ER nurse- Maricopa Country Hospital ?

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Hello everyone,

I am currently an ER nurse in washington, DC and looking to move back to PHX where I graduated nursing school with my BSN. I work in a level one trauma hospital and my one year of experience is over in Feb. I have been looking on hospital websites and would like to do trauma/ER out in PHX. I have found that Maricopa County hospital seems to be the only hospital hiring for one spot. I was wondering if anyone has worked in the ER for this hospital and if so, what your opinion is? How is management? How are the benefits and can you make your own schedule? Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Can't comment on the ER at county. The other level 1 Trauma centers are Banner Good Samaritan, St. Josephs, and John C. Lincoln North Mountain. That should help you expand your search.

There might be a trauma center on the far east side of the valley. I am not sure, but some one in the know will speak up hopefully.

Thank you for your post! Yeah i have been looking at those places too. It seems there is somewhat of a freeze. I dont know if its due to the budget or what. I know even like the fire and police are not hiring.

Specializes in ER, Outpatient,.

I would like to find out more about the County ER also if anyone knows anything about it.

I can provide you with any information you would like. I currently work there in the ER. What would you like to know?

Specializes in ER, Outpatient,.

How do you like working there? How long have you been there? What do you do there? What is the pt to RN ratio? Are the Dr.s nice? Is the boss nice? Does the staff get along? Do you work days or nights? It seems like there is a large indigent population at the county ER. Does this lead to many lawsuits? What is the thing you like the least about working there? What do you like the most?

Thanks a gozillion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I have not been there very long and I work nights, which I have not done in a while so that still is a huge challenge for me. I currently work in the ED/trauma as an RN. It is a teaching hospital so you have to be on your toes with the new residents and new nurses. There are "five sections" so to speak of pt care areas. You have a critical care area with the trauma bay is attached to. Then All the other areas are 4:1 ratios. CC is 5:2 nurses. It can be more sometimes depending on how busy we get. Most of the patients are the underserved community but we do get the transfers and all the east part of the state since we are the closest trauma hospital. I have only worked with this population before so to me it's just like the rest of my patients from previous hospitals. Staff is great on nights and so are the providers. Of course, you may have a run in with one or so you don't get along with but I feel that is in every facility. I can not answer the lawsuit question because I really do not know. In the ED I think you always have people tell you they will sue you so I do not know if it has happened. My least: my difficulty with working nights, retirement coming out of the paycheck My Most: retirement coming out of my paycheck :) , people I work with and amount of help you get for your team. You always have someone there to help and answer any question. If you don't, you just have to ask.

I noticed that it is harder for people who have not worked in the resident, underserved, fast paced and busy ER like county that do struggle at first. I feel that you can adapt if you want to work there. I started out in a very faced paced inner city hospital in DC and I remember that feeling of "what did I get myself into" but as you continue to work there, you learn to adapt and talk to people. So in the end I think it is just your personal preference.

BTW we are all computerized charting now, including orders.

Hope this helps!

Specializes in ER, Outpatient,.

Do you mind my asking what the pay is like there?

26-39 $ per hour plus you get a diff. for nights and weekends. They pay more because they take out for retirement, which is mandatory

Specializes in ER, Outpatient,.

Did you guys wind up getting a new overnight RN? I came out there and interviewed but didn't hear anything back.

I know they hired a few ones that where already employees in a different area...I have not seen any new faces but then again I work nights so we don't really hear much since new staff sometimes orients on days

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