Living & Nursing in Indianapolis

The “living” can be just as important as the “nursing” when you choose a place to live and work. No one works twenty-four-seven (at least not for long!). Sooner or later you’re left trying to find something to do and sometimes that’s not so easy. It is in Indianapolis!

There’s always something to do in Indianapolis! Let’s start with what is probably the most famous - the “Indy 500.” Each year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (affectionately known as the “Brickyard”) brings in more than a quarter million spectators on Memorial Day weekend for what is arguably the most famous race event in America. There’s also the Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix to name a couple more. Year round the Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers the Hall of Fame museum and golf course. Other than motorsports, the Indianapolis menu includes the NBA Indiana Pacers, the NFL Indianapolis Colts. There’s also minor league baseball, basketball, arena football, minor league ice hockey, golf of all levels and soccer, not to mention probably the best college basketball in America is played right here. Hoosier favorite city? (you have to read that aloud to get it.) It’s even home to NCAA headquarters. No wonder it’s known as the nation’s amateur sports capital.

Want something a little more cultured? Sports and culture are pretty much evenly distributed in Indy. There’s something for everyone. Try the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Repertory Theatre or the Indianapolis Civic Theatre. The Elteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is another of the city’s cultural attractions. The Indianapolis Museum of Art is set in the mansion of the beautiful 52 acre restored estate of medicine magnate J.K. Lilly Jr. and there’s much more.

Indianapolis has even designated “Cultural Districts” to emphasize the diverse cultural heritage of Indianapolis. These districts are Broad Ripple Valley, The Canal & White River State Park, Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, Monument Circle, War Memorial Plaza and the Wholesale District. Each have their own unique attractions. If you can’t find something fun, exciting or educational to do in this city-it’s no one’s fault but your own!

America’s 12th largest city, Indianapolis is the largest city in Indiana and is the state Capitol. Population of the Metro area is around 1.5 million and growing. That makes Indy the third largest city in the Midwest. The Metro area of Indy is composed of nine counties and is known as the “Crossroads of America.” It is served by thirteen interstate highways, 12 major airlines and you can reach 65% of the nation’s population in a day’s drive from Indy.

All this makes Indy ideal for development and further growth. Economic diversity in the city supported by manufacturing, agriculture and the service industries, helps isolate Indy from extreme ups and downs in the economy. Leading employers in the city include electronics, pharmaceuticals, publishing, food processing and insurance companies. It’s home to Fortune 500 companies and “Big 6” accounting firms. Believe it or not, a city or region’s economic diversity and growth are very important to you as you choose a place to live and practice. Why? You want an area that is growing and one that supports the type of healthcare facilities you would want to work for. Indy has some of today’s most renowned medical centers. Specialists throughout the world look to these centers for the latest expertise available in healthcare. Indianapolis could be just the place for you to live and work! Here’s just a few of the many healthcare facilities you should check out in Indy: St. Vincents, Kindred, Wishard Memorial, Riley Hospital, Clarion Health and Orthoindy—that should get you started.

How’s the living in Indianapolis? Politically the city tends to be conservative. The crime rate is relatively low. The cost of living is about 8% lower than comparable cities. Utility rates are also much lower. Home prices for median income earners are touted as some of the best in the nation. We’ve already noted that there is a lot to do and we haven’t even discussed the outdoor activities available at the cities parks and nearby state facilities! The land is relatively flat with a few rolling hills, the climate is temperate with four distinct seasons, winters are cold with an average temperature of 26 degrees in January, summers are warm with average temperatures of 75 degrees in July, but ninety degree days are not at all uncommon.. Precipitation? Nothing extreme. Expect roughly forty inches of rain a year and 23 inches of snow.

That’s the short lesson on Indy. For more information visit the Indianapolis Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website www.indianapolis.org