So Cal new grad wanting to move to Phoenix area

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Not too many hospitals in the valley are hiring nurses right now, especially new grads. But the fact that you're willing to work in any area, is a huge advantage for you. Even with the hiring freezes, I would think med/surg nurses are still in great demand. It's just a matter of finding a hospital that will hire a new grad during these touch economical times.

I would focus on the major, big hospitals. Any certain area of the valley that you want to move to?

nursgirl · Apr 19, 2009

I would love to live in the Phoenix/ Glendale area... and am willing to commute to work if needed. I figure that if I can live close to family/friends then it would be worth driving an hour to work! It's good to hear that there is at least a possibility of some jobs.. especially if I am willing to work in any field. My least fav rotation was psych but I would take a job in psych if it meant I could live where I want to! LOL! Honestly I think I would be most comfortable taking a med/surg job simply for the experience... from what I can tell so far the goal for us as new grads is to get some experience behind us... we have been learning so much my head feels like it's gonna pop, but I hear after we graduate and start working is when the REAL learning begins!

I don't graduate until December and then I figure I need a couple months to take boards and get licensed and move... would need to have a job lined up before moving though, maybe around February or March. I live in southern CA and if I have to I will stay put but I have never liked living here... besides the high cost of living it just isn't a fit to me. I have spent time in AZ and loved it... feels like going home everytime I've been there. Also, I am looking for a hospital to build a career in... not saying I would guarantee to spend my entire career there, but I definately would like to find a work environment to call "home".

Thanks for the response! I will start doing some research now on the hospitals around the area and make some visits over the next 6-9 months to meet nurse managers!!!! Any recommendations on facilities in the area would be great!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Maricopa Medical Center are a couple of big/busy hospitals that usually hire new grads in the central Phx area. I'd also suggest Banner Good Sam, but not sure what Banner is doing with hiring as of right now.

You sound extremely motivated .... that's great! Also, who knows what the economy/hiring situation will be like by the time you graduate. But I commend you for taking initiative into lining up a job in the location you want this early. Good luck to you, I wish you all the best!

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2009

You can do a search online for Banner jobs through their website http://www.bannerhealth.com

Thunderbird is on the North end of Phoenix.

Bug Out, BSN · Apr 22, 2009

Finding new grad jobs is nearly impossible. My wife and I are new grads, willing to work any floor and we have been searching for over a month now.

We literally took the entire State's list of every single hospital and went down the list and applied to ALL of them. 100's of applications each of us. We have been recieving "Thank you but no thank you" letters almost as fast as we can apply.

Don't try Idaho, Colorado, Utah, or Oregon. Tried all those too. :crying2:

We have decided to go state by state by state and apply in mass. There has to be 1 hospital or retirement home in the United States willing to hire lol.

Remember, if you have a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting a job then make sure you put out 1,001 applications.

Kabin · Apr 22, 2009

Finding new grad jobs is nearly impossible. My wife and I are new grads, willing to work any floor and we have been searching for over a month now.
We literally took the entire State's list of every single hospital and went down the list and applied to ALL of them. 100's of applications each of us. We have been recieving "Thank you but no thank you" letters almost as fast as we can apply.
Don't try Idaho, Colorado, Utah, or Oregon. Tried all those too.
We have decided to go state by state by state and apply in mass. There has to be 1 hospital or retirement home in the United States willing to hire lol.
Remember, if you have a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting a job then make sure you put out 1,001 applications.

Unfortunately, even the 1001th application has a 1 in 1000 chance of success. I know what you're saying though. :)

nursgirl · May 2, 2009

I've been trying to sort it out by reading BON websites and googling... can anyone tell me the best way to apply for licensure in AZ as a new CA grad? I am going to get my license in CA also because while I want to move to AZ I also know the job market everywhere is tight, thinking it's best to be open to applying in both states just in case... wondering if I take NCLEX here in CA will it transfer out there? I get the impression the NCLEX-RN is the same everywhere...? I would like to apply for both states at the same time when I am graduating but not too sure how to go about this... any input would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!! I had thought to call AZ BON but hadn't yet because my experience with CA BON is that you call, you leave a message, they NEVER call you back hahaha

p.s. I will also talk to my faculty again... but so far they don't seem to know much about AZ BON...