Want to move to AZ, help me with some ??'s please!

jdlomheim · Mar 20, 2004

Hi there. I am a student in an ADN program that will be graduating in May (Just seven more weeks:)!!) Anyway, I am very interested in moving to Arizona from Iowa, and have been looking at the Phoenix area (my brother attends ASU), Scottsdale, Flagstaff, etc. I am looking at living outside of the "big city" but am completely willing to commute to a center that has the right fit. I would love to hear from any of you that could recommend anything relating to my move. Nice areas to live (i.e. the cities themselves or nice suburbs/surrounding cities of Phoenix), places to work, and pay scales. I would also love to hear about the places you would NOT live, work, play (at or near.) I would greatly appreciate any specifics that you could give me to help me to narrow down my job search areas. I have been looking into the area for several months now, but being thousands of miles away, my search depends on talking with others from the area. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help me out. :)

fulwood · Mar 20, 2004

There are many nice place to live such as Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix.Flagstaff is nice but I have never lived there. Temperatures are more reasonable than in the Valley. But like all places there are bad areas within each of places I mentioned. Banner Health in Mesa has good reputation and housing around there is nice. Scottsdale Healthcare also has great reputation. I live in Mesa and I like it a lot. My advice would be either move here and stay with brother before you get a job. You'll have no probelm getting job believe me! Research the hospitals and the areas and then get job. Or else if get job first prior to moving out here rent apartment for short lease and check around for places/areas t live. Arizona has good freeway system. Flag would definitely be worth a look as well.

fulwood · Mar 20, 2004

There are many nice place to live such as Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix.Flagstaff is nice but I have never lived there. Temperatures are more reasonable than in the Valley. But like all places there are bad areas within each of places I mentioned. Banner Health in Mesa has good reputation and housing around there is nice. Scottsdale Healthcare also has great reputation. I live in Mesa and I like it a lot. My advice would be either move here and stay with brother before you get a job. You'll have no probelm getting job believe me! Research the hospitals and the areas and then get job. Or else if get job first prior to moving out here rent apartment for short lease and check around for places/areas t live. Arizona has good freeway system. Flag would definitely be worth a look as well.

LesJenRN · Mar 20, 2004

I lived and worked there for 7 years, had to leave secondary to my husbands job.....I LOVE IT! I worked in a Phoenix suburb, Chandler, which is in the SE corner of the city....nice community hospital. Housing costs are significantly less that up North (Scottsdale, Cave Creek). Nice neighborhoods, etc. Scottsdale is beautiful...at least once you get out of the rat race. Lots of resorts are there. Scottsdale is kind of the NE corner of the city. Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe are next to each other. Tempe is where ASU is. I recommend checking out the hospital web sites to get an idea. There are a ton of hospitals in the greater Phoenix area.... Good luck!

LesJenRN · Mar 20, 2004

I lived and worked there for 7 years, had to leave secondary to my husbands job.....I LOVE IT! I worked in a Phoenix suburb, Chandler, which is in the SE corner of the city....nice community hospital. Housing costs are significantly less that up North (Scottsdale, Cave Creek). Nice neighborhoods, etc. Scottsdale is beautiful...at least once you get out of the rat race. Lots of resorts are there. Scottsdale is kind of the NE corner of the city. Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe are next to each other. Tempe is where ASU is. I recommend checking out the hospital web sites to get an idea. There are a ton of hospitals in the greater Phoenix area.... Good luck!

movealong · Mar 20, 2004

Good Luck to you! I'm looking at moving to Az this summer as well. I'm trying to narrow it down between Flag and Prescott. I'm going there in May for a last look around, check out some open houses in both areas, and then make a final decision.

movealong · Mar 20, 2004

Good Luck to you! I'm looking at moving to Az this summer as well. I'm trying to narrow it down between Flag and Prescott. I'm going there in May for a last look around, check out some open houses in both areas, and then make a final decision.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 20, 2004

Flagstaff and Prescott get very cold in the winter, remember the altitude.

If you are looking for a smaller city but within one hour of Scottsdale, look into Payson.

:balloons:

movealong · Mar 20, 2004

Flagstaff and Prescott get very cold in the winter, remember the altitude.
If you are looking for a smaller city but within one hour of Scottsdale, look into Payson.
:balloons:

Thanks Suzanne. I come from the midwest presently, so cold is not an issue. I want access to the great outdoors nearby. I want big open spaces in my life again. I'm tired of having my home shut up in the winter for the cold and in the summer because of high heat and humidity.

And I wouldn't mind the cold so much if: there's something to do outdoors. I'm an outdoors girl. And I'm looking for more days with sunshine, even if they are cold.

Would Flag or Prescott serve? If I end up further south, it would be Tucson. No offense to anyone, but I really have no desire to live in Phoenix. I've lived in LA and San Diego. Didn't like LA but loved San Diego but couldn't afford to buy a home there. Phoenix is too much like LA, only no beaches.

I've been doing alot of online research. I've been to Flag in the past, but never Prescott. Loved Flag, but it was spring.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 21, 2004

Haven't been to Flagstaff in a few years, but when I was there, snow levels were quite high. You actually were required to leave your car in town and take a ski-doo to your home. Your elevation is over 6,000 feet. If you want a beautiful area, check out Payson. It has boulders all around, lakes close by, gets snow, but nothing like Flagstaff.

Another hospital that I highly recommend is Yuma. You are only 15 minutes form the Mexican border so can be on the beaches or fishing down there within about one hour. San Diego is three hours away, so is Phoenix. And as far as administration, there were great.............................very nice hospital to work at. You can also work there for just the winter season, they pay for your housing, etc.

Feel free to PM me if you need more info.

luckymichelle · Mar 23, 2004

Movealong -

Did I write your post? LOL, I could have! We've been looking at Flagstaff seriously also - I'm in Wisconsin, and love the outdoors and want to enjoy them YEAR 'Round! Now, if only I could get done with nursing school so we can move....

Michelle