Salt Lake City Area Hospital Overview

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Background: I'm currently located in MT, graduating in May '15. Very interested in SLC as a place to live (skiing & rock climbing are my main passions). I just drove through the other day and there appeared to be an overwhelming amount of hospitals visible from the interstate!

Can anyone give a run-down of the hospitals in the area? Interested in any and everything between Bountiful and Provo. My experience and interests lie in ED, ICU, CV. General comments on nursing in UT vs. MT (or elsewhere)? Anecdotally I've heard things like the job market is really tough for new grads, wages tend to be lower, cost of living is high...

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It's awesome that you are considering Utah. Great place to live. Slightly warmer than Montana ;)

There are about 10 different hospitals within the Salt Lake Valley.

The most well known are University of Utah, and Intermountain Medical Center.

Both are highly regarded and often have multiple job positions open.

They are the largest in the state, hovering just below 500 beds each.

We also have a handful of moderate sized hospitals in the county.

Salt Lake Regional (Iasis healthcare)

Do not recommend this facility.

Riverton and Alta View hospitals in the southern part of the valley. Both rock.

Jordan Valley Medical Center, it's ok.

Pioneer Valley Hospital - decent

Those two are both Iasis as well.

The 3rd largest hospital in the valley is St Marks Hospital. It is a nice place. Mountain Star facility.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is located near the U of U hospital, and is world renowned.

Lone Peak hospital is a brand spanking new Mountain Star hospital in Draper. It has less than 50 beds.

And lastly, Primary Children's Hospital. That place is absolutely golden and top notch. 300 beds.

I work at 3 of the above facilities mentioned. If you want additional details please let me know.

As far as Provo area-

Timpanogos Hospital (small/mod hospital) very good reviews.

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (Intermountain facility) largest in county @ 395 beds.

I think Provo area might have one or two more but I am unfamiliar with them. They are building a brand new hospital in Lehi that should be completed around June of 2015. It is Iasis Healthcare. That would work out nicely with the timing for when you graduate.

Bountiful- only hospital I know of is Lake View. It is not a good hospital.

The cost of living in this state is quite low. Don't sweat that. New grad jobs have become more plentiful recently. I doubt you'll experience difficulty and if you do PM me and I'll put it a word on my units.

I should mention Utah is an ASN friendly state.

I would think wages here are less than MT expectations. $22/hr start in the hospitals here, and $25 ish for LTC type. The hospitals here do at times take new grads into the ICUs and ERs. You just have to know where and when to look, and I can provide that for you if needed.

I hope this was helpful to you. I'm happy to provide any more additional insight you may need.

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Thanks ICUman! That's a great overview of what's available. I would love to hear whatever else you want to share about your specific situation (especially since you're in the arena I'm looking to get in to). Feel free to post here or share with me directly (is there a way to do that on this site?).

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Sure, that would be fine.

I sent you a PM but I'm not sure you can reply because you've got to have 15 posts before we can PM. You have 11!

Hurry and post some more or just let me know your questions here.

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You work at 3 facilities? That has to be brutal? How many hours are you averaging a week?

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Thanks ICUMan for all the info! I had been looking into Utah myself when I graduate, but had heard that jobs were few and far between for new grads. Do they hospitals have a decent offset for nights/weekends?

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Do they hospitals have a decent offset for nights/weekends?

You should! Utah is basically, the best ever.

By offset, do you mean wage differential? I'm afraid not, weekends/night shift diff is dismal. But, that is reality state wide. It is a common saying locally, that we are paid here in utah by qualify of life, and not so famous for RN wages. But I do know of one place that will hire new grads at $35 an hour. It is comparable to an LTACH.

Heatherisbetter, I work only 24 hours a week. I graduate nursing school next year and I work in 3 critical care units so that I can solidify a new grad offer! Which I've accomplished.

Are you local?

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Wow! That's awesome! I am local and have a year and a half to go... I like that idea working as a student nurse. I worked as a research student at PCMC and loved it! Congrats on almost being done! Which program?

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PM me and we can chat details!

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How do you pm? You'd think it would be easier to find

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You should! Utah is basically, the best ever.

By offset, do you mean wage differential? I'm afraid not, weekends/night shift diff is dismal. But, that is reality state wide. It is a common saying locally, that we are paid here in utah by qualify of life, and not so famous for RN wages. But I do know of one place that will hire new grads at $35 an hour. It is comparable to an LTACH.

Good to know! Thanks again for the info! Do you know if any of the hospitals have loan repayment programs or something similar to help with student debt? I'd be completely happy with UT wages if I didn't have to worry as much about loans, but unfortunately they are a reality these days.

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Do you know if any of the hospitals have loan repayment programs or something similar to help with student debt?.

Yes. Pioneer Valley Hospital, in West Valley (western SLC) is the only hospital in this area that provides that opportunity. From what I've been told by someone who got their loans waived for service. I would call their HR to find out more.

As far as loans go…I am travel nursing to take care of that. Think about it!

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