registered nurse

patient care technician

medical laboratory technician

manager

psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner

Tucson Medical Center

I have worked for Tucson Medical center for about 4 and 1/2 years. I was a full time employee for 3.5 years out of my stay at this company. Benefits were nice. Received 1 raise in that 3.5 years. My base pay at this time was $12.35 an hour. The raise was about $0.10. 

After the initial 3.5 years I then switched to a per diem position due to school. When going per diem, you lose your benefits of course. They will increase your pay to $15.00 per hour to compensate. Being per diem, you were usually always “on call” during your scheduled shift, while waiting for a call you were paid $3.00 an hour and they may call you in at 3 AM, or even 10 minutes after your shift started, if they need you. If called in we received “call back pay”, which means we were paid more for having to be called in. Which I, and many others, thought was fair because we were not able to do anything we literally had to sit and wait by the phone for a call in all 12 hours of our shift. Mind you, this was for all employees (FT, PT, and Per Diem) if they were placed “on call”. The employee would receive $3.00 an hour until IF and WHEN called in.

But, after about 6 months of being Per Diem new pay practices Came out. Per diem were now not going to receive “call back” pay, just FT and PT employees. This sparked a lot of problems for a lot of Per diem employees. After years of providing “call back” pay, they then take it away from us. Being per diem, your always the first one to be floated to different areas of the hospital and always the first to be put on call. It seemed really unfair to let FT and PT people have the luxury of continuing  to receive “Call back” pay because you are also providing them benefits. So it seems as if the keep giving and giving to their FT and PT employees when most of us Per Diems still work a full schedule (3+ days a week). 

When FT and PT employees pick up an extra shift, they receive time and a half for the WHOLE shift. This was also a luxury stripped from us per diems. When the new policy came out, we would only receive overtime for over 40 hours. This was a bi difference for us Per diems that usually worked more than 3 shifts a week. 

I was a Patient Care Technician (fancy for CNA) with TMC. My whole time working with this company, EVERYTHING was centered around the RN’s. RN’s received several raises while I worked there. And I only know through talk from others. PCT’s were often left out of most raises. RN’s on night shift also had the luxury of having a “night shift credit”. So, what this does is lets them choose an extra perk just for being RN’s on night shift. There were many options, an extra day of PTO, Student loan payments, extra payments towards benefits, etc. PCT’s did not have this option. We had no extra benefits for working nights. Even though, sadly we did everything for the nurses. Majority of RN’s sat on their cell phones at the nurses station, or slept, while call lights were going off. It was IMPLIED that it was the PCTs job to answer call lights as well as do their vitals every 4 hours, turn patients every 2 hours, restock rooms, do cleaning assignments, and prep for new admissions. Really, the only thing RN’s did were dressing changes and passed meds. 

We celebrated nurses week and hospital week every year. But when CNA week came there was no mention of anything. This company obviously values their RN’s and Charge Nurses. We were glorified housekeepers sadly. 

They aim to keep the customers (patients) happy and forget (or just don’t care) about frontline Staff. We would have to take physical and verbal abuse and could not refuse service because we would lose money. This is morally wrong.

After searching around, I saw that Nursing homes and Rehab facility’s were paying more (Starting pay was $16-$18 an hour) than what I was making at TMC after 4 1/2 years of being there, I finally decided It was enough and prefer to seek employment elsewhere where I at least feel somewhat appreciated. 

My personal unit manager, at my time of resignation, was amazing. I commend her a lot for trying to keep our unit a float. With corrupt higher ups, pushing down orders, not caring about their front line workers, and have no Idea what is happening on the floor, it is hard to keep everyone happy when trying to obey these new (and always changing) policies. She, herself, was great and I am thankful for her.

