Hello Everyone

RN BSN 2009 · Dec 20, 2006

Welcome to you !!! :balloons: :balloons:

Rook · Dec 20, 2006

I'm a nursing student but I work as a med tech in MD and know quite a bit nurses/med techs who work in various hospitals in the state. So here's what little advice I could give you.

Avoid the DC suburbs, unless you a) have wealthy parents/significant other who could chip in on the rent/housing payments and b) think sitting in traffic at all hours of the day is your idea of a good time.

Annapolis is fun if you could afford the housing.

Baltimore is a pretty cool town. Rents are decent for a east coast city. Most of the hospitals have a good rep. I've known people who've worked at Univ of MD Med center, GBMC, Union Hosp. and all have liked it. You might want to avoid Hopkins though, I've never met anyone who's liked working there. The vibe most people give me about the Hopkins is that management is arrogant, treats you like @#$% and doesn't pay very well becasue you should feel honored to work at the Best Hospital in the USA . But I could be wrong.

I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Shore Health System where I work (Easton & Cambridge hospitals) treats us well and pays decent wages.

Easton where I live is a nice little town even though the people who live in it are a little stuck up.

Salisbury is a dump but the nurses I know who work in hosp in the town, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, all like working there alot.

nurseangel47 · Dec 20, 2006

Hi, Bombsey...and welcome to allnurses:welcome: :nurse: :saint: :Santa2: :Ball: :Snowman2: :Santa5:

Jules A, MSN · Dec 20, 2006

Hi and welcome,

I think Rook summed it up pretty good. Now that I'm older, I love living on the Eastern Shore but when I was younger I loved Balto. Its a great, affordable city for young people. Take care, Jules

Victoriakem · Dec 20, 2006

I'm a nursing student but I work as a med tech in MD and know quite a bit nurses/med techs who work in various hospitals in the state. So here's what little advice I could give you.
Avoid the DC suburbs, unless you a) have wealthy parents/significant other who could chip in on the rent/housing payments and b) think sitting in traffic at all hours of the day is your idea of a good time.
Annapolis is fun if you could afford the housing.
Baltimore is a pretty cool town. Rents are decent for a east coast city. Most of the hospitals have a good rep. I've known people who've worked at Univ of MD Med center, GBMC, Union Hosp. and all have liked it. You might want to avoid Hopkins though, I've never met anyone who's liked working there. The vibe most people give me about the Hopkins is that management is arrogant, treats you like @#$% and doesn't pay very well becasue you should feel honored to work at the Best Hospital in the USA . But I could be wrong.
I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Shore Health System where I work (Easton & Cambridge hospitals) treats us well and pays decent wages.
Easton where I live is a nice little town even though the people who live in it are a little stuck up.
Salisbury is a dump but the nurses I know who work in hosp in the town, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, all like working there alot.

A co-worker used to work for Hopkins & had rotating shifts, all in the same week. However, she got great bonuses each 6 months she worked there, but couldn't take the hours. Howard County Hospital is also a Hopkins affliate but no rotating shifts, except maybe L & D, but not sure about that.

Columbia is a great, diverse area with great restaurants, things to do & a beautiful local. Of course, housing is not cheap anywhere & off rush hour, times into DC are about 1 hour. I think it pays to work close to home as traffic can be horrendous at times. Good luck with your decision! I moved to MD 5 years ago & really enjoy it here.

nurseangel47 · Dec 20, 2006

Hi and :welcome: to the allnurses shelter of safe haven and general information gathering, support system and keepers of the peace!

BoonersmomRN · Dec 21, 2006

Wow bomsy that's a hard question to answer for such a small state:lol2:

Obviously if you want to have the most opportunities available to you - you are going to want to live somewhere in the DC-Baltimore corridor. I grew up in P.G. County right on the DC border and the housing prices are crazy for the amount of house you get....but it also depends on WHERE in the DC suburbs you are.

Right now I live outside of Baltimore in Catonsville and I love it. Easy to get to just about any hospital....but I am also burned out on the whole traffic thing that comes with living near a big city. I avoid 95/495/695 like the plague.

Personally, I loathe Columbia- but it is centrally located between DC and Baltimore and therefore it's a prime location. It is Howard County which is expensive though.

I am currently thinking of relocating to Carroll County and still attending school/work in Baltimore County. Housing prices are cheaper ( although rising fast) and it's more rural ( although changing fast- argh).

If you aren't a city person then the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland are other options. Personally, I love both and how much more laid back they are as compared to the craziness that is the DC/Baltimore corridor.

The GOOD thing about Maryland is that there are a ton of hospitals here...and you can easily get AWAY from the city to live- but still work closer or IN the city.

Good luck!

bomsy · Dec 28, 2006

Hi Rook,

Thanks a lot for your information. I look forward to exploring the eastern and western areas of town.

Bomsy

I'm a nursing student but I work as a med tech in MD and know quite a bit nurses/med techs who work in various hospitals in the state. So here's what little advice I could give you.
Avoid the DC suburbs, unless you a) have wealthy parents/significant other who could chip in on the rent/housing payments and b) think sitting in traffic at all hours of the day is your idea of a good time.
Annapolis is fun if you could afford the housing.
Baltimore is a pretty cool town. Rents are decent for a east coast city. Most of the hospitals have a good rep. I've known people who've worked at Univ of MD Med center, GBMC, Union Hosp. and all have liked it. You might want to avoid Hopkins though, I've never met anyone who's liked working there. The vibe most people give me about the Hopkins is that management is arrogant, treats you like @#$% and doesn't pay very well becasue you should feel honored to work at the Best Hospital in the USA . But I could be wrong.
I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Shore Health System where I work (Easton & Cambridge hospitals) treats us well and pays decent wages.
Easton where I live is a nice little town even though the people who live in it are a little stuck up.
Salisbury is a dump but the nurses I know who work in hosp in the town, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, all like working there alot.

bomsy · Dec 28, 2006

Hi,

thanks for your information. I appreciate your advice. I'm just wondering, what towns or cities make up the eastern and western shores of maryland?

Thanks.

Wow bomsy that's a hard question to answer for such a small state:lol2:
Obviously if you want to have the most opportunities available to you - you are going to want to live somewhere in the DC-Baltimore corridor. I grew up in P.G. County right on the DC border and the housing prices are crazy for the amount of house you get....but it also depends on WHERE in the DC suburbs you are.
Right now I live outside of Baltimore in Catonsville and I love it. Easy to get to just about any hospital....but I am also burned out on the whole traffic thing that comes with living near a big city. I avoid 95/495/695 like the plague.
Personally, I loathe Columbia- but it is centrally located between DC and Baltimore and therefore it's a prime location. It is Howard County which is
expensive though.
I am currently thinking of relocating to Carroll County and still attending school/work in Baltimore County. Housing prices are cheaper ( although rising fast) and it's more rural ( although changing fast- argh).
If you aren't a city person then the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland are other options. Personally, I love both and how much more laid back they are as compared to the craziness that is the DC/Baltimore corridor.
The GOOD thing about Maryland is that there are a ton of hospitals here...and you can easily get AWAY from the city to live- but still work closer or IN the city.
Good luck!

Jules A, MSN · Dec 29, 2006

I'm not that familiar with the Western shore but as for the Eastern shore you'd be looking at Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Sommerset and Wicomoco Counties. I think that about covers them.

BoonersmomRN · Dec 29, 2006

Hi again boomsy

If you look at a map of Maryland and find Hagerstown...pretty much everything from Hagerstown to the west is considered Western Maryland or anything in Washington, Garrett, or Alleghany County. Your biggest towns would be Hagerstown, Cumberland, Frostburg.

Eastern shore would be anything east of the Chesapeake Bay. Your largest towns being Easton, Cambridge, Salisbury.

All of which have lots of little smaller towns in between...some closer to the city...some further away.