Job Market Loundon County/Fairfax

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Hello,

I'm thinking of relocating to Virginia, either Loundon County or Fairfax. What is the job market like out there for hospital nursing? I have almost 3 years experience on a renal/cardiac/tele floor.

What are the staffing ratios in Virginia? And base pay for PM shift?

Thanks!

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Job market is excellent. Several major hospitals within a 20 mile radius. Pay is not so excellent in comparison to the cost-of-living in Fairfax county, the wealthiest county in the USA. For this reason, my husband and I have seriously considered returning back out west, where I made double my current salary.

Best wishes to you!

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Sorry didnt answer the whole question. Ratios....on my med/surg unit, the ratio was 6:1 with one nursing assistant shared between 2 nurses (12+ patients). On my oncology unit it was 5:1. On my postpartum/antepartum unit, its 5 couplets max per RN most days. No ratio for the nursery, regardless of census, its just you alone all day long:uhoh3:. If you get an antepartum pt, they wont give you more than one.

Salary for a nurse with 3-4 years at my hospital is $27-28/hr. sadly:o

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Specializes in med/surg, home health.

I've worked at Inova Loudoun Hospital for just short of six years and I love my job! It's a magnet facility which I think is important. Our nurse managers are great...supportive and encouraging, espec. to new grads. I work on Post Surgical and my nurse manager...you couldn't ask for a more caring, supportive person. We have a Tele unit that's great, too.

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Specializes in med/surg, home health.

At Loudoun we usually have max 5 patients on surgical and 4 patients on oncology. Our nurse mgr. shoots for 4 patients per nurse. We're struggling with techs right now but we try to shoot for 3 techs on our 35 bed surgical/oncology unit. As far as salary, you'll have to call and ask. I'm PRN.

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I also work at Loudoun. The opportunities are not as great here as they are at the other Inova Hosps in Fairfax. Check out the careers page for a list of over 400 nursing positions. It will list where its at, what unit, shift and if its full or part time or prn. The salaries are not as good in Loudoun as they are at the other hospitals but they are getting in line. There isn't much competition out this way. IF HCA comes in I look for salaries to increase as an incentive to keep nurses here. Benefits are standard and you can look those up online as well. What shift are you looking at? The ratio's at Loudoun are MUCH better than at other Inova facilities. Fair Oaks and Fairfax on nites can have 8-10 patients while at Inova our worst nite is 7 max! Our usual is 5-6. Just as a head's up... you will be much more marketable if you are tele certified and chemo certified... this will give you a greater choice of offerings. good luck!

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Fair Oaks and Fairfax on nites can have 8-10 patients while at Inova our worst nite is 7 max! Our usual is 5-6.

I'm at Fair Oaks...ratios for nights are now 1:6, with a 7th patient on a really bad night; days are 1:5

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Glad to hear that the ratios at F O have changed. We had several nurses to transfer over a couple of years back and that was one of the main reasons they left. Don't understand how the hospitals can preach "patient safety" with high ratios!

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