Relocating to VA

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Hi all! We are relocating to VA for my husbands job. I currently work in the PICU. The two major hospitals I am looking at is Inova in Falls Church, and Children's of Richmond At VCU. I was wondering if you guys can help me out and tell me anything you know about the two? Salary, shift dif, parking, what you like or don't like about them etc. Just want to get an idea so I can start looking at places. Thanks so much!

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

Where will you be living? Those facilities are pretty far apart.

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Yes I know they are far about. Where we live would depend what hospital I decide on.

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Where we live depends which hospital I pick

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

Aha, I see. :) When you said you were relocating for your husband's job, I didn't conclude that you would pick where you live; quite the opposite!

I have worked for the Inova system in the past; I can only say good things about a system that helped me go from paramedic to RN and hired me as an ED RN. :) I did an ED nursing fellowship in Fairfax, that is a top-notch hospital. Hopefully people who work there now can weigh in an give opinions.

Traffic is horrible in northern Virginia, but it's not great around Richmond either. I feel like there is more to do around the NOVA area as well (DC, museums, etc.), but I have only visited Richmond and never lived there.

Did you consider Valley Health in Winchester? Lovely area, lower cost of living, and nice facility.

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Yes sorry for the confusion. His job is based in Fredericksburg which is middle of the two-so housing would depend on where I pick to work (ex. Woodbridge or Ruther glen)

I don't think they have a Picu. I am only currently looking at Picu positions.

Do you have to pay for Parkin at fairfax?

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

Hmmmm, I think you're right about Winchester, but I was thinking they had a PICU because they have a Level III NICU. I think maybe they just have a peds floor.

I believe parking is free at Fairfax, but is sometimes difficult to find.

Good luck in your search!! :)

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Thanks so much!

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Hands down, I would choose RVA (what we call Richmond in central VA).

The drive from Fredericksburg to Falls Church would be brutal. I am talking soul crushing here.

They make look similar in distance, but the traffic to DC on 95 starts at Fredericksburg.

I have lived in Virginia all my life - half in Fairfax and half in my nice little college town of Charlottesville. Avoid Northern VA at all costs.

If it were me, I would just work at Mary Washington and just make my life that much easier.

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Specializes in Medicine, Step-Down, Cystic Fibrosis.

I think PICU at vcu is hiring. You do pay for parking depending on where you want to park (and what's available). They make a killing in parking, but finding parking otherwise is near impossible. I love VCU though.

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Thanks!! Very helpful! Even though the parking is expensive do you think the pay is comparable to make up for that?

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Specializes in Medicine, Step-Down, Cystic Fibrosis.

It really depends on your own personal opinion... The highest price is 96$/month and comes out of your paycheck.. But there's also much cheaper lots/decks and a free one where busses run constantly in loops. Even though it can be frustrating to pay, I wouldn't leave VCU over it.

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