Moving to DMV AREA HELP!

[Nurse0320]

Hello I am a new grad nurse and would like to move to the DMV area. I prefer Northern Virginia like Arlington or Fairfax. I have done some research and the question I would like to ask is how can a nurse survive the cost of living in Northern Virginia? Also are there any head hunters or agency I can contact? Who hires new grads? Any info would help. I am a single parent with a child in elementary school. Any insight on great elementary schools? Thank you.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Hello I am a new grad nurse and would like to move to the DMV area. I prefer Northern Virginia like Arlington or Fairfax. I have done some research and the question I would like to ask is how can a nurse survive the cost of living in Northern Virginia? Also are there any head hunters or agency I can contact? Who hires new grads? Any info would help. I am a single parent with a child in elementary school. Any insight on great elementary schools? Thank you.

Is there a reason you are moving here without having a job lined up? Reason being the D.C. area job market is a tough market. Many area hospitals are hiring BSN only, so hopefully you at least have your BSN. I would look and see if any hospitals are still taking applications for their summer new grad programs, but I know some hospitals are already done taking applications because they get hundreds of apps in the first week.

Head hunters or nurse agencies are interested in experienced nurses, not new grads. Without experience you have no chance of getting an agency job as you will get no orientation to speak of

I would look at area hospitals in DC, MD, and VA. I would also look at Kaiser, nursing homes, psych hospitals. I know for a while St. Ann's in D.C. was hiring new grads

The cost of living really isn't hard to make work. Most new grad positions start at $24-$26/hr, plus shift differentials for off shifts. When I first moved here I had a large 1 bedroom apt for $900/month, so it is definitely possible to make it work. Since you are looking at Fairfax housing can be a little cheaper the farther out you go.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'd look up the local hospitals' websites and start applying to whatever you can. You can also contact the hospital recruiters, but like ChristineN said, they're more interested in experienced applicants than newbies. Still, if you don't try, you don't know, right?

Unfortunately, almost no agency will take on a new grad: they want nurses that they can send right on assignment, not ones they will have to teach First Year Nursing 101 to. This is no slur upon you--I work agency for one of my jobs, and the only orientation you will get is to the facility that you will be working at...and that's maybe 1-2 shifts tops. Otherwise they expect you to KNOW what nursing you will be doing.

You may find a few home health agencies that would consider new graduates...but IMO, proceed with caution. Home health can be very tough for a new grad, so be sure that they will offer you an extensive orientation as well as a good support system for when you're in the field.

If at all possible, don't relocate without having an official job offer in hand first. And don't limit yourself to hospitals: definitely look outside of the hospital box for jobs.

Best of luck.