Relocating to Phoenix

cami9273 · Nov 6, 2014

Hi everyone!
I'm currently an LPN in PA and looking to relocate to the Phoenix area to be closer to my family. I have over five years of experience in LTC and am debating a few options. I would like to finish my associate's degree and get my RN (and then finish my BSN online), but am not sure if it would be better to do that in PA or AZ.
1) What is the job climate and average wages for LPNs in Phoenix?
2) There are a ton of community colleges in AZ (we don't have those in my area) - are those good nursing schools?
3) Any other comments/opinions/insight would be appreciated!
I'm specifically looking for west valley, but to be honest I'd live anywhere just to get started out there.
Thank you!

Hello!! I am currently in the nursing program at the local community college and I live in the west valley. I love the school that I am at and the education I am getting. I can't speak about pay here in the valley for LPN's but I work for a local hospital and about three years ago they stopped hiring all LPN's, the ones that did work there had to be in a program to complete their degree. I know we had several on our floor that no longer work here. Hope this helps!!! Good luck on your move!

mrsboots87 · Nov 6, 2014

I also do not know about pay level for LPNs, but to add to the above posters comment about hospitals not hiring LPNs any more that is true. However, the LTCs and SNFs and homecare still do. Snce you have 5 years of experience, I imagine you should be able to find something. I know new grad nurses make between 26 to about 33 an hour, so LPNs probably make a few dollars less an hour. Im guessing somewhere around $20 an hour, but I truly am not positive about that. Just a guess. As far as schools, we have TONS. Your best bet is to stick with the non private schools. There are a couple goods ones probably, but there are also sooooo many bad ones and they are insanely expensive. I want to say that one wanted about $45000 just for an ADN. The MCCCCD community colleges in Phoenix metro run about $7000 for the whole program if you include books, health requirements, and supplies. The universities vary but they all run under $50000 for their entire program. Usually much less than that, but that is my highball. If you will be in the Tuscon area, I dont know it well, but there are also a couple community colleges and universities out that way as well. GL

mrsboots87 · Nov 6, 2014

Oh and as for the programs themself, they all have the same curriculum each semester, but each school runs its program a little different. I go to one and love it. The faculty are amazing so far and we get really good clinical placements. The only one I have heard negative things about was CGCC program, but that was years ago when they were a new program, so Im sure things have gotten better as they worked out the kinks. FOr universities, the best ones (in my opinion) are ASU, NAU, UofA, and GCU. There are a few others, but they are private and more expensive. My suggestion would be to apply for LPN - ADN program through the community colleges. You will enter at block 3 and only have 2 semesters. Then if your pre reqs for BSN are done, then you can do the MCCCD-ASU bridge program which pretty much guarantees admittance to ASUs RN-BSN as long as ou meet very low entrance requirements. I think a 2.5 GPA in their required courses. The Regualr GPA requirement is I think 3.25 and very competitive. SO this is a good way to save a little money on the nursing core classes, but still end up with a BSN in the end.

AZMOMO2 · Nov 6, 2014

$20-26 depending on shifts... some maybe lower than others depending on where you work. I worked LTC and Homehealth and the least I made was $24

I did the LPN-RN program through the Community College in Phoenix. Now i am working on my RN-MSN online and about to start an ER position.

PennStudent · Nov 7, 2014

Wow! Thanks everyone. I think the best bet for me, it sounds, is to go out there, stay in LTC or home health, and finish working on my degree. I was checking out some of the community colleges out there. But the time I leave PA, I will have all of my gen ed classes done and have spent over $12k on just those - and I attend an "inexpensive" state school!

I've been looking around the Glendale area cos that's what I'm familiar with, but I'll check everything out when I go for a visit in February.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your help!

Balder_LPN, LPN · Dec 3, 2014

I have not practiced for several years and have just recieved my LPN for school only license (thats what they call it) so I can attend the LPN refresher course at Gateway, immediately followed by the LPN-RN bridge program.

Does anyone know what ED Techs make in the area and how hard the jobs are to get? I have the qualifications for it and it I have done it before. It seems that would be a good flexible job for the first five months I am there.

Any tips from anyone on that?

dream'n, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2014

The job market here is still pretty dismal. Also, most hospitals will hire new grads only if they have a BSN and the competition is fierce. Skip the ASN as you may not get a job easily and go straight from your LPN to BSN

LPN Guy · Dec 7, 2014

I am an LPN working in a SNF in Phoenix. I decided to just skip the ADN stuff as nobody here is is hiring RNs with ADNs anyway. I am currently in the LPN to BSN program at University of Phoenix.

Red Kryptonite · Dec 7, 2014

When I checked UOP's website a few months ago it said they didn't currently offer that program in Arizona. I guess that's changed?

Red Kryptonite · Dec 8, 2014

Never mind, I went back and looked and it's offered on campus, just not online. I clicked the wrong field.

Balder_LPN, LPN · Dec 29, 2014

So are you guys saying no ADN jobs ANYWHERE? What about LTC, SNF, urgent care, etc etc?

Any way the CC are so cheap and the progression looks so smooth I don't see any advantage spending the extra money to go straight to UA after finish the LPN refresher. It costs more and doesnt deliver my BSN any faster than if I finish my ADN and then do the RN-BSN bridge