Banner Good Sam?

MsBruiser · Jan 20, 2008

I live in the immediate area and find it quite nice; as with all places you must choose wisely. There are TONS of historic, well maintained areas (even million dollar homes)around that hospital intermingled with a handful of not so respectable areas. You'll find that most people who are afraid of this area are only perpetuating what other people have told them.

Amen...I live 18 minutes from my door to the floor where i work at Good Sam. Many good places to live within 5 miles...It's hard to convince people that there are great neighborhoods and public schools so close to downtown. It's not even an argument worth having - some people are "urban" and others "suburban" in their outlook. There is nothing wrong with that. I personally couldn't raise my family in a cookie-cutter sub-division 30 miles from nowhere with an oversized pick-up truck and minivan on each driveway, and stucco houses painted some icky color of tan or pink. I need good ethnic food, small owner-operated shops, older homes with character, real trees and grass, unimpeded views of Piestewa Peak, and educated people with a more liberal outlook (yes, there are educated people in the suburbs - but those near downtown tend to be a bit more "East Coast").

But - there are lots of drawbacks to living near Good Sam, though they are what you would find in any big city. I grew up in and around NYC and never saw anyone in handcuffs. I swear - every 2 months or so I see Phoenix PD arresting someone within 1-2 miles where I live. Occassionally I see a homeless person snoozing in the rocks at "my" Safeway at 7th and Glendale. Once we saw a homeless man and woman dancing the tango near Central and Dunlap at 0100. Plenty of skanky looking meth tweaker types are always walking up and down the main streets (Glendale, Bethany, Indian School, etc.). Madison School district has practically the most schools rated "Excelling" in Maricopa County, yet one of them has a memorial for a student named Shannon who was killed by a stray bullet falling on her head on New Year's eve - yep, the same Shannon for whom "Shannon's Law" was named. When the kids are ready for high school and outgrow Madison - we will have to get a waiver as we will never send them to Central High. Just yesterday, I was smoking a cigar on my porch and watching a police helicopter circle about. My wife and I regularly ***** and moan that many of the suburbs have superior parks, and newer libraries where we don't have to run the gauntlet of homeless change seekers. Unfortunately, that is part and parcel of where we live - nothwithstanding the benefits.

If we had to pick a suburb - it would probably be Tempe (educated, ethnic, lots of older homes near downtown). But we are comitted Phoenicians, though we certainly see the negative and positives of the experience. Hey, look at it this way - I spend only $25.00 a week on gas - I couldn't imagine commuting to Good Sam from 30 miles away.

BTW, Good Sam is a great hospital, and I love their ED. Go for it!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2008

I personally couldn't raise my family in a cookie-cutter sub-division 30 miles from nowhere with an oversized pick-up truck and minivan on each driveway, and stucco houses painted some icky color of tan or pink.

I hear ya there! And don't forget the lovely HOAs in those fine neighborhoods!

That's why I live in Tempe. We have our share of problems too, but I love it.

Great post, btw, thanks for that.

nessa77 · Jan 21, 2008

Thank you all for your colorful responses! ~nessa77

freezebabyRN · Jan 29, 2008

How far out are they holding a position for you? We are looking are relocating to AZ (it is too cold in WI)......30-40 degrees BELOW zero just isn't that nice! Anyway, did they hire you after a telephone interview or did you actually go there to interview in person? Just curious if they paid for you to go out for an interview? Any relocation being paid for? I'm checking into everything here in AZ, BUT also have to sell the house here in WI prior to moving IF it sells! Not a very good market, hopefully this spring it will pick up some!

Good luck with your new job & thanks for any input!

nessa77 · Jan 29, 2008

They hired me after the telephone interview. They are giving $4000 for relocation. They interviewed me around Jan 8th, and they want me out there by March 1st at the latest~ Hope this info helps!

freezebabyRN · Jan 29, 2008

That is great! I am soooo jealous! One minute my husband is fine with relocating then the next he won't....I think it is because he has a kid that he would then only see during the summers instead of every other weekend. My kids live with us 100% of the time. Right now he is on a kick of not moving due to his son. He works 2 hours from where we have a home and is actually only home Fri-Mon am right now. :nuke: So either we sell our house and move closer to him or I move to AZ with my kids! Still deciding! :sofahider I guess he could eventually get a job closer to us, BUT he doesn't have much experience in the field he graduated in, so he took this job for the experience. He had a very hard time finding a job closer to home.....all of them were looking for 2-7 years of experience. Need to start out somewhere!

I wish you the best of luck & once you get out there let me know how it all goes!

MrZassi · Aug 14, 2008

I've done clinicals here and had my preceptorship in the ED and I can tell you that it's a great place to work. The staff is great, always willing to help each other out. They also staff really well. Transport to transport your pt to the floor or CT, interpreters in the unit full time, and always plenty of techs around. Hope this helps!!