Yuma Regional Medical Center + New Grad RN opinions

nord11 · Mar 6, 2009

I don't know much but I did apply at Yuma. I supposedly have an on-site visit coming up here soon (should find out in a week or two) to Yuma. We have a guy in RT that worked in Yuma a few years ago and says it's pretty good (people, environment, etc...). I was told when I interviewed that they take RN's (new grads) in critical areas which to me is a good thing ( I have 21yrs exp w/ most in critical care). Pay was about $5 more per hr (base - as compared to other places I talked to in AZ) and they do eve shift @10% - nights @ 15% diffs (I am a night person). I am in Montana and really have no idea but will move to Arizona this June somewhere. For me, I will physically have to go and look for myself to see if I am interested. Good luck

fathertod · Mar 6, 2009

I am in south texas right near mexico now..and the RN shortage down here is/was as bad as it is/was supposed to be in yuma. The area down here is getting flooded with new grads and people from the northeast and northern midwest. The hospitals down here are taking an attitude of...well it really doesn't matter if you come work for us or not because we are flooded with applications. Some of the hospitals and health systems have deteriorating balance sheets and are having their credit ratings downgraded, thus it will be hard for them to keep the doors open soon because they will have issues raising funds in a tight/seized credit and loan market. Yuma Regional Medical Centers financials per some healthcare analysis papers look spectacular. I just wonder if that area is going to get flooded or is getting flooded by displaced RN's from the northeast, southern california, and phoenix. As all those places are having major hiring issues.

Along the southern border is one of the safest places to be in a severe economic downturn like this. Alternatively, places out in the middle of nowhere, like Taos, NM seem safe too at least for the moment.

I will apply today to Yuma. Provide an update if you get a second in the future.

MsBruiser · Mar 7, 2009

I am in south texas right near mexico now..and the RN shortage down here is/was as bad as it is/was supposed to be in yuma. The area down here is getting flooded with new grads and people from the northeast and northern midwest. The hospitals down here are taking an attitude of...well it really doesn't matter if you come work for us or not because we are flooded with applications. Some of the hospitals and health systems have deteriorating balance sheets and are having their credit ratings downgraded, thus it will be hard for them to keep the doors open soon because they will have issues raising funds in a tight/seized credit and loan market. Yuma Regional Medical Centers financials per some healthcare analysis papers look spectacular. I just wonder if that area is going to get flooded or is getting flooded by displaced RN's from the northeast, southern california, and phoenix. As all those places are having major hiring issues.
Along the southern border is one of the safest places to be in a severe economic downturn like this. Alternatively, places out in the middle of nowhere, like Taos, NM seem safe too at least for the moment.
I will apply today to Yuma. Provide an update if you get a second in the future.

You have an interesting point. I've been following the threads concerning employment in AZ quite carefully, and several posters have replied to the effect "you can always get a job in Yuma." I would not be surprised if they were to get saturated sometime in the future (if already not saturated) with new grads and even experienced RNs. Yuma has a very large "snowbird" base - and they drive demand up in the winter.

dreamer81 · Mar 12, 2009

I'm actually from Yuma and will be returning in August to get ready to start the RN program in January. (Good thing they don't have a 2 year wait like MCCD) One of the worst places for a patient to be in the winter is at YRMC because of their shortage of nurses, snowbirds, and legal and illegal immigrants. They have been hiring for quite some time now and their problem is not hiring nurses, it's keeping them. Most will start at YRMC and then leave to Phoenix or elsewhere. It's not because of the hospital, they just can't take the heat. On the Phoenix news it only appears a couple degrees difference hotter in Yuma, but in reality it feels like 10 degrees hotter in the summer. I love Yuma and miss it alot, but some just don't like how small it is compared to Phoenix area. But you don't have all the smog or the traffic or hour long drives to work....So that is a big plus. It's about 2 1/2 to 3 hrs to San Diego and to Phoenix, 20 minute drive to Mexico, and about a 5-6 hr drive to Vegas. It's growing quite a bit these past few years. The staff at the hospital are great! I have been there several times for days, sometimes weeks, at a time with my dad. But if you don't like small towns or extreme heat, don't move there.....save that RN position for me when I graduate in 2 years! lol! see ya there!

P.S. the pay starts at $27/hr for new hire and from what I heard from a current employee...it goes up to $31 after 6 months and even more for the night shift diff.

fathertod · Mar 12, 2009

thanks.. that was a good reply... I already applied a few days ago. I have driven through Yuma a few times and i prefer the dry heat and a smaller town. I am used to the types of patients they get mainlying the high acuity geratric and spanish only patients. Essentially, its like brownsville, tx but in the desert of arizona. I, however, didn't know the pay jumped so much after 6 months..geez thats a heck of a jump. I guess its a wait and see game.. My practicum is done in late april and I would like to move and take the nclex in arizona and work as a GN until I do that whole testing thing. Thanks again.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2009

Mm..mm...you haven't lived until you've tried to walk across an asphalt parking lot in Yuma in July. It'll officially be 112 degrees... but much worse on the blacktop. Touch the door handle to your car without cloth over your hand and you'll leave a burn mark on your palm and fingers. Run to the door of the building you are going to and you'll see the door handle is covered, so you don't burn your hand. Yuma in the summer time just becomes a game of getting from your building to your car and back.

I was visiting relatives there one summer when it hit something like 119. My legs were noodles every time we went outside to get to the car.

All that said, everything I hear about the hospital is good. I'd feel grateful to get a new grad job there. But the summers - !!! It's got to be one of the hottest places in the entire US, if not the hottest.

dreamer81 · Mar 13, 2009

Haha! Yes, I must say of all the years I have lived in Yuma (almost my entire life) it has got to be the hottest place on earth! well, at least the U.S. Anyways, I never had to cover my door handles or anything but it is very hot during the summer! June, July and August are the hottest. I have kids and anytime we want to go anywhere in the summer I make sure to start my car first, put the a.c. on high, and bring frozen bottled waters. We shop at night and only go other places during the evening. The hottest part only lasts a few months, then its not so bad. But you'll be in a nicely frozen hospital all day, or night and sleeping during the day, so it won't really matter. I am currently in Mesa and a couple months ago went to open my front door but pushing it with my arm and was burned by my door! ouch! I think people exaggerate when they talk about Yuma. If Yuma was the size of Phoenix, I doubt you would hear so many complaints. I mean obviously if you have a piece of metal in the sun, you're not gonna touch. But that's anywhere, not just Yuma. But Yes, Yuma does have dry heat and very much of it. (can you tell how much i love my hometown.) I'm not trying to sound defensive, just letting you know what it's like so you or someone else doesn't miss out on a great opportunity to start your career. Well good luck to all! :typing

breskin2 · Apr 4, 2009

I have just recently moved to Yuma for nursing school. So far what I have noticed about YRMC is that it is a big hospital and for the most part pretty new. It is also expanding a lot still. It has a lot of new equipment and I hear from my instructors that it is a good place to work at, with a lot of maneuverability for changing departments. They do require you to work 6 months in a department before you can move though. The hospital pays well and I understand there to be room for movement. Also housing is very cheap.

Yuma is a decent size city at about 120,000 people and that number at least doubles in the winter when snowbirds arrive. This is a great place to move if you have a family or are married. It is a horrible place to be single though. This is because there are not many singles in the first place and there is not much for places to meet other singles. Also you have to compete with a lot of marines if you go to the bars due to the local marine base.

doro8144 · May 14, 2012

You said MARINES????!!! I will be there!:w00t: