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by miko626

Hi everyone! I was wondering if you all can help....

I'm actually in a graduate program in California. I will be able to sit for the NCLEX this December 2007 for my RN. I am visiting Tucson, AZ this weekend and have scheduled tours for both TMC and St. Joseph's. I'm thinking about Med/Surg, L & D, or Mother/Baby. Still debating if I should relocate or not....

Questions:
What are the nurse to patient ratios in AZ?
How do you like it at your hospital TMC or St. Joseph's?
Is charting PC or all handwritten?
Benefits or Perks that were attractive??
Average salary for new grad RNs in Tucson?
Pros and Cons?

p.s. know of any nice luxury apts around in Tucson??

thanks,
miko

[cardiacRN2006]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

What are the nurse to patient ratios in AZ?

This is different at every hospital. They are 4:1 at UMC, and usually 5:1 everywhere else, but I've seen 7:1 at TMC


How do you like it at your hospital TMC or St. Joseph's?
Is charting PC or all handwritten?

TMC charts on these huge computers that you have to push around in the rooms. Very cumbersome. I was at St joes 2 years ago and it was paper charting.

Benefits or Perks that were attractive??

TMC's night shift differential is 17%, SJH pays for a BSN that's completely online...


Average salary for new grad RNs in Tucson?

It used to be $24/hr, but I'm sure that has gone up some.

Pros and Cons?

TMC is awful unless you work on these floors, ER,or L&D. I'm sure cath lab and special procedures are ok.



Why limit yourself to just these two hospitals? You can swing by any of them on your visit. Welcome to Tucson this weekend!

[miko626]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Thanks CardiacRN2006!! Yeah, In CA the ratio depends on what unit you are in...med/surg is usually 1:5 ...I know it's different in every hosptial...I just wanted to know some numbers before I tour and meet with the recruiters.

Aren't those the 2 main hospitals in the area? Or know of any other good sites for work?

thanks in advice

[cardiacRN2006]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

St Joes is part of the Carondelet system, which has 3 hospitals here in town: St joes, St Mary's and Tucson Heart.

UMC is probably the biggest and best hospital in town. They are our only level one trauma center.

And there are some others here and there. (Northwest, VA, Kino)


I guess you are looking to live on the east side? Even living on the east side, you can work at sompleace than these two hospitals.


But if the chocies are narrowed to just SJH and TMC, then it would be st joes all the way.

When you are at TMC, ask to see their med-surg floors, 750's and 850s are their names. Take a look at the nurse's faces.

BUT, I worked L&D at TMC and loved it.



Just take a look at UMC. They have PCTs that can actually do a lot of work, instead of waiting for someone to come do it, like phlebotomy, plus they can do foleys and dressing changes. They have the ratios, and they are a teaching hospital.

[Calzonan RN]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Originally Posted by cardiacRN2006

St Joes is part of the Carondelet system, which has 3 hospitals here in town: St joes, St Mary's and Tucson Heart.

I thought St. Joes was part of the Catholic Healthcare West system which includes Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert. Either way, it's a great hospital to work at. I haven't started yet (I start externing in May), but I've got friends that work there and they LOVE it.

There are so many hospitals here in the Phx area, you can really pick and choose where you want to work for the most part. Banner has a number of hospitals in the valley and will be opening a new one in Sept in Gilbert/Mesa.

There have been a number of posts on this board about which hospital to work at, if you do a search I'm sure you could find one. Those posts usually have a lot of information in them.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a 'fit' somewhere.

[cardiacRN2006]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Originally Posted by Calzonan

I thought St. Joes was part of the Catholic Healthcare West system which includes Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert.

No,we are talking about hospitals in Tucson...

[Calzonan RN]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Oooohhhh, okay , I hadn't realized there was a St. Joes down in Tucson too. My bad.

[Nemhain]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

St. Joseph's for Med/Surg. TMC for L&D and Mother/Baby. I would suggest UMC for Med/Surg, but there have been so many budget cuts that when a PCT leaves/quits the unit, the floor doesn't get a replacement. My friends sister works at UMC and she came from St. Joes and she's sorry she left. At St. Joes you have CNAs that answer call bells and the charting isn't as bad as UMC's. I hear they've packed on so much charting that it has taken the nurses away from the patients.

[miko626]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Originally Posted by cardiacRN2006

Average salary for new grad RNs in Tucson?

It used to be $24/hr, but I'm sure that has gone up some.

It's so sad.... start for New Grad currently is $22.50 day shift

[miko626]

Re: HELP!!! TMC vs. St. Joseph's Hospital ???

Originally Posted by Nemhain

St. Joseph's for Med/Surg. TMC for L&D and Mother/Baby. I would suggest UMC for Med/Surg, but there have been so many budget cuts that when a PCT leaves/quits the unit, the floor doesn't get a replacement. My friends sister works at UMC and she came from St. Joes and she's sorry she left. At St. Joes you have CNAs that answer call bells and the charting isn't as bad as UMC's. I hear they've packed on so much charting that it has taken the nurses away from the patients.

Thanks for the tip. I think I will check out UMC in August. Tucson was great and weather was wonderful as usual. I didn't like how TMC looked/set up. Though they have better benefits than St. Joe's, I think I'd be happier at St. Joe's in one of their med/surg floors.