An Eye Toward PA: Your Experience Requested

L&D_2b · Jul 17, 2006

Hello everyone. I'm an RN looking at coming to PA for reasons I won't get into, but I'm interested in what people have to say about the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas.
Hospital-wise I'm open to some different areas of nursing, with GYN being my fav, so my major concerns are the overall 'feel' of the hospitals. I'd like to know in your experience, or through what you've heard, which hospitals in either metro area are solid in regards to staffing levels, compensation, and overall working environment. Union representation is a plus for me, also.
In addition, I really don't know that much about either area in terms of what parts of the city to avoid, what areas/suburbs would be good to live in, and what problems people in each area face. In Philly I have a good guess that crime is a problem, but I'm originally from the Detroit area so I don't scare that easily.
Again, I'd just like to hear what you guys have to say, and I thank you in advance.

I'm from around the Pittsburgh area (I live about 40 miles North). I'm not a nurse yet, but maybe I could help you out.

We have a great hospital in the Pittsburgh area that specialize in women's health. Here is their website: http://magee.upmc.com/

I love the city of Pittsburgh. My husband and I take our children there all of the time for anything from a baseball game, to a museum, to the zoo.

The city is quite expensive to live in. I know of many people that live in Cranberry (which is right outside the city) and commute in. However, my brother in law also lived in the city of Pittsburgh in Mt. Washington at one time. That seemed like an ok area.

If you have any other questions, or need me to find out something for you, just pm me.

Good luck.

luvmy2angels · Jul 17, 2006

Wondering if you ever considered LAncaster County??? Lancaster General hospital is a wonderful place to work.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

I'm from around the Pittsburgh area (I live about 40 miles North). I'm not a nurse yet, but maybe I could help you out.
We have a great hospital in the Pittsburgh area that specialize in women's health. Here is their website: http://magee.upmc.com/
I love the city of Pittsburgh. My husband and I take our children there all of the time for anything from a baseball game, to a museum, to the zoo.
The city is quite expensive to live in. I know of many people that live in Cranberry (which is right outside the city) and commute in. However, my brother in law also lived in the city of Pittsburgh in Mt. Washington at one time. That seemed like an ok area.
If you have any other questions, or need me to find out something for you, just pm me.
Good luck.

Cost of living is not expensive in Pittsburgh. It's actually touted as one of the less expensive places for housing. What you have to watch out for are the taxes. The city's are quite high. In the suburban areas, it depends. Some of the school districts are pretty high. However, it may not mean that that the school system is good. Example, Wilkinsburg is a declining area east of the city, Mt. Lebanon is an afflluent suburb south of the city, their tax rate is almost the same. Right now, I live in a neighborhood within the city that is in a decent part of town, I pay $500/mo for our house. It's 3 bedrooms with a little yard and everything within walking distance. Could I pay $100 less a month out in the country? Yes, but I hardly spend anything on gas for the car. We walk everywhere. We could also get away with having one car if we want to. The car is primarily used to get the grocery store, work and to visit our friends/family in the suburbs.

mistyval · Jul 17, 2006

I've actuallly heard that it is a pretty nice place to be. My only concern is isolation. Having a nice University nearby for my husband and I to go to is important to us. I'll have to check it out further to see if its a possibility! Thank you!

Wondering if you ever considered LAncaster County??? Lancaster General hospital is a wonderful place to work.

mistyval · Jul 17, 2006

I've heard that housing in Pitt is pretty darn good for a city, but that sounds excellent. One thing that concerns me is that the person above mention Magee, and a quick internet seach turns up that the South Oakland area is a hotbed for gang activity. this kind of reminds me that I'm really concerned about safety in the areas that I live. You seem pretty darn knowledgable...could you elaborate further?

Cost of living is not expensive in Pittsburgh. It's actually touted as one of the less expensive places for housing. What you have to watch out for are the taxes. The city's are quite high. In the suburban areas, it depends. Some of the school districts are pretty high. However, it may not mean that that the school system is good. Example, Wilkinsburg is a declining area east of the city, Mt. Lebanon is an afflluent suburb south of the city, their tax rate is almost the same. Right now, I live in a neighborhood within the city that is in a decent part of town, I pay $500/mo for our house. It's 3 bedrooms with a little yard and everything within walking distance. Could I pay $100 less a month out in the country? Yes, but I hardly spend anything on gas for the car. We walk everywhere. We could also get away with having one car if we want to. The car is primarily used to get the grocery store, work and to visit our friends/family in the suburbs.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

It's really not that bad. Pitt has their own campus police patrolling the area as well as city of Pittsburgh. The reason I would not live in Oakland is because the landlords charge an arm and a leg for an apartment that is one step above condemnation. As far as "gang activity" the odds of someone bothering you are pretty low if you use common sense. Most of the "gang shootings" etc. are inflicted on other gang members. I live about 5-10 minutes away from Oakland. Dh works for UPMC and often walks back and forth to work. He has never felt unsafe. He often works 3 to midnight. In some ways I think it's a little safer being in a university area because there area always people around so you're less isolated.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

BTW a nickname around here for Magee is the baby factory. It's ususally not meant in the nicest of ways. Many people I know that delivered there felt like they were cattle being corraled.

mistyval · Jul 18, 2006

BTW a nickname around here for Magee is the baby factory. It's ususally not meant in the nicest of ways. Many people I know that delivered there felt like they were cattle being corraled.

That's actually quite good to know, thank you. You can tell a lot about the way a hospital treats nurses by knowing how they can treat patients.

From what I've seen the gang problems aren't bad, and that you're right, they usually target each other if anything. Those things can escalate if they get their hands into the drug or auto theft trade, but right now it doesn't look too bad from what I can tell.

I've been thinking about living in the Penn Hills or Cranberry areas...any opinions there?

pawashrn · Apr 22, 2007

I lived in pgh city limits for approx. 15 years. First, in the South Hills,( crowded, bus transportation, petty crimes, close knit community, alot of police, fire-personnel and nurses live in the south hills area). Secondly, Oakland area,( museums, higher education, bus transportation, high crime:drugs/gangs, transient neighbors. Thirdly, suburb south of Pgh,( little bus transportation, very low to no crime, shopping areas are malls, no true downtown to speak of, a car is a must, taxes are lower and education is better, long standing family roots,some two/three generation. Good luck on your transition.

K98 · Apr 23, 2007

That's actually quite good to know, thank you. You can tell a lot about the way a hospital treats nurses by knowing how they can treat patients.
From what I've seen the gang problems aren't bad, and that you're right, they usually target each other if anything. Those things can escalate if they get their hands into the drug or auto theft trade, but right now it doesn't look too bad from what I can tell.
I've been thinking about living in the Penn Hills or Cranberry areas...any opinions there?

My daughter is a junior at Pitt. If Oakland was a hazardous place, my wife and I would have discouraged her from selecting Pitt. There is plenty to do there, although parking is terrible.

I would definetly select Cranberry over Penn Hills. It's a 20 minute ride to the city center on I279N, and Butler County taxes are much lower than Pittsburgh or Allegheny County. The Seneca Valley School District is a good one, and it has some very nice facilities.

Good luck with your move :welcome:

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2007

You don't have to go far outside the city (Pgh) in any direction to be in some beautiful countryside with rolling hills, wide open spaces and woodlands. The region is pretty difficult to navigate. I recommend getting a Garmin or other GPS device. Butler County is more rural if you like the countrified lifestyle. It also gets more snow than Allegheny County. I recommend 4WD with big tires.