Flagstaff Nurses; feedback please

[catlover314]

Looking to relocate to Flagstaff. I understand the expensive cost of living, but I am mostly interested in feedback about the places you work. Am considering the local hospital, but also hospices, public school system, county health, Gore, etc. Any + or - information would be greatly appreciated. My background includes NICU, Case Management, Infection Control, Employee Health, Education, Safety, and Ancillary Services Management. Needless to say, I am no spring chicken Thanks in advance!

[RNGrad2006]

Hi, I can offer some current info, but keep in mind that I am in nursing school currently and work as an ED Tech and PCT. As of July 1, 2007 they raised salary of nurses to try to start competing with the valley. ED is now a Level I Trauma Center. We have a PICU, NICU, CVICU, cath lab tele and most procedures are offered up here rarely requiring being flown out to the Valley. We do have limited neuro docs and are really in need of a MICU/SICU. New grad salary is $24.80/ hour. I have a friend in the float pool that is an RN with 8 years experience and her wage is $38../hr without shift diff., granted that is for med/surg floors. Another friend of mine who is 1 year post school and just finished her new grad year - med/surg w/o diffs she is making $27.86. Most nurses I speak with enjoy being here if you can deal with the high cost of living. ny factors to look at are whether you have children or not. Day care is very high here (word of mouth, no kids personally) and is difficult to find considering there are limited providers for nights/weekends. Hope this helps you out!

~Erica

Wow that's pretty good. I work at St Joes and the starting new grad salary is only about 23.75 per hour. I have been an RN for 2 years now and am at $25 per hour. Thankfully though I am on a weekend program so get time and a half. It is a GREAT place to work but amongst the lowest in the Phoenix area for sure. But the experiences you get is pretty amazing. It depends what you are looking for. Hopefully pay is not the only consideration.