Arizona hospitals poised for growth, but face staff shortages; $$ for getting Masters

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Arizona hospitals are prepping for rapid expansions amid fears that they won't find enough doctors and nurses to staff their new facilities.

The Business Journal of Phoenix, Sept. 2, 2003

Angela Gonzales

Hospitals are prepping for rapid growth in outlying areas of the Valley but fear they won't find enough doctors and nurses to staff their new facilities.

"Our biggest challenge today is simply keeping up with the increasing demand and being prepared to stay even over the short term," said John Rivers, president and chief executive of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.

"Every hospital I talk to has either recently completed their plans or has plans under way to increase their capacity in either their existing facilities or in newer ones they have planned. I don't know of anyone who is just standing still."

It's a different world than it was 15 years ago when critics questioned whether hospitals were overbuilding.....

Staffing shortages

But the issue isn't a shortage of hospital beds, she said. It's a shortage of nurses.

"Staffed bed capacity is an issue facing all hospitals," Lyons said. "We're already looking at staffing needs for the proposed Thompson Peak hospital. Another issue is a shortage of physicians such as primary care, general surgeons and anesthesiologists. It's easy to build a hospital, but staffing is a challenge for everyone."....

http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/hospitals/2003/09/01/phoenix_story1.html

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Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association: 602-445-4300; www.azhha.org.

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http://www.azhha.org/public/workforce/salsburyScholarship.cfm

[k-eet10]

Our hospital was on a recruiting mission for physicians. They found them, but expect nurses to care for the sudden increase of patient admits with staff ration 1:7 to start max 1:8. One RN and one if lucky two aids and LPNs. Night shift charge nurse is counted in the staff mix and on top of her patients which is half a load gives all IV pushes, ect...

The financial part for the hospital looks great and has exceeded it expected return, but patient care issues is not in their agenda, except for the survey's which are evaluation is based on.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Am looking for a job but not in AZ. Don't like the nurse:patient ratio levels.

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

I always wanted to go to AZ, I am thinking of taking a travel assignment this comming summer when my daughter is out of school. So any AZ nurses, feel free to pm me and let me know good places to work.