Nursing in the City or Suburbs?

oramar · Feb 5, 2004

My experience is that City hospitals usually pay better. However, city hospital parking is usually quite expensive IF you can get it. Suburban parking is usually free or less expensive and readily avaliable. Parking plays a big part in which jobs I select. Nothing worse than paying big bucks to park in a garage that has no spots when you need them. Once I worked in big city hospital where parking was expensive and hard to find. In addition the area was quite unsafe. Some employees were mugged and severly injured because they were forced to park in unsafe areas due to parking shortage. I then went to suburban hospital where parking was plentiful, FREE and safe. Guess which hospital had a shortage of nurses and which had no problem finding help? The whole situation was made worse by the city hospital managment that took a "Not my problem" attitude where you complained.

oramar · Feb 5, 2004

My previous post is based on my own experience, others may have something different to say.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

I work at a city hospital now and love it. I have no problem finding a parking garage but it is rather expensive, luckily the hospital provides us with reduced cost parking tickets.

pghfoxfan · Feb 8, 2004

I agree that city hospitals usually pay more, yet parking can get ya. My hospital offers free shuttle service, which I take advantage of.

Many suburban hospitals send their very sick to the larger city hospitals. ie...Critical Care Patients/ Open Heart or major Cardiovascular cases/ even invasive Cardiology cases...where these services may not be offered unless you have a larger more agressive hospital in the suburbs. (Then I guess you get the best of 2 worlds)

KeniRN · Feb 9, 2004

I live in the burbs of Philadelphia. I worked at a city hospital for about 9 years before working in the burbs. Although I enjoyed working in the city hospital (so much to see and learn), the difference in my paycheck is very nice--no city wage tax, don't have to pay for parking and a little closer to my home (with less traffic and potholes, thus less wear & tear on my car).

BadBird, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2004

I work in both through my agency, I prefer the City hospitals, much more progressive, better physicians, better access to physicians and residents when needed. Parking has not really been a issue for me, I work nights and some places it is free others charge $2.00-$5.00 and with what they are paying me agency I don't worry about that. I also prefer to park in the garages especially in the winter time so a few bucks is ok with me.

Baltimore Nurse · Mar 4, 2004

I am moving from Baltimore to York PA, at this point I plan to communte to Baltimore city which is about 45-60 mintue drive because I can not afford to take a pay cut... I am still investingating what hospitals pay in PA. If anyone has any thoughts on the pay range please post them. Thanks.