I had been considering moving to the Pittsburgh area (long story) but I'm a little concerned about the job market. I currently live on Long Island, starting salaries can approach $70,000 but the cost of living is outrageous - ex. I pay $5800 a year property taxes on a 2-bedroom 1 bath house on a 60x112 lot - no garage or basement!
I know the starting pay for new grads in Pittsburgh is around $20+ but cost of living is way less. I would actually be able to sell my house here and buy one in PA for cash.
I thought UPMC would be a good place to work (I'm interested in their RN to BN or MSN), but I keep reading about how shortstaffed they are and how lousy their pay is. I know it's probably because of consolidation, but we're also experiencing hospital consolidation here (North Shore LIJ is gobbling up everybody, and there is already a Catholic Health Systems chain of hospitals in place, fewer independent hospitals). It makes me worry it will affect wages, and I can't afford to live here if it does. I considered going to North Carolina, but a friend of mine says the growth is ridiculous and crowding is making is very unpleasant where they live in Charlotte. I've read some articles indicating Pittsburgh is going thru a renaissance, kind of like Atlanta about 15 years ago.
Can anybody offer me reasons to move to Pittsburgh as an RN? Are you happy there? Or should I keep looking?
I've lived here for 3 years, just graduated in May 09..passed my NCLEX Nov. 09. No job offers.
From nurses I know that work at one of the UPMC hospitals, they are overworked and hate their jobs. And, don't really care about their employees.
When they closed UPMC Braddock, in the process of, they did not place their nurses anywhere. The nurses had to apply all over again in the UPMC system as if they were not employees. Only 40% of that hospital has jobs ready for them...the other 60% is just going to get dumped off. There are still nurses on those units that still do not have a job in the UPMC healthcare system. But they aren't really their employees anymore.
West-penn has financial problems because of UPMC's growth...it's not a hot situation.
The only thing I liked about working in UPMC as a S.N. was the equipment and it was clean. But these were all inner city hospitals. McKeesport Hospital, well, that's a different story. I believe, 70% of their patients are medicaid anyways.
Pittsburgh is a nice city...but I think it falls short of other areas of the country that I've lived in and visited. And practically every school here, turns out nurses...it's a flooded market.
I've lived here for 3 years, just graduated in May 09..passed my NCLEX Nov. 09. No job offers.
From nurses I know that work at one of the UPMC hospitals, they are overworked and hate their jobs. And, don't really care about their employees.
When they closed UPMC Braddock, in the process of, they did not place their nurses anywhere. The nurses had to apply all over again in the UPMC system as if they were not employees. Only 40% of that hospital has jobs ready for them...the other 60% is just going to get dumped off. There are still nurses on those units that still do not have a job in the UPMC healthcare system. But they aren't really their employees anymore.
West-penn has financial problems because of UPMC's growth...it's not a hot situation.
The only thing I liked about working in UPMC as a S.N. was the equipment and it was clean. But these were all inner city hospitals. McKeesport Hospital, well, that's a different story. I believe, 70% of their patients are medicaid anyways.
Pittsburgh is a nice city...but I think it falls short of other areas of the country that I've lived in and visited. And practically every school here, turns out nurses...it's a flooded market.
Not sure if you have a nursing job, but have you considered LTC? Most in this area pay well and there are openings. You can get your feet wet and work until a job opens up in hospital setting.
I love love love love love LOVE Pittsburgh - lived here for most of my life, and it just keeps getting better! I really can't rave enough about it, but... Top five reasons to move to Pittsburgh:
1. Restaurants - Pittsburgh is a food city. We love to eat out, and we expect excellent food! Out-of-town friends are always shocked by the delicious and varied culinary scene.
2. Museums - The Andy Warhol Museum (world's largest museum dedicated to the work of a single artist), The Mattress Factory (avant garde installation art), and pretty darn good Natural History and Fine Arts museums. Also, our glass scene is incredible.
3. Excellent schools and universities - University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon are top-tier universities, not to mention the other dozen or so close by (as well as a kick-butt community college).
4. Housing is incredibly affordable, and so many of the neighborhoods are great to grow up in! I can personally vouch for Dormont, Mount Lebanon, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill. And people can actually afford to buy real, solid old brick and stone homes instead of the cardboard developments in so many cities.
5. The job market - We had our recession / depression back in the early 80s with the decline of the steel mills, so we've weathered this one better than most cities.
I love love love love love LOVE Pittsburgh - lived here for most of my life, and it just keeps getting better! I really can't rave enough about it, but... Top five reasons to move to Pittsburgh:
1. Restaurants - Pittsburgh is a food city. We love to eat out, and we expect excellent food! Out-of-town friends are always shocked by the delicious and varied culinary scene.
2. Museums - The Andy Warhol Museum (world's largest museum dedicated to the work of a single artist), The Mattress Factory (avant garde installation art), and pretty darn good Natural History and Fine Arts museums. Also, our glass scene is incredible.
3. Excellent schools and universities - University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon are top-tier universities, not to mention the other dozen or so close by (as well as a kick-butt community college).
4. Housing is incredibly affordable, and so many of the neighborhoods are great to grow up in! I can personally vouch for Dormont, Mount Lebanon, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill. And people can actually afford to buy real, solid old brick and stone homes instead of the cardboard developments in so many cities.
5. The job market - We had our recession / depression back in the early 80s with the decline of the steel mills, so we've weathered this one better than most cities.
I feel sorry for you because from your postings it appears that you have put more effort into 'why you don't like Pittsburgh' and not on 'why I want to be a nurse'.....
I thought that is what this thread was about. I could go into great detail about why I want to be a nurse but that is best saved for another thread, do you agree?
If you are that against the Burgh, why don't you go back?
Um go back where? I'm confused!!
As far as people leaving the region, I hate to tell you.....they almost always return! I know several people, some born and raised here and some transplants, who left and returned because they love the city.
I agree!
I hope your thoughts do not deter others from coming to Pittsburgh. Nursing jobs are plentiful and our city is changing by the day; it all depends on what you want.
Well friends and neighbors, I'm still here freezing my @$$ off!! lol Just wanted to say I'll prob be here for a long time cause now that the economy turned to crap, it's best we stay here where my husband has a good job. There are other perks to staying here in good old New Castle..... family, friends, cheap livin, ect.
Also let me say....I LOVE MY JOB!! I work for a small community hospital per diem so I make good money, make my own schedule, and get to work all over the hospital and have great experiences. I :redbeathe NURSING!!
Now don't get too excited. I am planning my vacation to the beach as we speak....
I work for a small community hospital per diem so I make good money, make my own schedule, and get to work all over the hospital and have great experiences. I :redbeathe NURSING!!
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
Quite a sweeping generalization, don't ya think?
I agree that parts of Bloomfield are also nice possibilities that might be considered.