[JMP]

Freedomrings-

I read your post with great interest. My husband and I are thinking ( very seriously) of moving to AZ and I guess we have been quite focused on flagstaff but reading your posts regarding seasonal work in Tucson and the great housing benefits and hourly wage makes me think twice about flag-
When you are seasonal in Tucson- how long of a commitment is it? Four months and then what? Can you then extend?

I have alot of paperwork to do, and the NCLEX since I am Canadian. But I have three years ICU, CRNN, PALS, TNCC, ALCS and my BSN will be done in a few months.

I am over 40 so I have the good old "life expereince" and now DH and I are wanting more life experience, but need to consider all options....if your seasonal, what about benefits? For example health insurance?
Thanks for any info
JMP

[freedomrings]

Hi!
You have great credentials and could get a job anywhere here in Tucson. I was offered a job the same day I applied. The seasonal positions @ UMC run for 3, 6 or 9 months. I'm not sure about how seasonal extensions work, but have met an ICU nurse from New Zealand who has been here for 4 yrs. She works 9 mos, then takes a 3 month vacation. With your background and experience I wouldn't think it a problem.
My package came w/ full health benefits, including dental and is a PPO plan. I am single and don't know the extra cost of adding a spouse, but would think it surely would be off-set by the housing stipend.
You can get lovely housing; I have a 2BR/2BA right in the Catalina Mt. Foothills for $850/month. Many of the travelers live out here and I've met several married couples, so there is social life.
Tucson has all you could ask for in "nature", which I love, or more cultural events (theater, opera, symphony,etc.).
The only "nasty" thing I can say about Tucson is that people drive like maniacs! So bring an old car! (ha ha)
As you can see, I'm very positive about UMC here in Tucson. My reason for moving on is that I'm a "mature" nurse w/grown children, so now it's my turn to travel!
If you'd like, I can have the Nurse Recruiter @ UMC send you the packet of info they gave me. Think about it; I'd still like that referral!!

[JMP]

I am interested. I do want however to finish my BSN before going and of course, being Canadian I have to do a ton of paperwork and write the NCLEX. I guess my thinking behind finishing the BSN is that it would give me more credentials and therefore ..... a better positon or money? Perhaps that is not true.
I am doing my BSN on-line so it is portable if I choose to go sooner rather than later ( I graduate in December)
What are the shift commitments like- 12 hours? Rotate D and N.
If it was straight Nights- I don't think I would go for it....but I know some places offer the rotation or offer Days.
I am 47 now and find straight nights too difficult.
I think the seasonal positions sound good- I looked at their website and the fact that they are the only Magnet hospital in AZ says alot......... so what abut seasonal positions in an ICU setting? Do you have to float- do they expect every other weekend?

I am going to talk it over with DH when he gets home tonight.

Any further INFO is appreicated freedomrings....
Thanks JMP in COLD Canada

[freedomrings]

Good Morning;

Most RN's I know have an ADN and make the same rate as BSN.
I had a BS in another area and went back to school when I was 33 for the ADN. I am 53 now, and most nurses my age have ADN. BSN is recommended for administrative or teaching positions. I have been a Nursing Director without a BSN, and did not like being in management, went back to bedside. If you are so close to finishing that's great, but your other credentials are so much more impressive!!! When traveling, hospitals are more interested in your experience and credentials, in my opinion.

As for shift commitments, nurses work 3 - 12 hr shifts. Some are straight days, some rotate, and currently there are 2 straight day positions in the SICU open. I worked overtime alot at St. Joe's but am relaxing now and enjoying my stay, working just the 36 hrs - still considered a FTE.

AZ is a "right to work" state, so all travelers are getting the same pay rate, except those who choose to work overtime. Unfortunately the BSN doesn't buy a higher rate of pay.
As for floating, I have been here since October and floated once, and that was to another ICU (pulmonary). The nurses there were very appreciative and treated me well, so I have no fear of being floated again. The general rule is travelers float first, but there are so many travelers to rotate through "floating" it doesn't happen often. UMC's ICU's seem to be full all the time,
so there are no cancellations. The seasonal positions are either 3,6 or 9 months.

The schedule comes out 1 month ahead;you can choose your shifts and usually get what you want. This works well if you want to go on a trip - I have occasionally scheduled my nights so that I have 7-8 nights off. My daughters and friends visit then and next month I'm going to the Grand Canyon. The married couples I've met are either both RN's and work the same schedule or if the spouse is not an RN, that person becomes "housekeep,cook,shop,laundry, etc." so that everything is done when the "working" spouse is off. These couples seem to really enjoy themselves and have alot of time to see the sights, or just relax together. I sometimes wish I had a companion, but am OK on my own. I have also met women RN's who travel together, work same schedule and share housework and fun times when off. Many travelers are men, so there is a good mix - they seem to like trouble-shooting all the mechanical gadgets in the ICU! UMC docs/nurses have a colleagial (sp?) relationship, at least in the ICU......so the propofol drips stay running (ha ha ha). I am rambling and probably should get to bed. Does "DH" stand for "da husband"? Just kidding. I know what you mean by COLD, I am from Wisconsin and have visited Canada, only an 8 hr drive from my home!

Have a great day!
Jan (freedomrings is a reference to being able to traveler now that children are grown)

[freedomrings]

quick response re; weekends. You do 4 weekend shifts a month and weekends are considered Friday, Saturday or Sunday and they DO NOT have to be consecutive days; i.e. a friday, next week a sunday, however you want to do it - there is no differential for weekends. I usually do a 3 day consecutive and then only need do one more shift for the month.

[JMP]

Hi Jan

Thanks for all the information. DH (dear husband) and I have been talking, hard to know which spot is the best for us. I am drawn to UMC, since I see it is a magnet hospital ( the only one in AZ) but on the other hand, Flagstaff is so much like home in weather and geography.... and Flag is about the same size of city as the place we are in now.
What I will do is compare- contact Nurse Recuriters in both and do a fair comparison.
Do you like Tucson? Feel safe? Is there a "good" side of town and a not "so good" side of town?
I really appreciate all the info. I really do.

JMP- snow and then later today..everyone's favoriate- freezing rain. :-(

[rjbaileyrn]

I did an RN travel assignment in the ER at UMC. I think it is a great place to work and am thinking of going back. Ratio in ER can be anywhere from 1:1 to 4:1, depending on what zone you are in. Normally 4:1, but if you get a critical pt you will stay with that pt as long as necessary, and other RN's willpick up the slack for you. I had NO complaint about the ER. Of course it's very busy pretty much non-stop, but very solid experience as far as I'm concerned.

RJ

Originally Posted by Kabin

Could you confirm about UMC's 4:1 nurse patient ratio? A friend working at UMC said they trimmed the ratio by reducing tech help so now RNs are doing more basic care nursing in addition to previous responsibilities.

[natawee]

hey
i am a nurse working at st marys hospital in tucson. i absolutly love it there. i was supposed to stay as a traveler for three month, that was a year and a half ago. there are several nurses who commute from sierra vista. its not a teaching hospital but i think the staff are awesome. i work on the MSO floor on nights. couldnt ask for a better group of co-workers

[natawee]

oh plus im canadian. what part of canada are you from