[msnlucyq]

I am NP (Nurse Prac) who has received two job offers in the Burlington area, but I have a few questions.

I have done my homework and have a basic understanding of the controversies of this forum and Vermont as a whole.

My question is why are the nursing salaries so low. My position would require that I both teach nursing students and also supervise a ward. Accepting the position would require taking a 50% pay cut! I have been an advance practice nurse for six years and taught nursing students for two and I really like my work. Nursing has provided both a stable, comfortable income and a rewarding career, but I am nervous about taking on so much responsibility with that much impact on my paycheck.

Currently, I am in the Denver area, which I love, but I am seeking new opportunities to gain experience in rural medicine, so in that regard, Vermont is attractive. Still, based on my research both in this forum and on the internet, I am very wary of getting trapped in an undesirable situation.

Any info, advice, encouragement would be helpful.

I am in my early 30s, no kids, like skiing, hiking and outdoorsy stuff. My partner works for a software firm which will allow him to telecommute, so relocation will not be a burden for him. Vermont seems to have much of the lifestyle amenities I seek, but the COL and some of the posts in this forum tend to paint the realities of Vermont Life quite negatively.

[mustmove]

If you move make sure the telecommunications that your partner needs are in place and working. VT is more expensive than most people realize. My wife was a nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock in NH just over the border(we lived in VT) nursing salaries are low there as well. I'd guess around 40% less than metro Boston/NY.
As to why- well the simple answer is people with the appropriate skills keep showing up and working for the wages offered. If you pay attention around here you might notice that most of the passionate animosity towards VT is from professionally educated folks who have tried to earn a living there.
Consider rural CT, NY, or MA to live plenty of local outdoor opportunities and weekend trips to VT are easy, especially with the 50% pay difference. Also consider second what happens if you or your partner lose your jobs, finding decent job #2 in VT might be difficult.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by msnlucyq

I am NP (Nurse Prac) who has received two job offers in the Burlington area, but I have a few questions.

I have done my homework and have a basic understanding of the controversies of this forum and Vermont as a whole.

My question is why are the nursing salaries so low. My position would require that I both teach nursing students and also supervise a ward. Accepting the position would require taking a 50% pay cut! I have been an advance practice nurse for six years and taught nursing students for two and I really like my work. Nursing has provided both a stable, comfortable income and a rewarding career, but I am nervous about taking on so much responsibility with that much impact on my paycheck.

Currently, I am in the Denver area, which I love, but I am seeking new opportunities to gain experience in rural medicine, so in that regard, Vermont is attractive. Still, based on my research both in this forum and on the internet, I am very wary of getting trapped in an undesirable situation.

Any info, advice, encouragement would be helpful.

I am in my early 30s, no kids, like skiing, hiking and outdoorsy stuff. My partner works for a software firm which will allow him to telecommute, so relocation will not be a burden for him. Vermont seems to have much of the lifestyle amenities I seek, but the COL and some of the posts in this forum tend to paint the realities of Vermont Life quite negatively.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you will be working at FAHC in Burlington. The teaching and working on a ward makes it sound that way. If that is the case you will not be working in rural medicine. FAHC is a modern level 1 trauma center. The Burlington area is a mix of small city and suburbs.
I work in health care myself and the income across the board is very low compared to the states that surround us. If FAHC is the facility you will be considering, the incomes have actually increased a lot in the past five years since the union went in. 50% is a tough pill to swallow though. Another thing to consider is the expense of living in the Burlington area. The COL is higher here than in many other parts of the state. Make sure you can make it with both of your incomes.

[msnlucyq]

Thank you for both your responses.

@mustmove:

After further exploration of the forums, I am very concerned about what young professionals have had to say about salaries vs. COL. Also the lack of alternatives, if the job does not work out is a factor I had not considered. Denver has a huge job market for nursing professionals, and it's generally expected that nurses seek out professional development by diversifying their skill set. It seems this would not be possible in Vermont as there are limited opportunities for nurses. I am working with a recruiting firm so technically if the job goes bust, they would find something else for me, but this is not something I take lightly.

Actually, we were thinking about NH, but close enough to Boston so my partner can take on more consulting work if he desires. His job is fairly secure and his consulting clients are quite faithful, so my concern is mostly for my employment outlook, not his. It seems that NH might be a better fit for us, based on what you have written and what I have read from other professionals in this forum.

@68Vette:

Yes, but it seems I would be working in a rural community with teaching duties in Burlington. I haven't parsed out exactly how this works, but based on what I have been told, I wouldn't be practicing at the hospital. The pay cut was quite shocking considering the COL and again, I am very nervous about committing to anything at this point.

To her credit, my recruiter has be blunt about the realities of living and working in Vermont and directed me towards this forum. So I am not really going into things blind, but still, after reading what some have written here, I am inclined to seek out another opportunity.

We have an extremely comfortable lifestyle in Denver, which makes us incredibly fortunate in this economy. While I do want to specialize in rural medicine, I am not sure it makes much sense to uproot our lives for a situation that has so many complexities.

[sundialstreet]

msnlucyq

Depending on what your ultimate plans, VT might work in the short term. You could teach and practice nursing with a keen eye for what policies are working or not working. Based on what you encounter, you could leverage that experience in another more lucrative market. For better or worse, Vermont has a strong brand. The state seems to be hurting for nursing professors (there was a Vermont Edition story about this a while back) and lack a large, dynamic NP talent pool.

Also, the scant salaries for nursing professors aren't exclusive to Vermont, but a feature of many markets, thus the shortage of teachers and backlog of nursing hopefuls. What I think is unique here (though I am not in health care) is that in addition to your teaching duties you would be a unit manager. Both jobs are quite challenging and I'm curious as to what supports are in place to ensure you can effectively manage both roles. Without support, burnout seems inevitable.

I agree with what the other posters have stated as well.

[mustmove]

Note Western NH and from what I have heard Northern NH have many of the same issues as VT. Southern/SE NH has more options I don't know what salaries are but I'd guess they are higher as they have to compete with Boston. When my wife worked at Mass General she had coworkers that commuted from Southern NH. It is close enough to commute to Boston but if you have to commute to Boston perhaps it isn't vibrant enough? I don't know enough about S NH to say.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by msnlucyq

Thank you for both your responses.

@mustmove:

After further exploration of the forums, I am very concerned about what young professionals have had to say about salaries vs. COL. Also the lack of alternatives, if the job does not work out is a factor I had not considered. Denver has a huge job market for nursing professionals, and it's generally expected that nurses seek out professional development by diversifying their skill set. It seems this would not be possible in Vermont as there are limited opportunities for nurses. I am working with a recruiting firm so technically if the job goes bust, they would find something else for me, but this is not something I take lightly.

Actually, we were thinking about NH, but close enough to Boston so my partner can take on more consulting work if he desires. His job is fairly secure and his consulting clients are quite faithful, so my concern is mostly for my employment outlook, not his. It seems that NH might be a better fit for us, based on what you have written and what I have read from other professionals in this forum.

@68Vette:

Yes, but it seems I would be working in a rural community with teaching duties in Burlington. I haven't parsed out exactly how this works, but based on what I have been told, I wouldn't be practicing at the hospital. The pay cut was quite shocking considering the COL and again, I am very nervous about committing to anything at this point.

To her credit, my recruiter has be blunt about the realities of living and working in Vermont and directed me towards this forum. So I am not really going into things blind, but still, after reading what some have written here, I am inclined to seek out another opportunity.

We have an extremely comfortable lifestyle in Denver, which makes us incredibly fortunate in this economy. While I do want to specialize in rural medicine, I am not sure it makes much sense to uproot our lives for a situation that has so many complexities.

Do you know where and if it will be multiple places in the rural setting they would want you to work? If it will be in a hospital setting outside of Burlington you are looking at a big commute. The closest hospital to Burlington is 30 min. and you can get as far as several hours for many of the others in state.
It makes more sense with the lower income now. It could be that the pay you are being offered is subsidized by a small hospital or small rural clinic or office. I worked in a small rural hospital before moving to the Burlington area and the pay was insulting for the education that I have. I would find out about the distances you will have to travel outside of Burlington. With the price of fuel going up again you could possibly be out another couple of hundred dollars/month in fuel costs on top of your pay cut.

[Wingfoot]

Originally Posted by msnlucyq

I am NP (Nurse Prac) who has received two job offers in the Burlington area, but I have a few questions.

I have done my homework and have a basic understanding of the controversies of this forum and Vermont as a whole.

My question is why are the nursing salaries so low. My position would require that I both teach nursing students and also supervise a ward. Accepting the position would require taking a 50% pay cut! I have been an advance practice nurse for six years and taught nursing students for two and I really like my work. Nursing has provided both a stable, comfortable income and a rewarding career, but I am nervous about taking on so much responsibility with that much impact on my paycheck.

Currently, I am in the Denver area, which I love, but I am seeking new opportunities to gain experience in rural medicine, so in that regard, Vermont is attractive. Still, based on my research both in this forum and on the internet, I am very wary of getting trapped in an undesirable situation.

Any info, advice, encouragement would be helpful.

I am in my early 30s, no kids, like skiing, hiking and outdoorsy stuff. My partner works for a software firm which will allow him to telecommute, so relocation will not be a burden for him. Vermont seems to have much of the lifestyle amenities I seek, but the COL and some of the posts in this forum tend to paint the realities of Vermont Life quite negatively.

Vermont is a a low-wage backwater because half the people are trust fund yuppy types with enough money to maintain their collective delusion they are living in a Norman Rockwell painting, leaving those who are in a position of actually having to work for a living in a take it or leave position re wages , rent.,real estate etc.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by Wingfoot

Vermont is a a low-wage backwater because half the people are trust fund yuppy types with enough money to maintain their collective delusion they are living in a Norman Rockwell painting, leaving those who are in a position of actually having to work for a living in a take it or leave position re wages , rent.,real estate etc.

Interesting "statistic." Where did you learn that 50% of Vermonters are rich? Haven't seen evidence of this myself but I'm happy to look at your data.

[jackmccullough]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

Interesting "statistic." Where did you learn that 50% of Vermonters are rich? Haven't seen evidence of this myself but I'm happy to look at your data.

I'm with you. I'm always mystified by the prevalence of people in the Vermont forum who clearly dislike Vermont and are constantly loading the board with political rants against the people, policies, and politicians of the state.