starting a new career at phoenix arizona

GrnHonu99, RN · Apr 25, 2006

Nobody in their right mind who is working at any hospital would say bad things about it on a web site as you never ever know who is reading your posts. It doesnt take much to work out, for example what floor/speciality does one work on and you've narrowed it down.
I for one would never say anything that would cause me problems as firstly I am from the UK so that narrows me down to 4 people on my floor. I have just started working there so that narrows it down to ONE

oh, well ive heard bad things about other hospitals here. In fact, ive seen several threads of where not to work. But feel free not to chime in if you dont want, no big deal. Maybe I should rephrase and say, Ive heard a lot of praise and good comments on this hospital.

I do agree though, this site isn't as anonnymous as some think.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

oh, well ive heard bad things about other hospitals here. In fact, ive seen several threads of where not to work. But feel free not to chime in if you dont want, no big deal. Maybe I should rephrase and say, Ive heard a lot of praise and good comments on this hospital.
I do agree though, this site isn't as anonnymous as some think.

I wasn't trying to be obnoxious, just nervous about commenting as you just never know. I know 2 people recently who have been dismissed for very little, just for speaking up, people who have worked sucessfully for over 20 years and never had so much as a small black mark against their name. (by the way they weren't at St Joe's)

GrnHonu99, RN · Apr 25, 2006

I wasn't trying to be obnoxious, just nervous about commenting as you just never know. I know 2 people recently who have been dismissed for very little, just for speaking up, people who have worked sucessfully for over 20 years and never had so much as a small black mark against their name. (by the way they weren't at St Joe's)

Oh I know!:) That is true, we all make comments thinking that no one knows who we are but in all reality, like you said, it is pretty easy to narrow things down, even on a huge board like this.

So what area do you think would be the best to live in around St. Joe's? Im thinking about living in Tempe bc my fiencee will be going to ASU but i've heard bad things about the traffic in or around phoenix. Is there a decent neighborhood that I could live in between st. joes and ASU that wouldnt require much highway driving to either destination..ie backroads? We dont have to live within in walking distance from the university or anything.:monkeydance:

ha ha i love these new icons;)

GilbertDaddy · Apr 25, 2006

Hmm, traffic can be a pain, especially closer to ASU since you have thousands of students both coming and going.

In Arizona, the typical suggestion is to move to the suburbs or outskirts. That's where I'm at (Gilbert) and where others are as well (Anthem, etc.). However, then you're looking at 20 miles away or so and then highway driving is just a fact of life

I'd say that there are plenty of options still though, depending on your schedule. Traffic is not TOO terrible if you're not fighting the 8-5(ish) gridlock.

Here's the map from St. Joe's to ASU:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.667509,59.238281&saddr=350+W+Thomas+Rd+%23+3,+Phoenix,+AZ+85013+(Mercy+Healthcare+Arizona:+St+Joseph%27s+Hospital+and+Medical+Center)+%4033.480589,-112.078642&daddr=336+E+Orange+St,+Tempe,+AZ&ll=33.450349,-111.988449&spn=0.117733,0.2314&om=1

If you look a little south-west from asu, you'll see South Mountain Park in green. Just north of here along the "Baseline corridor" you're seeing new houses spring up, many of which probably rent from 800-1000 for a nice 3-4 bedroom. This is close enough to the I-10 that you can still get along to the major parts of town.

Also south of south mountain, along Queen Creek Road and the I-10 (you can most likely google for these map locations - google maps is pretty flexible) to the WEST of the I-10, there is a town that's rapidly growing called "Maricopa". It's definitely a bit further out, but it's also closer to where your locations are - while also being "on the outskirts".

I'd recommend renting in Tempe for 6 months or so to figure out where you'd like to go though. A few trips to Maricopa may leave you saying that there is just too much "dead space" in between, or that it's a little frightning that it's out in the middle of nowhere, etc. South Mountain may have a little too much "lil Mexico" feeling for you. These newer homes are going up around places where hispanics have lived for a long time and the major food chains and whatnot are still making their way out there so you have to put up with the occasional mexican radio station playing in the car next to you, etc.

I'm playing devil's advocate on those two places though, just don't lock yourself in too far :)

If you'd like some additional info, just PM me and I can give you the number of the owner of the real estate company I used to sell my house - he's a good friend of mine :) Perhaps he can help with long term goals :)

Look forward to having ya down in our part of the world!!! :)

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

Oh I know!:) That is true, we all make comments thinking that no one knows who we are but in all reality, like you said, it is pretty easy to narrow things down, even on a huge board like this.
So what area do you think would be the best to live in around St. Joe's? Im thinking about living in Tempe bc my fiencee will be going to ASU but i've heard bad things about the traffic in or around phoenix. Is there a decent neighborhood that I could live in between st. joes and ASU that wouldnt require much highway driving to either destination..ie backroads? We dont have to live within in walking distance from the university or anything.:monkeydance:
ha ha i love these new icons;)

I truthfully have NO problem with traffic living in Tempe and driving into Phx. I would not recommend taking backroads as opposed to the freeways though. Those roads get more congested than the freeways, especially if there is an accident, it could be a huge delay.

If you plan on working nights and want to drive from Tempe into Phx, I don't think you'll have much problem. I never have to wait in traffic, I work 7 pm - 7 am. Don't let the traffic horror stories scare you. You won't have problems at night, all the traffic will be going the other way. And also working 7 - 7 (either am or pm) isn't as bad as working say 8 - 5 (that's the WORST traffic, like GilbertDaddy said).

