Moving to Tucson again

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 5, 2005

Hi, all.... I am a recent (2005) RN-BSN, that will be moving back home to good old sunny Tucson AZ. I currently work in a small low acuity ICU in the Midwest.
I have a nontraditional history in that I am male, have 2 degrees including my RN, and like many others have mixed experiences in healthcare including EMT-B, Fire-Fighter II, Orderly ect.
I have worked at TMC in the past and loved it but that was over 8 years ago. I was hopping there were a few ER nurses that could tell me about the current state of affairs in Tucson. I.E. Best place to work, expected salary, benefits, and anything else you care to add. Thanks see you soon

Hello and Welcome to Allnurses.com

Great to have you. Sounds like you have much experience.

I can move your thread to the Arizona forum for better response if you like....

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2005

I am a native Tucsonan. I was recently treated at NW Hospital ER. They place was nice and clean, fairly new. The ER staff seemed happy- joking around and friendly. The ER doc was a really nice guy, I was seen fast, and properly treated. An all around great experience.

You probably know, UMC gets all the mega-traumas. They had 6 helicopters coming in w/ major traumas when I was there earlier this year.

analee23 · Oct 8, 2005

I am a recent graduate as well, but I did most of my rotations at Northwest Medical Center... They have a cardiac ICU along with a medical ICU as well. The ER is not huge, but the staff is very nice and I had a good experience doing my rotation there. The cardiac ICU was NOT a very good experience, I was left to care for a patient as a student with little help from my preceptor as she joked with staff... if I had a question, she got a little upset with me and would snap at me. I'm not sure about pay as my rotations there were as a student, but I hope this is a bit helpful at least!

Also, did a rotation at the pulmonary ICU at UMC... nice staff, good environment... but, I only spent a few days there, so I'm not exactly sure.... the one thing to remember about UMC is if you end up floating anywhere, you'll probably need to learn a new computer system as most of the floors use different systems.

best of luck on your job-hunting!

PhoenixGirl · Oct 8, 2005

For questions about pay, check salary.com

military spouse · Oct 10, 2005

UMC has staffing ratios:)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 10, 2005

Welcome aboard!

Kabin · Oct 10, 2005

UMC has staffing ratios:)

What are they today? Last I heard they lowered the ratio, but reduced the # of LPNs and NAs at the same time.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Oct 11, 2005

What are they today? Last I heard they lowered the ratio, but reduced the # of LPNs and NAs at the same time.

UMC has techs. Last time I worked there, they had gotten rid of the LPNs. UMC is one of the few hospitals in town that still allow their techs to draw blood, do sterile procedures, etc...

Their ratios are 4:1

military spouse · Oct 11, 2005

I work in Sierra Vista and called a floor at UMC to give report and I could hear one of the nurses yelling about how she already had her four. I have a co-worker who worked there and she said the ratios depend upon the unit, but never exceed 1:4.

That would be reason enough for me to go!

analee23 · Oct 11, 2005

The ratios at UMC only apply to Medical Surgical patients. Other units do not have staffing rations (post partum is one I can think of). SO, you can get more than 4 patients, but usually they follow their own rule and only give you 4.

I know that NWMC sticks to 1:5 for sure (worked there for a bit one summer in the med/onc unit) and I'm not sure about TMC.

Hope that helps!

Analee

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Oct 11, 2005

I also heard that new employees at UMC have to rotate days/nights (Maybe just in the ICUs?). If that weren't the case then I'd go back there and work as a RN. But I can't be rotating shifts!