Good Hospitals for New Grads in Tucson

suzanne4, RN · Jun 14, 2005

My favorites are Tucson Medical Center and University Hospital. Excellent orientation programs for new grads.

Nemhain · Jun 14, 2005

My favorites are Tucson Medical Center and University Hospital. Excellent orientation programs for new grads.

Hi Suzanne. Are there any specific areas that are especially good like the ED, ICU or L&D? ...or are they just good all around?

Thanks!

Tanker · Jun 18, 2005

Hi Everybody!
I was wondering if anybody can tell me the names of a few hospitals in Tucson that are REALLY good for New Graduates in Med/Surg to start in ...I'm thinking orientation, training, reception by staff and pay.
...and maybe lists a few that aren't New Graduate friendly.
thanks!

I just started with St Joe's. They are very NG friendly. Their orientation is very comprehensive. I will be in the ED and it is 5 months long. Do training with the ICU folks as well. The orinetation is what swayed me to go with them vs some of the other hospitals.

I think the only "NG non-friendly" hospital is Northwest Oro Valley as they just opened and weren't taking NGs.

Nemhain · Jun 18, 2005

Thanks Tanker! St. Joe's is another one that I'm interested in!

Does St. Joe's also have a good sign on bonus and pay for NGs?

:)

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jun 21, 2005

I just started with St Joe's. They are very NG friendly. Their orientation is very comprehensive. I will be in the ED and it is 5 months long. Do training with the ICU folks as well. The orinetation is what swayed me to go with them vs some of the other hospitals.
I think the only "NG non-friendly" hospital is Northwest Oro Valley as they just opened and weren't taking NGs.

Tucson Heart also does not take new grads. They don't even have a preceptor program, so when new staff goes there (experienced nurses), they just get paired up with someone for a few days and then are set free. As far as Med-Surg goes, I think you should stay with TMC/UMC. You will get the best experience. Of course, the folks at St Mary's love where they work, too!

rica75 · Jul 2, 2005

just try to stay out of kino! they are all homeless, illegals, beyond poor, ect. not to sound discriminatory, they need help too, but it is on the far south side of town where it is very poverty stricken, and i've heard it is really hard to work there.

Kabin · Jul 2, 2005

Kino is the county hospital down there. Yep, alot of homeless. There not hard to miss as some are employed by the Tucson newpaper company to sell newspaper at busy Tucson street intersections. I don't believe I've ever seen that anywhere else in the states.

redwinggirlie · Jul 6, 2005

just try to stay out of kino! they are all homeless, illegals, beyond poor, ect. not to sound discriminatory, they need help too, but it is on the far south side of town where it is very poverty stricken, and i've heard it is really hard to work there.

So we should only work at hospitals with rich people? Sorry, had to say that. Your comment struck a nerve. I do not work at Kino, which is now affiliated with the University of Arizona, but I do work at St. Mary's and we see many of the same people. They all need good, skilled care.

To answer your question, St. Mary's has great programs for new grads and it's a good place to work. Lots of opportunity.

Be well.

Please don't flame me for the other comment..... it just sounds so unlike what nurses are all about.

Kabin · Jul 6, 2005

I didn't realize UPI took over the reigns at Kino.

There are a few things one might be interested to know before working there. According to an online 2003 Tucson Weekly article stated Kino has been chronically mismanaged. And Kino sees mostly psychiatric patients (100 of 158 beds). Also, people from the surrounding neigborhoods go to other hospitals. And lastly, Kino is chronically underfunded.

On the otherhand, I know at least one psychiatrists that works there and is paid well.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/currents/Content?oid=oid:46750

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 6, 2005

So we should only work at hospitals with rich people? Sorry, had to say that. Your comment struck a nerve. I do not work at Kino, which is now affiliated with the University of Arizona, but I do work at St. Mary's and we see many of the same people. They all need good, skilled care.
To answer your question, St. Mary's has great programs for new grads and it's a good place to work. Lots of opportunity.
Be well.
Please don't flame me for the other comment..... it just sounds so unlike what nurses are all about.

Yeah, I thought the same thing, the last thing I think about when I am treating a patient is how much money they make. These are the people who need the health care the most.

Kino is being run by UPH now. Maybe you should look at their website-the job postings there don't look like it is still a psych based hospital. BTW, how many people who dislike Kino have actually worked there since it has reopened?

Kabin · Jul 6, 2005

It's good to hear current info cardiacRN2006.