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

I've got some family that lives out in Maricopa, while they like it out there (it's a bit quieter and cooler), they are tired of the drive. I personally couldn't do it. And they've just got 2 lanes to get people to and from there ..... always tons of accidents out there. Just not something I could personally do, but a lot of people like it ok.

GilbertDaddy · Apr 25, 2006

Yep!

I drive around 9-6 or so from Gilbert to Phoenix (33 miles) and I usually never drive more than 45 minutes using the freeways. That's in traffic both ways which is great :)

Tempe is so central too that if one freeway is closed, busy, etc. there is usually another you can use. It's really not that bad.

Hope that helps!

GilbertDaddy · Apr 25, 2006

Yeah, this is what I thought when I first drove out there. I gave it the benefit of the doubt though because where I used to live, it seemed like such a LOOOONG drive until you realized it was only a few miles.

When you get off of the I-10 going West towards Maricopa, it's mostly Indian land on both sides IIRC, meaning that it's undeveloped and just "open". You then sort of "come upon" this oasis of housing which is kind of funny :)

Those 2 lane streets are terrible when there's an accident. Not only rubber necking but road debris, etc.

I loved the prices of the homes out in Maricopa, especially on the lake at Rancho Del Mar, but the drive was also a turn off for me.

However, when you get down here the Baseline corridor may be worth checking out. In areas just slightly south+east/west (19th ave and baseline? just guessing) of St. Joe's there are a ton of new housing going up that'd be perfect to rent if you wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tempe.

However, Tempe has some gorgeous foliage since it's a mature town, has a GREAT nightlife, close to freeways on all ends pretty much, etc. If I didn't want a brand new house, I'd probably still live there - there was always some excitement to be had by just jumping in the car and heading to the areas around ASU, Mill, etc. :)

I've got some family that lives out in Maricopa, while they like it out there (it's a bit quieter and cooler), they are tired of the drive. I personally couldn't do it. And they've just got 2 lanes to get people to and from there ..... always tons of accidents out there. Just not something I could personally do, but a lot of people like it ok.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

I'm far enough away from ASU that I'm not affected by the traffic and close enough to downtown that I can enjoy going down there without it being too far. And we don't have the crime that they have around ASU.

But I'm partial to Tempe :) Lots of other great areas you could check out too ...... I agree, Baseline Corridor would be worth checking out.

WoosahRN, MSN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

To All: I haven't read all the posts but thought I could help (if you didn't have all the info you needed).

I have lived in AZ all my life. I am 26. I was raised in Glendale, got my B.S. at ASU in Tempe, lived in Flagstaff (2 hours North) for 2 years (2 seperate years at spaced out times). I am now back in Glendale as a nursing student but am hoping to transfer over to a Mesa program to finish my last year (I prefer the East side of town and don't really like my school I am at now). As I think it was explained earlier when you say "Phoenix" it pretty much refers to the Phoenix Valley which is about 10 cities. So when I say Glendale (or Tempe, Mesa, etc), I still say I live in the Phx city area (and if you want to get technical I am half a mile from the official phx. line). I love AZ and could tell you a LOT about it. But beings as I so many people are moving here and I have never lived outside of here I am hoping to move OUT after I get my RN (1 more year!!!). There are very few AZ natives from here! :)

Anyway, if you (I don't really know who in particular I am addressing this too) have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Good luck!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2006

To All: I haven't read all the posts but thought I could help (if you didn't have all the info you needed).
I have lived in AZ all my life. I am 26. I was raised in Glendale, got my B.S. at ASU in Tempe, lived in Flagstaff (2 hours North) for 2 years (2 seperate years at spaced out times). I am now back in Glendale as a nursing student but am hoping to transfer over to a Mesa program to finish my last year (I prefer the East side of town and don't really like my school I am at now). As I think it was explained earlier when you say "Phoenix" it pretty much refers to the Phoenix Valley which is about 10 cities. So when I say Glendale (or Tempe, Mesa, etc), I still say I live in the Phx city area (and if you want to get technical I am half a mile from the official phx. line). I love AZ and could tell you a LOT about it. But beings as I so many people are moving here and I have never lived outside of here I am hoping to move OUT after I get my RN (1 more year!!!). There are very few AZ natives from here! :)
Anyway, if you (I don't really know who in particular I am addressing this too) have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Good luck!

Yes, there are very few of us!! I'm an AZ native too, as is my dad. I know what you mean though about wanting to get out of here for a bit. Five years ago I moved to TX to go to school ..... had a ton of fun and I loved it, but now I'm back in the valley, I missed it terribly.

I remember the times when Chandler was just a wee little town ..... with just the one high school. We'd drive out to Queen Creek, out on Riggs road, it was just all dirt and farmland. Now it's all houses and shopping centers. Kinda sad how fast it's grown. Where do you end up moving to? Good luck to you in school!

GilbertDaddy · Apr 26, 2006

Heh, I remember the days where we drove out to Queen Creek Rd to go to some late night farm parties lol.

I've been living here since the age of 2 or so, originally from San Antonio, Texas. It was amazing watching Superstition Mall get built, watch what was once Leisure World, explode into normal homes lol.

Yes, there are very few of us!! I'm an AZ native too, as is my dad. I know what you mean though about wanting to get out of here for a bit. Five years ago I moved to TX to go to school ..... had a ton of fun and I loved it, but now I'm back in the valley, I missed it terribly.
I remember the times when Chandler was just a wee little town ..... with just the one high school. We'd drive out to Queen Creek, out on Riggs road, it was just all dirt and farmland. Now it's all houses and shopping centers. Kinda sad how fast it's grown. Where do you end up moving to? Good luck to you in school!