can a single RN make it ok in Baltimore?

pfitz1079 · May 5, 2006

The Baltimore area is more expensive than, say the South, but is much more affordable than New York or Boston. Nurses here do pretty well salarywise. The housing market is a bit rough, but most of our new nurses seem to have no trouble finding nice apartments. I can't really speak to the singles scene, but my old unit hired a lot of new grads and took special requests for "wedding vacation" so it must be ok.

I work at Johns Hopkins and feel that it's a great place to be a nurse. One can work in just about any specialty and find oneself on the cutting edge. We are an acredited Magnet Hospital, there are great prospects for advancement, and salary and benefits are top notch. Being here I don't think about it much, but the Johns Hopkins name carries a lot of weight on a resume.

On the down side, it is a very large center and that can be a bit much for some folks. We're also located in a fairly depressed urban area.

Good luck with your plans.

CNMtobe2012 · Jun 8, 2006

The Baltimore area is more expensive than, say the South, but is much more affordable than New York or Boston. Nurses here do pretty well salarywise. The housing market is a bit rough, but most of our new nurses seem to have no trouble finding nice apartments. I can't really speak to the singles scene, but my old unit hired a lot of new grads and took special requests for "wedding vacation" so it must be ok.
I work at Johns Hopkins and feel that it's a great place to be a nurse. One can work in just about any specialty and find oneself on the cutting edge. We are an acredited Magnet Hospital, there are great prospects for advancement, and salary and benefits are top notch. Being here I don't think about it much, but the Johns Hopkins name carries a lot of weight on a resume.
On the down side, it is a very large center and that can be a bit much for some folks. We're also located in a fairly depressed urban area.
Good luck with your plans.

Hi, I very much am interested in finding out more information about JH. I will be graduating next May and JH has always been my 1st choice. I had the oppertunity to complete my med/surg clinical rotation at Hopkins my fall 2005 semester. I loved it! The nurses literally broke their necks try to help us get acclamated to the floor and through my experience as a nursing student that is rare. Over the pass three years of nursing school I have completed clinical rotations in several Baltimore hospitals (5 to be exact) and only at JH did I feel the most comfortable. I look forward to apply next year when I take and pass my NCLEX! What I wanted to know is how is the health benifets, repayment of ungrad school loans, and potenial for repayment of graduate school. Thanks

1911guy · Jun 25, 2006

I'm a midwest girl who will be graduating this December with my BSN and am starting to think about what I'm gonna do when i graduate. I was thinking of relocating to Baltimore

Why would you want to do that to yourself. I've lived in Maryland my entire life and for the life of me I have no idea why anyone would move here who doesn't need to.

Baltimore is relatively cheap, but crime is high (esp. violent crime) and we have the highest IV drug rate and among the highest AIDS rate in the country. Politics are VERY left leaning so you'd better be a Democrat if you want to be happy (btw- I was a life long Democrat who found the MD Democratic party to be too liberal so you'd better be VERY liberal or apolitical if you want to be happy here). State government makes NJ, NY and the feds look efficient.

If you move towards the DC area salaries are high, but real estate is insane (only 3 or 4 cities are worse- San Fran, LA, NYC, maybe Miami and Chicago) and traffic is among the worst in the country (some years the average commute in the DC area is longer than the average for NYC residents). Parts of Montgomery County and PG county (both DC area) are terrific on crime, and parts rival Baltimore City. Move somewhere in between, such as Columbia, and real estate is expensive for Baltimore standards and the commute to the DC area is terrible (though crime isn't bad and prices are a little cheaper than the DC area).

If you need to come here, by all means do. Don't turn down a great job offer because it is here. Like anywhere else, there is something for pretty much everyone here. At the same time, if you don't NEED to come here I wouldn't suggest it for someone to move here by choice.

nedanurse · Jul 14, 2006

I am not sinlge but do work with many single nurses. You will do fine as they are having a blast together. I work on the other side of Baltimore at Univ of MD medical center. I dont live in Baltimore but about 20 min outside of the city. I have no problems getting in and out of the city. Hope to see you down the raod good luck

NewEastCoastRN · Jul 14, 2006

I was just like you 3 years ago. I moved to Baltimore from the midwest by myself and started at Hopkins. I say go for it. Financially, it is very do-able. If you have enough guts to even consider moving here by yourself, you can handle it. Message me if you have any questions.

WindyhillBSN · Jul 14, 2006

Why would you want to do that to yourself. I've lived in Maryland my entire life and for the life of me I have no idea why anyone would move here who doesn't need to.
Baltimore is relatively cheap, but crime is high (esp. violent crime) and we have the highest IV drug rate and among the highest AIDS rate in the country. Politics are VERY left leaning so you'd better be a Democrat if you want to be happy (btw- I was a life long Democrat who found the MD Democratic party to be too liberal so you'd better be VERY liberal or apolitical if you want to be happy here). State government makes NJ, NY and the feds look efficient.
If you move towards the DC area salaries are high, but real estate is insane (only 3 or 4 cities are worse- San Fran, LA, NYC, maybe Miami and Chicago) and traffic is among the worst in the country (some years the average commute in the DC area is longer than the average for NYC residents). Parts of Montgomery County and PG county (both DC area) are terrific on crime, and parts rival Baltimore City. Move somewhere in between, such as Columbia, and real estate is expensive for Baltimore standards and the commute to the DC area is terrible (though crime isn't bad and prices are a little cheaper than the DC area).
If you need to come here, by all means do. Don't turn down a great job offer because it is here. Like anywhere else, there is something for pretty much everyone here. At the same time, if you don't NEED to come here I wouldn't suggest it for someone to move here by choice.

