Las Cruces

mumpet5 · Oct 26, 2006

I am in Las Cruces, the weather is beautiful, I have lived here a year now, I don't know too much about Memorial working conditions. I do pediatric home health. I know one can drive to visit El Paso, I think there is alot see there....help me NM residents, I am considering leaving and moving back to California after having been away for 7 years.

mumpet5 · Oct 26, 2006

Oh, I forgot to mention, I lived in Maine as well, I see you are from Maine...I was in Augusta, and then Dover Foxcroft.....both cccccooold!!!! but beautiful

mexicano · Nov 24, 2006

i did my nurshing school in Mexico , last Jun I did the NCLEX I passed i have license of RN looking for job opportunities I have 5 years in experience, medical area Hospitals looking for sponsorship

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2006

Hi Just trying to gather information on las cruces and memorial medical center.. Is this a nice area of mexico to live visit etc.. also how is the hospital thinking of travel assignment to this area any help would be greatful
Thank you

Are you asking about New Mexico?

pretyjazz · Dec 20, 2006

Hey,

I'm applying to NMSU at Las Cruces for the accelerated BSN. I wanted to find out more about the weather and housing options. I currently live in California. Thanks

nurworld · Jan 3, 2007

Hello rngold,

I live in El Paso and have recently joined a new home health agency in Las Cruces. Don't know much of Memorial Hospital, but what i can tell you is that I enjoy the people, culture, and the many things to do around the area. I think you'll like NM in general...

Bluehair · Jan 3, 2007

I lived in southern New Mexico (the state where Las Cruces is, not the country south of the US) for a little over 5 years - here's what I know from the local medical grapevine. Las Cruces is about.... 45 min west of El Paso (depends on how fast you drive) and has 2 major hospitals there, Memorial and Mountainview. They seem to have a nursing shortage that shifts from one hospital to the other as each hospital changes what they will pay, benefits, etc. to 'outbid' the other one. Again, grapevine for the source, there was some staff that would shift from one place to the other playing the 2 hospitals against each other. Don't know much about Memorial other than it is the older of the 2. Mountainview is about 4 years old now I think, they do quite a bit in their ICU/CCU (open hearts, etc.). They just had some changes in management recently, new CEO, etc. so not sure what other changes have been going on there the last year. El Paso has several 'large' hospitals as well, Del Sol and Las Palmas being the 2 that come to mind, both of which also do open hearts and trauma.

Sorry the details are sketchy, but I have not been there the last 6 months myself. Hope this helps!!!

ps - FYI, residents of New Mexico are a bit touchy about the Mexico vs New Mexico thing. There are multiple stories about packages refused to be delivered because some company thought they were crossing the US border to send something to anywhere, New Mexico, etc. It sounds funny at first, but then you begin to wonder about people who don't know it is a state right next to Texas........

military spouse · Jan 6, 2007

I lived in southern New Mexico (the state where Las Cruces is, not the country south of the US) for a little over 5 years - here's what I know from the local medical grapevine. Las Cruces is about.... 45 min west of El Paso (depends on how fast you drive) and has 2 major hospitals there, Memorial and Mountainview. They seem to have a nursing shortage that shifts from one hospital to the other as each hospital changes what they will pay, benefits, etc. to 'outbid' the other one. Again, grapevine for the source, there was some staff that would shift from one place to the other playing the 2 hospitals against each other. Don't know much about Memorial other than it is the older of the 2. Mountainview is about 4 years old now I think, they do quite a bit in their ICU/CCU (open hearts, etc.). They just had some changes in management recently, new CEO, etc. so not sure what other changes have been going on there the last year. El Paso has several 'large' hospitals as well, Del Sol and Las Palmas being the 2 that come to mind, both of which also do open hearts and trauma.
Sorry the details are sketchy, but I have not been there the last 6 months myself. Hope this helps!!!
ps - FYI, residents of New Mexico are a bit touchy about the Mexico vs New Mexico thing. There are multiple stories about packages refused to be delivered because some company thought they were crossing the US border to send something to anywhere, New Mexico, etc. It sounds funny at first, but then you begin to wonder about people who don't know it is a state right next to Texas........

It is funny that you mention the Mexico/NEW Mexico thing. When I lived in El Paso, I had a coworker that lived in New Mexico, but always referred to it as "Mexico." It took me a long time to realize that she lived in the United States. I always thought it was very strange! :lol2:

AmandaBrittainy · Apr 23, 2007

I have worked at both hospitals recentlly. The morale at Mountain View is very low and most nurses that did leave MMC (Memorial) for Mountain View quickly went back. Mountain View has extremely poor retention and have only retained 3 management positions in the last 3 years (everyone else has changed several times). It is the same for the nurses. Most of the physicians have a very poor opinion of Mountain View as well. Many physicians and nurses agree that the more experienced and long term nursing staff is at Memorial. The pay rate and benefits are comparable to each other. They are less than 2 miles apart in are both located in convenient parts of town. Las Cruces is the 3rd largest city in NM but is not very large, there are many outdoor activies less than a days drive from LC if you are not satisfied with in town happenings.

RNnbakes · Sep 3, 2009

I have worked at both hospitals recentlly. The morale at Mountain View is very low and most nurses that did leave MMC (Memorial) for Mountain View quickly went back. Mountain View has extremely poor retention and have only retained 3 management positions in the last 3 years (everyone else has changed several times). It is the same for the nurses. Most of the physicians have a very poor opinion of Mountain View as well. Many physicians and nurses agree that the more experienced and long term nursing staff is at Memorial. The pay rate and benefits are comparable to each other. They are less than 2 miles apart in are both located in convenient parts of town. Las Cruces is the 3rd largest city in NM but is not very large, there are many outdoor activies less than a days drive from LC if you are not satisfied with in town happenings.

Just got a call from memorial, am considering moving there.

any new info, updates on working conditions?

lhasa1956 · Oct 21, 2009

I have worked at both also, but not at Mt View for a while. It is necessary to have both hospitals in this town because if there were only one, it would probably be slammed. Either one would be fine to work with, but I do agree about the too-frequent mgt changes at the View. Expect some of the same border issues that plague Texas. I think nurses at both places will be friendly to a newbie. You can probably get some good deals on housing. Good luck!!