Relocating to Pittsburgh area

pattyjo, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2004

Hi everyone, my name is Patty (OR nurse) and my husband is in the Coast Guard. We are getting transferred to Sewickley, PA in June.
We planned on renting a house close to the Sewickley area and I'm just not sure about the travel time involved if I worked in Pittsburgh. I've looked online and found several hospitals North of Pittsburgh, but there were many that were in the city. I would appreciate any information that you can give me about which hospitals to consider. I would like to keep the travel time under 30 minutes.
Nice meeting you all!

Hi Patty, from also a Patty!

Welcome to the area. Have you been to Sewickley for a vist yet? It's a beautiful little town, very safe if you have kids, good schools. There is a small community hospital right in Sewickley, I belive the website is heritagevalley.org. They have a sister hospital which is about 30 minute drive, that information is also on the same website.

Are you looking for a large facility or something small? It is not a bad drive into the city and as you discovered, there are many hospitals there to chose from. The city hospitals tend to be larger than the community ones, but I guess both have their pros and cons. If you give us all an idea of what you are specifically interested in, maybe we could get this narrowed down.

When are you moving?

Patty

boatswife · Mar 6, 2004

Thanks for your reply. :) I did see the one in Sewickley......that would be nice.

It really doesn't matter if it's a large or small hospital, it could even be a surgery center. My husband is not always home and we have children, so my main concerns are daytime, no weekends and no call in the OR. I know I'm asking for a lot! LOL I may have to go Staffing Pool in order to do this, but I don't mind working the 40 hour week.

My experience consists of all services except open heart. It's been a while since I worked Neuro and Ortho though. For the last 2 years it's been mainly General and Gyn. I have done Endoscopy within the last 3 years too.

We should be coming up to house hunt the first week in June. We haven't been to Sewickley yet, but my husband is from New Castle. I have been there for a visit and loved everything the area has to offer! We can hardly wait to get there! LOL

oramar · Mar 7, 2004

I heard Sewickly hospital was really nice. It used to be called Sewickly Vally Hospital I think. However, hospitals around here are always merging and name changing.

pattyjo, MSN, RN · Mar 8, 2004

I heard Sewickly hospital was really nice. It used to be called Sewickly Vally Hospital I think. However, hospitals around here are always merging and name changing.

oramar: It is nice, and it's still called Sewickley Valley Hospital. Several years ago they joined with The Medical Center in Beaver Co as Heritage Valley Health System, but the 2 hospitals are separate.

Sewickley still has its diploma school of nursing, BTW

Patty

boatswife · Mar 9, 2004

Thanks, I will be checking those 3 out.

As far as the hospitals/surgery centers in Pittsburgh......which ones would be the closest to Sewickley that are good places to work.

maire1224 · May 20, 2004

Thanks, I will be checking those 3 out.
As far as the hospitals/surgery centers in Pittsburgh......which ones would be the closest to Sewickley that are good places to work.

Hi I live in Sewickley. Close to us is Suburban General (elderly population) in Bellevue, Ohio Valley in Mc Kees Rocks and Sewickley Valley (maybe now called something else?) And the commute to West Penn/Allegheny General Hospital is under thirty minutes--I've done it in less as long as it's not rush hour! That hospital is the biggest of what I mentioned and has the most diverse offerings.

If you need more info about this town we live in let me know. It is a safe place to raise the kids and pretty too. And I am very familiar with the city so if you need help on how to get down to town or the other neighborhoods I can help. I'm a CNS who is in private practice as a psychotherapist in Sewickley and have lived in Pittsbugh for 25 years and the last 15 in Sewickley.

Maire

2ndgenerationnurse · May 20, 2004

i work at the medical center in Beaver, the sister co. of the sewickley valley hosp. herritage valley is a good company to work for and is affiliated with a large network in our area. TMC, my hosp, has the union (2 1/2yrs) and it has helped with mandation, staff/pt ratios and pay. there has been a few adjustments in management of course, but i am still happy working there 95% of the time.

i live in georgetown about 40 min. from work and 50min. from you. the area is very nice and i have been able to find all i need without traveling into pitt. very often. you should check out manaca, and robinson town center for shopping. but there is also a strip along your side of the river that runs between several small towns and plaza style shopping. (i did home health here when i first moved into the area)

my husband is a preacher at tomlinson run church of Christ, we have a web site if you are looking: www.trchurchofchrist.com

do you know anyone here? i have moved to several states where i know no one... it can be hard.... the internet is a good thing isn't it?

good luck, and maybe i will meet up with you someday,

coral

use the website ph # if you need some local help... i just might be the one answering the phone :)

boatswife · May 23, 2004

Thank You for your replies!

I can't believe that we will be moving the end of this week......time sure does fly by! LOL

We're still not sure where we will be living. We will be in PA the first week of June looking at rental houses. My husband is from New Castle, so he is somewhat familiar with the area. There is so much there! LOL

That time frame from Sewickley to Allegheny General helped a lot! They want to see me when we come up for house hunting and not wait until we are settled. I've never even been in a hospital that big, so that will be interesting. There are a couple other places that I was looking into also.

Thanks so much and I'll keep you all updated as to what happens.

pattyjo, MSN, RN · May 24, 2004

Thank You for your replies!

I can't believe that we will be moving the end of this week......time sure does fly by! LOL

We're still not sure where we will be living. We will be in PA the first week of June looking at rental houses. My husband is from New Castle, so he is somewhat familiar with the area. There is so much there! LOL

That time frame from Sewickley to Allegheny General helped a lot! They want to see me when we come up for house hunting and not wait until we are settled. I've never even been in a hospital that big, so that will be interesting. There are a couple other places that I was looking into also.

Thanks so much and I'll keep you all updated as to what happens.

Hi Patty: Best to you as you start to look for a new place and get ready to move here. It really *is* a nice area, with lots of opportunities. If you have any more questions, come on back here; lots of information and different ideas

Wishing you happiness in PA

Patty

boatswife · May 25, 2004

Thanks Patty! :)

Patty

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2004

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Patty! I used to live about 15 min from Sewickley. I really enjoyed it. Another option (about 30 min. away) is UPMC Passavant hospital or The Midwife Center in what we call the Strip District. It's not as dirty as it sounds! :chuckle It's a marketplace, but it's centrally located and has many different businesses and shops. We are now in the Eastern Suburbs of Pittsburgh. I really miss living North, but it's what's working for us right now. I really hope you and your family enjoy your stay here!