Health care jobs for a young person in Northern VA? Thinking of relocating..

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Hi,

I was thinking of relocating to Northern Virginia next year after I save up some money. I am 21 years old and I was originally a nursing major, but now I am not so sure.. I was thinking of going to school to become a Radiologic Technologist or Ultrasound Technologist instead of being a nurse, but I'm not sure what I want to do yet and I am taking time off to do some soul searching. (If I chose nursing I would try to enroll in NVCC - Annandale.)

However, I DO know that I want to make a career out of the health care field. I wanted to get an apartment (ideally close to Springfield, but open to whatever I can find in that general area!) and work a job in health care to support myself. I was just curious about the job market there.. I was considering finding a health care job as a CNA or a Patient Care Technician or as a Unit Secretary in a hospital. I have no clinical experience yet so I'm unsure of how to go about obtaining jobs like those.. Are there hospitals or other health care facilities that offer training for these types of jobs? Are there any that eventually offer health insurance? Are there health care jobs with flexible hours so I would also be able to attend school? If I am interested in a health care job there am I better off getting trained at a facility here before I move? My goal is to move there within 12 - 18 months.. by Christmas '09 would be the best.

I know working full-time and attending school full-time is challenging, but I think it is something I want to do once I am ready and get some things taken care of first. I would just prefer to find a job related to the industry I want a career instead of waiting tables.

Thank you for any responses. :)

P.S. Also, are there any towns in close proximity to the Springfield area (30 minutes or less) that have a lower cost of living? I know COL in Fairfax County is crazy..

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Have you checked any of the hospital websites yet? I know the Inova system has jobs online -- http://www.inova.org. Other area hospitals not part of the Inova octopus are Prince William Hospital -- http://www.pwhs.org/ -- and Fauquier Hospital -- http://www.fauquierhospital.org/ (careful how you pronounce "Fauquier," I can never seem to say it correctly ;)).

Where I work, most of our patient care techs have some kind of medical background, usually as an EMT-Basic (EMT-B) as a minimum. Our unit secretaries don't have to have anything like that ... just computer/phone skills. But before you move down here, maybe you could get your CNA?

As far as where to live, that's a good question ... I live a bit west of the Northern Virginia area, and I commute to Leesburg 3x a week. I lived in Arlington for many years, but sold my house and moved to Front Royal, then Winchester. I went to paramedic school at NVCC while living in Front Royal, but that was before the Springfield campus opened -- our school was in Annandale, and clinicals were at Inova Fairfax or Inova Alexandria. It was a bit of a commute, but gas was much cheaper then! Anyway, I'd suggest looking somewhere like Burke or Centreville, maybe.

Also, you might want to think about residency restrictions ... I can't remember if it's 6 months or 1 year before you can claim residency in Virginia and get in-state tuition. But if you can get a job at a hospital, many provide tuition reimbursement. :) Good luck!!

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I really don't know about the jobs, their insurance, etc....But, if you don't stay where you are now to get your CNA & you decide to come out here & begin fresh - let me know! I have a 1 bedroom apt. on the 3rd flr....I'm assuming your a SF (I am) & I feel very safe where I live. I have lived here for 4 yrs. now & if I weren't moving back in with my father, I'd stay put in this apt. Anyway, it's a good price with many amenities, convenient in so many respects because it helps keep the use of gas @ a minimum, a feet walking distance to Greenbriar Shopping Center, about 2-3 blks to IFOH (INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital), & so much more ---- I'd like it if someone that is in the position I used to be in would take over my lease - I think it'd make things so much easier on them....But anyway, let me know if you'd be interested in hearing more - job-wise I'm not so sure although if you have any dispatching/transportation experience I could probably hook you up with a job starting about $19-20/hr. plus benefits, but that's in Herndon....Now I'm just babbling on :typing

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For NVCC i believe it is 1 year of residency to get the state rate! As well VA residents get preference over out of state!!

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Hello,

I've decided that I am going to become a CNA before I leave the nursing major for good. I'm really confused and I think being a CNA would help me gain perspective and figure out what I want to do regarding majors.

However, I have another question to those who live in the NOVA area. How much, in general, do CNAs in the area earn? I am not all about money, however I am curious as to how much they make and how it compares to the cost of living there, because I need to make a living. I am afraid of moving there and not being able to afford rent.. I was looking at shared places on Craigslist, where I would be renting out a *room* rather than an entire apartment. Anything within 35-40 minutes of Springfield. I was considering a place that costs between $450 - 575 a month (give or take a little for utilities). Is it realistic for a single girl to afford that kind of rent, plus some other expenses (car insurance, gas, food, $50/month for student loans, etc)?

I've just never been on my own before.. and I know that is such an expensive area.. I just don't want to go there and fall flat on my face and be dirt poor. I don't know what to expect.. I'm at a confusing time in my life.. disappointed with myself, stressed, unhappy with most aspects of my life.. I think it would be great to start a new life there after getting some things in order here first (not to mention someone very dear to me lives in NOVA, can't live with them though) but maybe it's something I shouldn't embark on if it isn't realistic. I wouldn't be a CNA forever, but is it realistic to get by on a CNA salary?

Any help and words of wisdom would mean so much.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You might want to visit salary.com to get a feel for the range ... seems to be somewhere between $13 to $14/hr in the middle of the range. Depending on your expenses, it might be tough. Maybe you could find a roommate? You might want to check out craigslist.org to see what kind of living arrangement opportunities are out there.

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