Canadian RN looking to fly south to Phoenix. Any Arizona RN's out there?

U.S.A. Arizona

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Hello All!

I've been a lurker on the site since enrolling in nursing school 4 years ago and finally took the plunge and signed up!

I finished my degree this past December and was hired on at my preceptorship site, an inpatient, medically supervised, drug and alcohol detox facility, and am loving it! However, I recently took a trip to Phoenix for a family reunion and realized how much I miss having family around. So, since many of them now live in the Phoenix area, and since Phoenix house prices are about a third of what they are here in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), I'm thinking of making the move down south.

Just wondering if there's any Arizona nurses that can give me the skinny on nursing in AZ? Any info about current employment climate, wages, etc would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

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Hello All!

I've been a lurker on the site since enrolling in nursing school 4 years ago and finally took the plunge and signed up!

I finished my degree this past December and was hired on at my preceptorship site, an inpatient, medically supervised, drug and alcohol detox facility, and am loving it! However, I recently took a trip to Phoenix for a family reunion and realized how much I miss having family around. So, since many of them now live in the Phoenix area, and since Phoenix house prices are about a third of what they are here in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), I'm thinking of making the move down south.

Just wondering if there's any Arizona nurses that can give me the skinny on nursing in AZ? Any info about current employment climate, wages, etc would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

What little I've garnered, is that AZ is a "bit" behind the times in its treatment and advocacy for RN's, including the AZ SBON. Not sure if unionization is there. If so, definitely look for a unionized employer.

On the plus side, half of Canuckistan now resides in AZ so you'll feel right at home. I don't know if AZ has hockey though...:)

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We aren't unionized. However, there are opportunities. Many of the hospitals especially in the tempe/phoenix area have openings for RNs and new grad positions if you are wanting to go that route.

I would like at the AZ SBON to answer more questions. I work in a more rural hospital in the south eastern part of the state but I do enjoy nursing in the state of AZ so far :) wages are different depending on where you live due to cost of living so do your research into that as well!

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I was a traveler in Phoenix. The climate is great during the winter... brutal in the summer. You will be spending all of your time indoors, like you did in the winter in Canada.

It is a nice city, but it is a large metropolitan area... with terrible traffic.

If you are buying a home.. be careful which suburb you pick... sure you already know THAT:)

Can't speak for any other hospital there.. but stay away from the Mayo Clinic!

Good luck.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
We aren't unionized. However, there are opportunities. Many of the hospitals especially in the tempe/phoenix area have openings for RNs and new grad positions if you are wanting to go that route.

I would like at the AZ SBON to answer more questions. I work in a more rural hospital in the south eastern part of the state but I do enjoy nursing in the state of AZ so far :) wages are different depending on where you live due to cost of living so do your research into that as well!

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The prospects are dismal for new grads in Phoenix. It is a rare new grad that gets hired in the metro Phoenix area. We pump out way more new grads than the area could ever use.

You would never guess the recession is supposed to be over. There are nursing positions open in hospitals, but not for new grads. Most positions are PRN so no benefits are paid. If you are regular staff, you can count on being cancelled at least one shift in two weeks.

There are severe budget cuts in Arizona's version of Medicare, (AHCCS Arizona Health Care Containment System), which result in poor payment/no payment to hospitals in the state.

Detoxnurse, go to the Arizona forum under U.S. for more info.

Yes, summers ARE brutal here. The temps you see on the news for Phoenix are in the shade, (add at least 20 degrees for the real "in the sun" temps!) Winter is heavenly with temps rarely dipping below 45F.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Arizona Nurses forum

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Specializes in ER, Outpatient,.

If you have experience in drug and alcohol detox you should be able to find a position in PHX. It is a huge metropolitan area with many suburbs. Visiting here in the summer sometime before you move here might be a good move.

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Hello All!

I've been a lurker on the site since enrolling in nursing school 4 years ago and finally took the plunge and signed up!

I finished my degree this past December and was hired on at my preceptorship site, an inpatient, medically supervised, drug and alcohol detox facility, and am loving it! However, I recently took a trip to Phoenix for a family reunion and realized how much I miss having family around. So, since many of them now live in the Phoenix area, and since Phoenix house prices are about a third of what they are here in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), I'm thinking of making the move down south.

Just wondering if there's any Arizona nurses that can give me the skinny on nursing in AZ? Any info about current employment climate, wages, etc would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi DetoxNurse! Have you made your arizona move yet? I am in a very similar situation. RN from Canada whom would like to practice in AZ in the future, however sounds like I keep hitting dead ends in terms of TN Visa prior to applying for licensure by examination... Don't know how or which visa I need, and no SSN or work granted to me in AZ :/

Ay feedback is beneficial ?

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