This is great! I live in a VERY conservative area and I HATE it! I would LOVE to live near more open minded people. Thanks for the info.

PennyLane, RN · Aug 1, 2006

Absolutely! I should know, I'm one of them. I put myself through nursing school with a mortgage and pets to take care of, and I survived just fine. I survived after graduating and starting to work, and things are even better now that I'm working for a local nursing agency.

BTW I think Baltimore is a great place to live. Much cheaper than other East Coast cities, and lots of great restaurants, bars, arts, and only a 15-min drive to great hiking and swimming spots! We have a little bit of everything here.

I used to live in Boston and it was soooo expensive. I'm grateful my mortgage is so cheap--cheaper than my rent was!

mccmaeve · Aug 1, 2006

So glad I found this thread!!! I've been considering a move to Baltimore for several reasons. My sister, age 54 came down with an autoimmune disorder of her retinas, with considerable vision loss. We live in Pittsburgh, and her doctor here at UPMC (where I am a nurse) recently sent her to an ocular autoimmune specialist at Johns Hopkins. My sister works from home, (for a software company) so she can reside anywhere. We both fell in LOVE with Baltimore, and JH. We talk about moving there. Both divorced, and absolutely NOTHING happening for us in Pittsburgh....Love the idea of a vibrant, diverse, progressive, urban setting, and Nursing in THE world Class hospital. I check out their employment website often, but have not applied yet. Is it hard to get interviewed? I just graduated from a diploma school (UPMC School of Nursing) last year, 6/2005. This year I turned 50. For a year, I have been an RN on a Surgical Oncology Floor at UPMC. My interest is mostly skin,wound and ostomy work, and I want to eventually specialize as a certified ET/Wound Care Nurse. This will take at least another year, as I owe UPMC another year for my 'free' tuition :-) In any case, enough 'me about me'---What is it like at JH? And at University of Maryland Medical Center? What are the best sources of info?? Does either place hire energetic, middle aged nurses, with youthful enthusiasm? Any info, or guidance will be appreciated. I am so full of questions, I don't know where to start. As for a neighborhood-Someone said Fell's Point, Butcher's Hill, or Canton, are neighborhoods close to JH, diverse, and 'with something for everyone'. Again, any info about the general RN job situation, Surgical Onc jobs, skin, ostomy and wound care at either JH or Univ of Maryland Medical Center, Housing, relocation, etc will be GREATLY appreciated!!

PS: If anyone thinks coming to Pittsburgh is for them-i will gladly share my observations, ideas etc. Thanks !!! mccmaeve

anc33 · Aug 20, 2006

Baltimore is a fantastic place to live. I was there a little over two years ago and I miss it dearly. Hopkins was also a great place to be. I have never been in a hospital where nurses received such respect from the rest of the staff. It is a wonderful place to learn and a great city to be in if you decide to advance your education. Definitely go for it!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 20, 2006

what are the best sources of info?? does either place hire energetic, middle aged nurses, with youthful enthusiasm? any info, or guidance will be appreciated. i am so full of questions, i don't know where to start. as for a neighborhood-someone said fell's point, butcher's hill, or canton, are neighborhoods close to jh, diverse, and 'with something for everyone'. again, any info about the general rn job situation, surgical onc jobs, skin, ostomy and wound care at either jh or univ of maryland medical center, housing, relocation, etc will be greatly appreciated!!

i interviewed in baltimore two years ago, and i have to say that everyone i interviewed with was ecstatic about the prospect of getting an experienced, middle-aged nurse!

we looked for housing in the areas that you mention -- both of us were enthusiastic about those neighborhoods. but we're from seattle, and after seeing the homes in the city, we opted to live outside the city. we live south of the city, on the water, and have a lovely home that's probably twice as spacious as the homes in canton or fell's point for half the money. in addition, i can walk the dog at 2 am and feel completely safe. that was important to me.

feel free to pm me! i'm home with a back injury and have lots of time on my hands to answer questions right now!

curlysin · Aug 27, 2006

i interviewed in baltimore two years ago, and i have to say that everyone i interviewed with was ecstatic about the prospect of getting an experienced, middle-aged nurse!
we looked for housing in the areas that you mention -- both of us were enthusiastic about those neighborhoods. but we're from seattle, and after seeing the homes in the city, we opted to live outside the city. we live south of the city, on the water, and have a lovely home that's probably twice as spacious as the homes in canton or fell's point for half the money. in addition, i can walk the dog at 2 am and feel completely safe. that was important to me.
feel free to pm me! i'm home with a back injury and have lots of time on my hands to answer questions right now!

hi ruby

yes i really like the sound of that feeling safe!!!!! that would be very very important to me also. do you know anything about st marys hospital??