of different ethnic backgrounds, against the other. many hispanic monolinguistic people have migrated there, so knowledge of spanish is an asset. if you like mexican food, and pre-civil war architecture, it's there.

by the way, groceries are taxed, and meat and fish is quite expensive, compared to ca (where food isn't taxed unless it is precooked and hot).

gas prices in williamsburg and a station in staunton are the lowest in the state.

k.morris · Nov 7, 2009

Okay so I applied to CHKD.....ANyone have any ideas of how the hospital is, how hard to get into right now for new grads, should I get my hopes up?

Also I was wondering what places around there were nice and affordable to live in. Is living in Norfolk a good idea since that is where the hospital is? Sorry I live in NJ right now and don't know much about the area at all so any information would be nice.

I would love to live near Virginia Beach and it seems like there is everything there. Thanks.