Transferring, help???

[frznmommy]

Hello, I'm from Vermont and am graduating as an LPN on the 21st of this month. Furthermore, I'm am also enrolled into the bridging program offered through the same school....I was blessed to be one of the one hundred applicants of over 500+ to be accepted. I only have three classes left to acheive my associates. So, I am extremely honored. I am also married w/ two small children ages 8y & 2Y. My husband is from Florida. I have visited my eldest brother in N.C. every summer for a month since I was 14yo. I am very familiar w/ alot of the state and absolutely LOVE it! The weather especially....as you can pick up from my name. (LOL)! My parents have retired to the Aberdeen area close to Moore Hospital where my dad had six by-passes last August. (LOVED THAT HOSPITAL)!!! The kids and I flew down for a month during this time to help out my parents and possibly say good-bye to my dad for the last time. I am extremely close to my parents and am the youngest of four. They are nearly seventy years old and both of their healths are failing by the year. I want to be able to spend the last years that they have watching their grandchildren grow up and being there for them as they have been for me for the past 34 yrs. My daughter LOVES N.C. as well. My husband is willing to move ANYWHERE that's warmer than here and his work is transferrable. He also understands and respects my desire to be with my parents for their last years. He is the eldest in his family and his parents are only in their late fourties. So, I said all that to ask the following questions in hopes to make a more educated decision before moving....

We do not require CEUs' in our state, does anyone know if that affects a new grad?

I realize that I will have to sit for N.C. NCLEX. How is the difficulty of it and does anyone know how it is graded? Passing scores?

What is the going rate for a new RN grad? Hospital vs nursing homes vs MD's offices?

My main interest is L&D, possibly pediatrics, any particular specialty hospitals which are strong in these areas?

How does the internship work there?

I have looked around the outskirts of the Charlotte and like alot of the neighborhoods (via on-line pictures), any words of advice or suggestions?

The schools here are FANTASTIC for kids! Small classes, ALOT of individual attention, extremely low crime rate etc. How are the schools there?

I realize the length of this post, but I have alot riding on this decision and I'm just hoping for as much help w/ it as possible. Thanks for any replies!!!

[elkpark]

(I don't know the answer to your other questions, but I can tell you that the NCLEX is nationally standardized -- the difficulty level and passing score is exactly the same, regardless of where you take it.)