Nursing Jobs in Arizona Grow Along with Nation

Nursing jobs in Arizona and across the country are continuing to grow.

A recent report from American Traveler found that nursing jobs - including registered nursing and travel nursing positions - have increased by 56 percent over the last year. This is great news for anyone wondering what RN jobs Phoenix has to offer.

The majority of that growth is due to larger employers that are recovering from the recession and beginning to hire again, as well as an influx of ambulatory outpatient care centers that have opened throughout the nation.

"It looks like healthcare is back in business," Deborah Bacurin, RN, clinical resource manager for American Traveler, said in a statement. "The demand for ambulatory nurse jobs has skyrocketed and almost half of all jobs created in September went to healthcare."

Here are some key findings of the report:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that hospital job growth during the first nine months of 2011 was four times that of 2010.
• Of all the jobs created during September, 42 percent were healthcare related.
• The number of ambulatory healthcare jobs doubled last month.
• About 344,000 new healthcare jobs should be created by the end of the year, more than in manufacturing and construction.

"It's a really good time for nurses to consider a career in travel nursing, and for some to look beyond the hospital," Mary Kay Hull, vice president of recruitment for American Traveler, said. "New business models have pervaded healthcare. These include not only ambulatory care centers, but skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery clinics and various types of physician practices subject to a seasonal census.

"The nurse jobs are out there," she continued. "They pay good and come with great benefits. On the other hand, healthcare employers are looking for the 'cream of the crop.' They've raised performance standards for nurses and are keeping better track of where and how they spend labor dollars."

Nursing Jobs in Arizona: Top Nursing Homes

There are plenty of nursing jobs in Arizona at some of the state's top nursing homes.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report released its list of the top nursing homes in the nation. A total of 27 nursing homes throughout Arizona were considered to be among the best in the nation, receiving top ratings in a number of fields.

All of the homes included on the list received five starts - the highest available rating - from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Each nursing home's overall rating is based on its performance in health inspections, nurse staffing, and medical care.

The nursing homes in Arizona included on the list are:

1. Vi at Grayhawk (Scottsdale)
2. Christian Care Nursing Center (Phoenix)
3. La Hacienda at La Posada (Green Valley)
4. Beatitudes Campus (Phoenix)
5. Copper Mountain Inn (Globe)
6. Good Samaritan Society-Peoria Good Shepherd (Peoria)
7. Good Samaritan Society-Prescott Valley (Prescott Valley)
8. Life Care Center of South Mountain (Phoenix)
9. Weyrich Healthcare of Westminster Village (Scottsdale)
10. Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale (Scottsdale)
11. Cook Health Care (Youngtown)
12. The Forum at Desert Harbor (Peoria)
13. Health Care Center-Forum Tucson (Tucson)
14. Maryland Gardens Care Center (Phoenix)
15. Northern Cochise Nursing Home (Willcox)
16. Park Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center (Tucson)
17. Scottsdale Nursing & Rehab Center (Scottsdale)
18. Glencroft Care Center (Glendale)
19. Hacienda Nursing Facility (Phoenix)
20. Life Care Center of North Glendale (Glendale)
21. Palm Valley Rehab & Care Center (Goodyear)
22. Mountain View Care Center (Tucson)
23. Phoenix Mountain Nursing Center (Phoenix)
24. Caremeridian-Phoenix (Phoenix)
25. Sierra Winds (Peoria)
26. Sonora at Splendido (Tucson)
27. The Health Care Center at Friendship Village (Tempe)

Nursing Jobs in Arizona See Top Yearly Growth

Anyone looking for nursing jobs in Arizona or other healthcare positions should have no trouble finding work, as the education and health services industry continues to outperform others. Check out http://azjobs.cancercenter.com to see some current openings.

During February, Arizona's unemployment rate remained at 9.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month, after dropping from 9.8 percent in November 2008. Unfortunately, that means the state's rate is higher than the national average, which sits at 8.9 percent.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona employed a total of 2,380,400 workers during February, which is up from 2,378,300 workers during January. However, it's the same number of employees the state had during February 2010, as only three industries added jobs over the year.

Not surprisingly, the education and health services industry continues to outrun any lingering effects of the economic downturn, increasing by 4.1 percent over the year to 354,600 jobs. That's the most growth experienced by any industry during the 12-month period.

Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry increased by 2 percent between February 2010 and February 2011, making for a total of 255,900 workers. Employment in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry grew by .8 percent to 472,900 jobs.

Every other industry - with the exception of mining and logging, which remained steady with 11,000 employees - continued to lose jobs throughout the last year. The construction industry saw the biggest drop, decreasing by 5.8 percent to 107,500 jobs.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• Other services by 3.6 percent to 85,800 jobs
• Financial activities by 1.5 percent to 161,700 jobs
• Professional and business services by 1.5 percent to 333,700 jobs
• Information by 1.4 percent to 36,100 jobs
• Government by 1.2 percent to 413,000 jobs
• Manufacturing by .1 percent to 148,200 jobs

On a month to month basis, five industries managed to add jobs during February, including: mining and logging; trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; education and health services; and government.