Baltimore- Do You Love It or Hate It?

athomas91 · Mar 16, 2004

Baltimore is a great city...i went to school there and "partied" there as a college student. it is only safe when you are in known problem areas at the wrong times if you get my drift....md general is the one hospital i never worked at...so can't give you any hints there.

NursePru · Mar 17, 2004

Lived in Baltimore my whole life. I really like the city. Like athomas said. You just have to know what areas aren't safe. There is a lot to do here between bars, restaurants, and museums. Not to mention that DC isn't too far away. The state of Maryland in general is a wonderful place to be a nurse. We have tons of hospitals and along with that tons of opportunities. The pay here is decent too. I also hear that the working conditions for nurses are much better here than in most states. I know plenty of Maryland nurses that are happy with their jobs.

Good luck on your decision. The area where MD General is located is "iffy" but the best schools and hospitals in the state (a couple are ranked in the country) are in East Baltimore ie. Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland. I think Hopkins is probably in the worst part but the city police are always around when I've been there and they have tight security. I'm sure MGH is the same.

nurse1day · Mar 17, 2004

Hello

I have been in Baltimore my entire life also and I agree that it depends where you are. The two biggest hospitals Hopkins and Maryland are in iffy areas but security is pretty tight. I actually did my clinical rotation at Maryland General at night last semester and security was always available. We usually left in groups anyway. Overall I didn't really care to much for the hospital but thatmay have been due to the fact that I was a student and I guess it depends on which floor you work. I have a friend who is a nurse their in L&D and enjoys it. Good Luck!

Katnip, RN · Mar 17, 2004

I work in Baltimore. I'm not an urban sort, so I'm iffy about it. It's not the neighborhoods, it's not the crime. I think I just don't know the area well enough to find the fun places to go besides the usual tourist stuff.

I went to UMB and never really felt uncomfortable about my safety there. Wander a couple of blocks away in the wrong direction and yeah, you could have some problems. Otherwise, for a city it's ok.

PennyLane, RN · Mar 19, 2004

I grew up in Baltimore, currently live in the city, and attend UMB. Since I'm a city person, I feel pretty comfortable here. I don't feel unsafe around UMB at all. I walk up to Lexington market and up Howard street to the uniform store by myself (during the day of course) and have never had a problem. You just have to know how to act like you know what you're doing and have confidence.

There is a lot of crime in the city, but you just have to know what neighborhoods to avoid. Despite the crime, there is a lot to do, and some of the neighborhoods are really historic and range from quaint to beautiful. Fells point has some great bars and restaurants, as well as unique stores and coffee houses. Canton is an up and coming area that's becoming a bit over-priced but there are some beautiful renovated houses. Both neighborhoods are on the water front. Roland Park is a really nice northern Baltimore neighborhood that has gorgeous houses and is very green. It's probably my favorite neighborhood in the city.

The area around MD General isn't great, but it's not terrible. It's near the symphony hall and the opera house and the local arts school, Maryland Institute College of Art. I don't know anything about the hopsital, though. Peronally I'd rather work for Hopkins or UMMS, but that may be because I've done clinicals there and know ppl who work there.

You may want to check out this website. It has info on real estate here as well as neighborhood websites.

http://www.livebaltimore.com/

PennyLane, RN · Mar 19, 2004

I grew up in Baltimore, currently live in the city, and attend UMB. Since I'm a city person, I feel pretty comfortable here. I don't feel unsafe around UMB at all. I walk up to Lexington market and up Howard street to the uniform store by myself (during the day of course) and have never had a problem. You just have to know how to act like you know what you're doing and have confidence.

There is a lot of crime in the city, but you just have to know what neighborhoods to avoid. Despite the crime, there is a lot to do, and some of the neighborhoods are really historic and range from quaint to beautiful. Fells point has some great bars and restaurants, as well as unique stores and coffee houses. Canton is an up and coming area that's becoming a bit over-priced but there are some beautiful renovated houses. Both neighborhoods are on the water front. Roland Park is a really nice northern Baltimore neighborhood that has gorgeous houses and is very green. It's probably my favorite neighborhood in the city.

The area around MD General isn't great, but it's not terrible. It's near the symphony hall and the opera house and the local arts school, Maryland Institute College of Art. I don't know anything about the hopsital, though. Peronally I'd rather work for Hopkins or UMMS, but that may be because I've done clinicals there and know ppl who work there.

You may want to check out this website. It has info on real estate here as well as neighborhood websites.

http://www.livebaltimore.com/

Baltimore Nurse · Mar 20, 2004

I have lived in Baltimore all of my adult life and lost of my child hood life. I think it is dangerous but you have to just play it safe. By that I mean, dont go walking in secluded areas alone at night by your self. I feel living in the county is a litle more safe than living in the city, especially if you are not from here... you may not have thte street smarts to avoid people and situations that should be avoided. If you come from another area that is urbanized and is a big city than I think you will be fine! If you come from a rural area than I think you will be fine, but I would be causous.

I have never worked at Maryland General, but it located in the heart of downtown Maryland, so I am sure they deal with a lot of inner city issues, they are not a trauma center so you dont have to worry about that.

I dont want to deter you fromcoming here to Maryland, I think it is a great state for nurses, the demand for all kinds of nurses is high and the pay is good! I love it here. But I do want to be honest with you.

I work at Mercy Hosptial in downtown Baltimore and I love it! If there is any other specific questions that I can answer to help you make your decision let me know!

imenid37 · Mar 21, 2004

Lived there for 32 years. Wouldn't go back EVER. Now I live 50 miles away in the boondocks where I can leave my door unlocked, but I don't. I never realized how awful the crime was until I moved away. I'd work there again. There are lots of great hospitals, but I'd never move back, esp. not w/ kids. The public schools in the city are mostly not good and some of Baltimore County schools are good, many are not. The cost of private school is pretty high too. I worked at Mercy Medical Centre which is a few blocks from MD General and it was a very nice place (in early 1990's). We did have an incident where a visitor brought a gun into our postpartum unit. That was not the hospital's fault, but it was a reality of some of our patients and their lifestyles. Lots of drug addicted folks of all ages. I miss some things about it, but not all. MD General is an inner city hospital and it's not for the faint of heart. Baltimore has a lot to do and it has many good points, but it is a very violent place. You have to wary of where you go and when. Best of luck to you! Honestly, if you are in the inner city, I think Hopkins or UMD has better bene's. I know MD General is affiliated w/ Md now, but I am not sure if it is actually owned by them and has the same bene's and salary.

DelightRN · Jan 19, 2005

I think Baltimore is like any other urban area; its important to be alert and aware of your surroundings, and use common sense.

Hopkins is downtown and not in the best area, although they are proceeding to buy up most of Broadway. Security is tight there. When I walk out of the garage there's a guard at the door, another at the street corner, another just up the road... always one close by. If I ever leave by myself, a guard walks me from the front door to the corner of Broadway and the cross street, and then that guard walks me inside the locked parking garage (accessible only by badge swipe). I feel safe enough.

I don't mind Baltimore at all, although right now its wicked cold.

BoonersmomRN · Jan 26, 2005

I live in the "burbs but I have always been a city kid. Grew up in D.C. and now am about 5 mins from Baltimore. I love the city but I also know what parts to NOT venture to. I also can't stand driving in the city so I take the MTA wherever I need to go.

DelightRN · Feb 6, 2005

I can't stand the MTA buses. NYC has kamikaze taxi drivers, we have kamikaze MTA bus drivers.