Unethical standards of working/patient care. It was required to do patient's with head lice in our sleep lab; After the one room would be quarantined for a few days then bring another patient back in there. The bathrooms are outside of the patient's rooms and there is carpet. The patient walks out of room dropping lice on the carpeted floor putting both patient's and techs at risk. They say they take pride in doing all the patient's that others will not do, boy that's the truth I wouldn't call it pride; In most cases, I would call it stupidity. Shouldn't patient/tech safety be #1 before the almighty $$$. This facility has a revolving door. In this dept the average employee stay is 1-2 yrs with a few no call no shows, it's on record! you would think upper managment would see this by now. The demands are such that patient's are at risk, the techs are beat to death and it shows. Supply's are provided however in the sleep lab "limited" at one point myself and another tech pulled together and purchased out of our own pocket $180.00 worth of supply's desperately needed after multiple request. The sleep lab is located off campus and it was required that we leave our patient's with the other tech and drive in our vehicles to the hospital for supplys and delivering sleep study reports, as well as bring back 5gal jug water bottles for patient's water. Usually house keeping is provided but not here. You are responsible for ALL before leaving the building and after cleanup of the paraplegic that includes changing diapers, caregivers are not required to accompany their patient's and 99% do not. If you are LUCKY! you will have days off in a row, but it is made VERY CLEAR after hire, you will work when ever, however, and any way you are told are needed. The outcome, inevitably burnout!! Again, patient/tech safety at risk. This is only a very small part of the full scale. You, like others will say. "What the hell have I gotten into". and or "This lab is generic". Good luck!

Be weary, if you want inclusiveness, support, team building and a fun environment then go look elsewhere, but if want a job where being judgemental, hypocrital, and make up stories micromanage the way to touch anything, where backbiting and false accusations are  run rampant and you feel like the sore thump sticking out of a room full of blood red scrubs staring at you knowing they were just “discussing” “work”. You’re oblivious because you know your abilities and skills and jealousy is not int your nature and because you actually care about others and wouldn’t be apart of childish drama. Tools of success is not a motto I ever heard. Being attacked though seemed pretty tolerated. I wouldn’t go there and trust the lab to protect my or my family knowing how it operates. The machines are old clunkers, the LIS brings to back to elementary macs in the 80’s. Training there felt mind numbing and I left each day from trying to understand what was their problems.  It was about turn around time , not patient care. An analyzer does most of the work, but if patient lives are on the line I wanna make sure I’m doing my part to make sure mistakes aren’t made and shortcuts aren’t applauded. It’s not a good sign when the labs color is red for scrums. Color therapy is a thing and red does not react with the minds of some people very well. Everyone else I met wonderful and understandable stressed and short staffed. Now I think they enjoy-being overworked, especially when they get to spend their free time sabotaging their coworkers. Don’t get me started on the captain of a ship without a wheel  to steer it. Go team!

I know it might be hard to believe, but TMC was actually great to work at. Not great to work for, but great to work AT. The main reason was the staff. TMC has great staff! I don't know how they do it, but they always manage to find and hire great people that are caring and kind. If you are looking for a place with people you might one day call family, than this is it. 

However, working here is sometimes difficult and can cause people to burn out. A number of staff have found it difficult to stay because the pay is just alright with little to no raises. The units are often understaffed (making EVERYTHING more difficult) and you can forget about getting any kind of break. Also, and though I understand the position they are in, I must say this, the management can be a real hassle. Their rate of turn over is often higher than that of the nursing staff and once the become management they seem to forget what it was like to work on the floor.

Saying all of this, I realize I may turn people off from the job, but I still loved working there. It's hard work, but most hospitals are very hard work. Personally, for me, I would rather have somewhat more difficult work and know that the people I am in the trenches with can be trusted. No staff is more trust worthy than TMC's and for me that goes a long way. This staff will have your back, whether you have an unruly pt you just can't control or there's a code blue and you just realized it's your room. No matter what kind of chaos a shift might bring, I have always found that the people there with me have made all the difference.

A typical day at work was managing a staff of technical employees in the pursuit of clinical equipment service. As it is vitally important that clinicians are provided equipment that is maintained in a state of readiness to ensure patient care and patient safety; it is also vitally important that an organizations revenue stream be uninterrupted as can happen if devices are unavailable due to breakage or malfunction. 

As head of the department, I managing to budget, maintained compliance with regulatory agencies, consulted with administration on capital equipment acquisitions and many other concerns, was the primary face between vendors and the hospital; plus participating in the Safety Committee and facility projects, all played into my workdays as well. The management of staff; the hiring, training, counseling and educating was a frequent and rewarding responsibility. 

