Visiting Atlanta

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Hello my fellow nurses. I am flying up to Atlanta this weekend to do a little research on some areas for our potential relocation. We are looking at Acworth, Kennesaw, Cummings, Johns Creek, Buford, Suwannee areas. I have been doing some research on some of the hospitals and am hoping to end up at one of the CHOA campuses, Northside hospital campus, or Wellstar facility. If anyone has any information on any of these areas or hospitals please advise. Pay, commute, and overall job satisfaction would be very helpful. I'll have 2 years of peds ER nursing experience and halfway through my BSN program by the time we move. Thank you all in advance

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

Do you have kids? Only because schools are a big deal depending on the area so I thought it might change my advice for you.

None of those areas are bad really. It just depends on what you are looking for. Do you have sometimes keeping you from living inside the perimeter? (besides money... haha). Just trying to get a better feel for what you are looking for.

I'm more familiar with the north and west areas you are looking at. I can't provide much info about Buford. Johns Creek is a good area, for sure. Dont discredit the Marietta area, too. Especially East Cobb, which has real nice houses and great schools. The Acworth/Kennesaw area can be tricky because traffic is a BEAST on I75 these days. I actually moved away from that area in order to get away from it to an area thats in every other way less desirable so I can do down and hit I20 and avoid I75 all together. (For example, working night shift, I would leave at 5:!5 most evenings to sometimes be late clocking in at 7pm. That was terrible. To be clear though, I was working at the CHOA campus thats inside Atlanta near the CDC).

I have worked at CHOA for over 6 years now and think its generally a pretty good place to work. I have heard pretty good things about Northside as well. As far as the CHOA campuses, they are the same company but different in a lot of other ways. Egleston is a teaching hospital where Scottish is not. Egleston has the cardiac kiddos and SR does the rehab stuff. As far ad EDs go (if thats what you really want to do), i can't provide much insight but I think they are both probably fine.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

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I have 2 kids so great school districts are my top priority. I was looking more outside of the perimeter because I hear the public schools in Atlanta are pretty terrible, and the housing is more affordable. I don't know much about the areas. I'm hoping to get a better feel over my next few visits. Thank you for the advice. It was helpful.

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

If schools are your number 1 factor, I think Johns Creek and most Cobb county schools are going to be your top options. I have a friend that lives in Johns Creek and commutes into Atlanta because the public schools are just as good as most private schools. When I have children, these areas will be what I look into.

Good luck. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

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I've lived in the metro Atlanta area for 30+ years and I ditto everything A&OxNone said. Everything about your life in the metro ATL area is based on traffic patterns. Rush hour is typically anywhere from 4 pm to 7 pm all in and around the city. Regarding employers, I worked at CHOA (Egleston and Hughes Spalding) for 8 years combined. They have been seeking magnet status for over a decade and (my opinion) are absolutely obsessed with obtaining it. You will have a hard time getting hired by CHOA without your BSN. CHOA is: Egleston (Atlanta address but really in Decatur-they're down the street from Emory and the CDC), Scottish Rite (North of the city of Atlanta) and Hughes Spalding. East Cobb, Cherokee County and Johns Creek have good schools and closest of the CHOA campuses would be Scottish. Again, you're not likely to be hired until you have your BSN and it's competitive! You might have to work nights/ weekends or rotating shifts. As for Wellstar, their nickname among all the nurses I know is, "Hellstar" if that tells you anything. Your best bet for employment, if you move north of the perimeter to one the areas mentioned to you, is Northside. Also, you might want to look at Cherokee County aka Woodstock. It has great schools and 2 Northside campuses not too far away. Unfortunately for you though, tons have figured that out so affordable housing goes FAST! Houses in my neighborhood sell in about a month or less. Hope this has helped. Best of Luck to you and your family!

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Ditto to everything everyone ALREADY said about traffic here. There are no peak time/low times. Rush hour is ALL hours. Have you moved yet?

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No I haven't. I'm just starting the licensure process. I have to find a job first before I pick up and move my family!!!

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Thankyou for the info. I will definitely keep that in mind

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