Moving to Arkansas

[spejsa]

Does anybody on here live in Arkansas? I have a few friends who moved back their when their family relocated years ago. One of my friends is an RN, her little sister is not. But, I was told that even new grads start at around $18 an hour and the houses are so much cheaper.

I will never be able to buy a house here inCalifornia! If anybody has any advice, info, etc. please forward it on to me.

thanks.

Stacey

[bargainhound, RN]

Which part of Arkansas will you be living in? I lived there for years, but have

never lived in California, so would not know how to compare the two. Pay rates

depend on years of experience and area of nursing....just like anywhere else.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

hello, spejsa and welcome to the arkansas forum.

good to see that you might move down here in razorback country. we'll keep a light on for ya.

[spejsa]

I am considering the Van Buren area of the Fayetteville area. Just cause my friends live in those 2 places.

[lucky4timesover]

Hi there! I live in the Fort Smith area which is right next to Van Buren. You can make $18 as a new grad here or you can drive 40 minutes to Fayetteville and make $23 an hour plus a sign on bonus. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with. Hope you really enjoy it here.

Sunny

[spejsa]

Can you tell me where in Fayetteville starts at $23 an hour?

[bargainhound, RN]

Fayetteville is a beautiful place to live. I lived there and worked at the

VA hospital, but there is also a private hospital right next to it....I am not

sure of the name....afraid to guess...it was years back and I forgot...but

the area is gorgeous all year round.

[RNLeavingTheOC]

Stacy,

Follow my posts that I have placed on the Arkansas forum. I am moving there on Monday 2/20/06 from the Fullerton area of So Cal. I know very well where you are coming from when you wonder if you will ever be able to afford a house out in Ca, especially when the median home price is over $600K's. I found a great mortgage loan program for nurses and will buy a house out in AR right away. Since you have friends out there you could always take a travel assignment to AR, see how you like it and maybe make the move and get out of California. I have been planning my move for two years now and only have a few days to go. Good luck and I'll let you know how things work out for me.

[spejsa]

I just passed boards and got my license so I can't do the travel option. Think I need 9 months experience for any travel assignments.

[branco]

I am considering the Van Buren area of the Fayetteville area. Just cause my friends live in those 2 places.

Van Buren is considered in the Fort Smith area (not Fayetteville)

In regards to real estate, the Fayetteville area is much more costly area to live than Van Buren or Fort Smith. There was even a news report of people buying homes in Fort Smith and commuting to Fayetteville (personally, I wouldn't care for that commute!). I would rather find a great paying job in Fayetteville and live there (even though it's more expensive--there's just more "fun stuff" to do in Fayetteville.)

I'm currently living in OK and working in Fort Smith. I'm not impressed with nursing wages in Fort Smith.

I love the natural beauty of Arkansas. My all time fave weekend get-away place is Eureka Springs AR.

[spejsa]

Can you tell me which hospitals are good in the Fayetteville area? What do they start at?

[lucinda1518]

How long has it been since you worked at the VA? I work at the VA in D.M., my husband has accepted a transfer to the Fayetteville area. Does the VA there have much turnover? Positions in D.M. are hard to come by. Nobody quits once they get hired. Haven't checked with human resources yet, just curious. I know there are big differences in VAs. Did you like it there? Where do you work now? Thanks for your help. Cindyrenee