What W.Virginia towns/cities do you recommend working in and why?

Published

Hi everyone, i would like to send my message out in hopes of getting some recommendations on great places to live and work in West Virginia. I have never been and thought i would start with this discussion board to research good communities.

What is important to me above all in choosing a place to work is a definite preference for smaller, reputably safe communities as i would be relocating with my family and this is priority #1. I love the outdoors so access to the forests and mountains are definitely a plus also. I would of course be looking for an area that is affordable and reasonably priced in terms of accommodation if there is such a thing!;)

Hope you can help, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are you are referring to the state of West Virginia and not the western part of Virginia? The capital of the state of West Virginia is Charleston, while it has the trauma center, cardiac center, kidney center etc. it is probalbly one of the least desireable areas to live. Huntington is about 1 hour west of Charleston and has several good hospitals to work (Cabel Huntington, St. Mary's) but it to is not the best place to live. Most the people around this part of West Virginia will work in either Charleston or Huntington and live

somewhere in between the two cities. Putnam county is an extremely nice area and is the fastest growing area in the state but is still rural enough to have deer running in your back yard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I liked Putnam county. You were close to the two cities, without the crap of a big city.

One thing i don't miss about WV is the rampant strip clubs, and those eyesores are one of the reasons why i moved from WV. And they are EVERYWHERE in St. Albans (which is next to Charleston) and Beckley. Places like that do not attact the safest social environment, and definitely not a place i'd want to settle down and have children.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My husband and I own a second home in Shepherdstown WV. I;d move there full time in a heart-beat if I could get full-time work (I am not a nrse, but I am planning to go to nursing school. It is the oldest town in WV, has lovely historic down-town, real estate is much cheaper there than in VA. Has a University (including a nursing school - not sure how saturated the nuses market is). LOTS of cultural activities - music, the OCntemprary American Theater Festival every summer, dance, film. Many people are 'transplants' so it ddoes not have the insular, "You ain't from here" attitude some small towns have. VERY kid-friendly. They have parades at the drop of a hat!

PT me if you are interested in visiting: our house has a furnsihed studio apt and is in the historic district).

http://www.wvescapes.com/shepherds_town/index.aspx?RequestMaterials=Expanded&source=adwords&keyword=shepherdstown%20wv&REF=http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official_s&hl=en&q=shepherdstown%20WV&btnG=Google%20Search&SCO=true

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatric/LTC, Urgent Care.

I'm not a nurse, yet, I plan on attending nursing school after the birth of my baby in july. I've lived in WV all my life and I've noticed no one that's replied to your question mentioned Clarksburg, WV. It's growing and is located between close to fairmont and Morgantown. Clarksburg, Fairmont and Morgantown all have hospitals and there seems to be a need for nurses here. I used to live in Doddridge co, which is pretty rural and is only about 30 mins from Clarksburg if you live in the town of salem of outside of West Union. I love living in WV, it's a cheap state to live in and there are some very nice rural areas to choose from. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I plan on going to nursing school within the next 6 months and I'm sure I will have no problem finding a job when I get out and like I said, the state is fairly cheap to live in so I feel on a nurse's salary, my husband and I will be quite comfortable. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.

I haven't been to Clarksburg, WV in many years, but back in the 70's was there all the time to see family. I'd love to see sometime how much it has changed.

I'm not a nurse, yet, I plan on attending nursing school after the birth of my baby in july. I've lived in WV all my life and I've noticed no one that's replied to your question mentioned Clarksburg, WV. It's growing and is located between close to fairmont and Morgantown. Clarksburg, Fairmont and Morgantown all have hospitals and there seems to be a need for nurses here. I used to live in Doddridge co, which is pretty rural and is only about 30 mins from Clarksburg if you live in the town of salem of outside of West Union. I love living in WV, it's a cheap state to live in and there are some very nice rural areas to choose from. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I plan on going to nursing school within the next 6 months and I'm sure I will have no problem finding a job when I get out and like I said, the state is fairly cheap to live in so I feel on a nurse's salary, my husband and I will be quite comfortable. Good luck.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would never move back to West Virginia. I lived in the Wheeling/Moundsville area. I was treated like dirt from my employers. This is also an unfriendly area if you have pets. Trying to find a place that allows pets is almost impossible. :madface:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I agree with Blackcat. I grew up an hour north of Wheeling. I don't live in West Virginia but I do still live in the area. I wouldn't suggest anyone to move to this area. There are more bars, gambling places, and a couple strip clubs here. The schools are awful and it is a drug infested area. I wouldn't reccomend West Virginia at least where I grew up. And yes, I know drugs are everywhere but these are small towns in this area.

Kristen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, PACU, ICU,.
... Putnam county is an extremely nice area and is the fastest growing area in the state but is still rural enough to have deer running in your back yard.

OMG!!! You just struck my heart! I'm from a (semi) rural area of Michigan. Love to hunt, fish, hike and camp.. Would a person like ME find a home in WV?

I am currently practicing in Nevada (YUCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!) and hope to leave this God-forsaken state very soon! I crave the GREEN and gentle slopes of the east! Rocks and desert are definately not for me! I hate the desert and am tired of the Meth-heads and Crack-heads in the cities. No, I don't expect I will EVER be able to nurse anywhere that I will not run into them, but would like to reduce the contacts to maybe just one or two a shift.;)

Seriously, I'd like to find a little ER somewhere in the boonies and would like to rent a home that is far off the beaten path... Sound likely? Done the big city thing for far too many years. It's time for a change...:monkeydance:

Kev

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Seriously, I'd like to find a little ER somewhere in the boonies and would like to rent a home that is far off the beaten path... Sound likely?

Kev

Kev, Boone County, WV would be the place for you! I live in Madison. (Boone County) It is VERY small, very rurual, everyone knows everybody kind of place. I'm about 30 minutes from Charleston. Boone Memorial Hospital is in Madison but I am choosing to work in Labor & Delivery and BMH is so rural and small they don't deliver babies there anymore. I would also recommend to live in Madison and maybe work at Logan Regional Medical Center. I did my ER clinicals there and really liked their ER. It is also about 30 minutes from Madison. The ER at BMH is A LOT smaller then LRMC. If you wanted more trauma type stuff then I would stick to working in Charleston. ;) If Boone gets a really bad trauma then the pt is usually shipped out to there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My advice is to come to the Mountain State and look around. I live in Jackson Co. It is on the Ohio River with about 25,000 people. We have one small hospital and a couple of nursing homes. We are equal distance from Parkersburg and Charleston. I worked in Charleston for 11 years in a level 1 trauma center. In the ICU. Now I am going to CRNA school this May. Evey place has its good and bad points. You need to see for your self. Ask your self what you want out of a community and what you want to give back. Each area of the state has something to offer. Come for a week and drive around. :welcome:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would also recommend Putnam County in particular Teays Valley. It is about 20 minutes away from the capital, Charleston WV and about 20 minutes away from another large city (for WV) which is Huntington. Charleston has Charleston Area Medical Center which have 3 hospitals in Charleston, plus there are 2 more hospitals right in the same vicinity Thomas Memorial and St Francis.

Huntington as Cabell Huntington hospital , St Marys and a VA. There are also probably 20-25 nursing homes in these areas. Charleston has a few insurance places which hire RNs and there is a United Health Care call center which is Optum nurseline in Charleston.

The Teays valley area is relatively rural although some places are growing fast. There is nowhere else in the state of WV, that I have been to that has the job opportunities we have here in Teays Valley.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion