[Steel*Faith]

Seems like there's a lot of negativity on this forum regarding Vermont. I think most issues people have, aren't necessarily issues for my wife and I. We're both in our late twenties, and my wife is newly arrived here from the Philippines. We've considered moving to Burlington to start in, and when time comes to buy a home, consider looking for areas more quiet and rural and would be in driving distance to work somewhere near a town or city.

My primary concern right now is finding quality of work for the both my wife and I. Kathy, is a Bachelor's Degree RN with 5 years experience, and I'm a CNA and disability health care worker for 8+ years. Does anyone think we will have difficulty finding work or making a comfortable living?I imagine that VT isn't any different from any other state in the US, and there should be plenty of jobs for both RN's and CNA's.

Could anyone suggest any good areas of Vermont that would be good for us to start out in?

Any help or info is greatly appreciated!

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by Steel*Faith

Seems like there's a lot of negativity on this forum regarding Vermont. I think most issues people have, aren't necessarily issues for my wife and I. We're both in our late twenties, and my wife is newly arrived here from the Philippines. We've considered moving to Burlington to start in, and when time comes to buy a home, consider looking for areas more quiet and rural and would be in driving distance to work somewhere near a town or city.

My primary concern right now is finding quality of work for the both my wife and I. Kathy, is a Bachelor's Degree RN with 5 years experience, and I'm a CNA and disability health care worker for 8+ years. Does anyone think we will have difficulty finding work or making a comfortable living?I imagine that VT isn't any different from any other state in the US, and there should be plenty of jobs for both RN's and CNA's.

Could anyone suggest any good areas of Vermont that would be good for us to start out in?

Any help or info is greatly appreciated!

I'm sure someone else can give you a better answer, but I'll say that there are only 2 good hospitals in the area: Fletcher Allen in Burlington and Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, NH, which is across the river from Vermont. There are some smaller hospitals with lesser reputations that you might also consider. I'm not sure what jobs are available, but I know that RNs are not finding it as easy to get jobs throughout the country as they used to. I've heard of recent Johns Hopkins graduates who couldn't find jobs. But since you have a lot of experience, you're probably in better shape.

[sovertennis]

Burlington or Lebanon NH are your only decent choices for nursing work. I've lived in Burlington (now in so. VT) and suggest you give it a look. There's far more to do there and the quality of life is consdirably better than in most other parts of VT (unless you're looking for a very rural, quiet life).

[vtallison]

And you do not have to live in NH to work at DHMC. It is 10 minutes from the VT border so you can live rurally and be 30 mins from work. (And the commute is sweet as there is not a lot of traffic on Rte 91).

[Steel*Faith]

Thanks for the replies all. Both my wife and i would love to work in a hospital, but I would imagine i would be very difficult to get employed there because most hospitals are in demand to work for. Maybe I'm in a Rhode Island mentality, but the hospitals here are very difficult to get in unless you know someone, or you already have hospital experience; so usually you need to start out as a volunteer to even get in. So we were actually looking to start out in a Nursing Home, because they tend to be the easiest to get employed in, and pay RN's well - not so good towards the CNA's though.

It's hard to believe that there's only one good hospital in Vermont though, and then you need to travel to NH for the other good one. Considering how big the state is, what would most people do if there's only one good hospital to access? I'm a bit worried now about the quality of work available in VT.

If we were to work in Lebanon, and live in VT, what are some good places to consider living maybe? From what I know, it's cheaper to own a home in VT than NH, correct? The only problem with working in NH as a RN or CNA, is having a license to practice there. Unfortunately, VT and NH are not in compact with each other, so you need to have a separate license to practice in both states. Currently, my wife has her VT state RN license, but not NH, but she could apply if need be.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by Steel*Faith

It's hard to believe that there's only one good hospital in Vermont though, and then you need to travel to NH for the other good one. Considering how big the state is, what would most people do if there's only one good hospital to access? I'm a bit worried now about the quality of work available in VT.

It depends what the patient needs. We've been happy using Rutland Regional Medical Center for most things, such as tests, minor surgeries, and the occasional acute event that means go to the E.R. Our clients who needed it have been happy with RRMC's cancer center. For my husband's serious chronic condition, we use specialists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, NH.

[sovertennis]

Because VT is a rural state with the population spread out (with the exception of Chittenden Cty) there are 14 hospitals. Some are very small, others (like RRMC and SVMC) are larger but refer acute cases to Dartmouth or Fletcher Allen.

I can't comment on the NH-VT licensing question, other than to say many people live in VT and work at Dartmouth (ie Lebanon, NH). Another matter to consider is the sweeping health care changes that will occur (if the money doesn't run out) in VT over the next few years, which could affect the job market for you.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

It depends what the patient needs. We've been happy using Rutland Regional Medical Center for most things, such as tests, minor surgeries, and the occasional acute event that means go to the E.R. Our clients who needed it have been happy with RRMC's cancer center. For my husband's serious chronic condition, we use specialists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, NH.

hoping for the best for your husband

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

hoping for the best for your husband

Thank you. We feel very fortunate he's getting the care he needs regionally and is otherwise healthy (in a way much better than, "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?").

[Steel*Faith]

I'm not sure what some of you are referring to. Why would the health care changes change the jobs of RN's that much? They are getting paid by the private sector, not the US government or states. Unless I'm understanding this incorrectly, Obamacare is creating a socialized medicare system for the poor, I can see this affecting the tax payers, but why does this change anything with how private healthcare businesses pay their workers?