Thinking of relocating-Pocono Mt. area

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Good morning all and Happy Mother's Day :balloons: . I'm currently an LPN student and my husband and I are looking to relocate to the Pocono Mt. area of PA once I'm done. I have a few questions...What are the job opportunities like for LPNs in this area and what is the pay rate? Also, I plan to go for my RN immediately following graduation from my program and I'd like to know what beginning salaries for RNs in the area are. Oh and what are the area hospitals? As you can see, I'm pretty much in the research phase so any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Check out: http://www.salary.com

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

I don't know LPN salaries...

All RN GN's start at Lehigh Valley Hospital at $20.50 with a $1 bump after you pass NCLEX. I think St Luke's Hospital is about the same. Both these health networks have hospitals in Bethlehem and Allentown. I'm not sure how much Pocono Medical Center starts probably not that different. If you want to make more you can always commute to NJ.

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Thanks for your reply SueMom. I think I'm definitely leaning towards the commute but it depends on how much of a commute we're talking...I have a little while to think about it though.

All RN GN's start at Lehigh Valley Hospital at $20.50 with a $1 bump after you pass NCLEX. I think St Luke's Hospital is about the same. Both these health networks have hospitals in Bethlehem and Allentown. I'm not sure how much Pocono Medical Center starts probably not that different. If you want to make more you can always commute to NJ.

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Don't forget the Scranton/ Wilkes Barre area. (Geisinger, Community Medical Center, there's a VA too) I think you'd have to go pretty far into Jersey to find a hospital. I may be wrong, but I was looking for hospitals around there last summer and it was all wilderness over the border. :chuckle

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If you move into the Pocono Mtn. area you would be very close to route 80 which you could take through the water gap into NJ. There are many places in NJ not too far to commute to & there is a big pay difference. I work at the VA near Basking Ridge which would be about a 1 hour commute from the water gap. If you work day shift it is a much worse commute b/c of the traffic but if you work evenings or nights the traffic is not bad at all. I live in the Lehigh Valley & commute into NJ, have done so for the past 15yrs. As RN,BSN with 15 yrs. experience in the VA I make $85,000/year base salary + differential for weekend & shifts. It is well worth the commute for the increased salary even when you figure in the gas & car repair. Living in Pa & working in NJ is def the way to go as the taxes, real estate, car insurance are all so much cheeper. The only thing about living in the Poconos is the winter weather is pretty bad up there so be ready for SNOW. Hey though ifyou like skiing then you will be in heaven. There is a NJ state hospital right near Clinton, NJ. Also prisons if you would consider that. There is Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg. Anything much else & you would have to go a bit further into NJ- Reynolds, Carrier, Morriston, Muhlenburg, etc.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you! :D I feel so much better...I feel like I have a little direction.

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