The most enjoyable part of my job was going home at the end of the day knowing that I had accomplished success. I had overcome roadblocks and other challenges, I had engaged my employees keeping them well aware of their importance to the organization and to patient safety in the work they do; and most importantly to me, I personally had contributed to patient care as well as the financial success of my organization.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The physicians and staff in the residency medical education program were top caliber. They were professional but also had a sense of humor in the right moments. They were down-to-earth and a pleasure to work with. If I didn't have to move, I'd have stayed there until retirement. I really enjoyed being there and I learned so much, also. The residents were also great. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The workload can be a lot sometimes, but everyone does what they need to in order to get tasks and projects done by deadline. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's a healthy and safe environment for learning, in my opinion. It's OK to bring up new ideas and discuss them. No one makes you feel in adequate, which is nice. This is the Graduate Medical Education program sector, of which I speak. I can't speak to other aspects of the hospital. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It's busy, but in GME (Graduate Medical Education) everything is cyclical. You get a rhythm down and if you create an annual TO DO list with deadlines, you are golden.

Management is absolutely abysmal! Compensation? Well let me just say I had money taken from my salary after I'd been told by my manager that that was a "no-no". I worked there for 22 years and in the last 5-7 years, admin has turned against their nurses.. NO ONE defends them. I was (ater 22 years)demoted,demoralized,devalued, and eventually resigned after trumped up persecution by a manager (of a different unit) who wanted me out and convinced the directors that I should go. I left because I was afraid they'd make a false charge against me to the nursing board, because notheing else that had happened had caused me to resign. No, I'm NOT disgruntled, just sad that the once sterling leader of Tucson hospitals has gone so downhill. I was a patient there recently, and spent time in ICU due to their nurses lack of knowledge. If you are a new grad, go there, because they'll love you. But if you are an older nurse, pass them by. I DID love doing my patient care, and the physicians are great in some areas. But they want your whole life, and in some areas, community volunteering is essential for a "meets expectations' on your yearly eval. They would improve with a new admin (at least MIDDLE admin). Nt sure the upper ups even know what's going on!

Pediatric/PICU and Pediatric Emergency is a great place to work in terms of types of patients and number of patients. We are usually staffed appropriately, and during the summer, we are sometimes over staffed and can be canceled. However, there is plenty of overtime opportunities during the busy winter months. This unit cannot keep a manager though. 

PICU is lacking in experienced nurses at night, and sometimes you are the only PICU nurse there….
Since COVID, TMC took the peds ICU and used it to treat adults. now peds and PICU are a combined unit and they are treating ICU patients in regular peds rooms. Doctors are good, but in PICU, they can be lazy… PICU nurse must be independent, and a STRONG PATIENT ADVOCATE. 

Scheduling can be tough. You are required to work every other weekend (a set weekend) and two Fridays a month. You cannot request a weekend off without using PTO or switching with someone. 

The staff is very clique-y, but it’s not too hard to stay busy and ignore it. This is a desired unit, so there are nurses that have been there for 20+ years. It can take 3 or more years to get to day shift. 

Pay is lower, But overall good environment. 
Great benefits. This company cares about their employees. Education reimbursement Offered. Good new grad training. 

There are lots of positive and negative things about working at TMC. This is a non profit organization so your pay probably won't be as much as you'd hoped unless your a  nurse. They have a very rich benefit package.  The amount of energy,  time and planning put into explaining all the benefits is amazing as well. They offer the ability to have things dedicated out of your check such as lunches, gift shop purchases,  and even balances on your visits. Be careful when using this because you can easily over spend here. 
I believe a lot of the management has been at TMC for along time so unless they retire there is no advancement opportunities.  Typically when they do have openings they tend to bring in an outside applicant.  The parking is terrible and you will need to allow 15 to 20 min to park and get to your department.  If you decide not to follow procedures here you can be fined (they will deduct this out of your paycheck). Multiple rebellious occurrences can result in termination.  I would say if your looking for a stable job without advancement this is a great job apply.

I started out at Tucson Medical Center as a new graduate nurse. The patient population on our unit consisted of neuro/ortho patients. We also had an intense observation unit on our floor, consisting of 2 nurses and 4 high acuity patients, who required eyes on them at all times. A typical day would begin with getting assignment, receiving report from the off going shift, and building a nursing care plan based on vital signs, assessments and the immediate needs of the patients. The condition of the patients continuously drive the order of the care plan and can change very quickly with these patients. Starting IV's, placing foley's, medication administration, preparing patients for procedure or OR all had to be done with effective time management skills. I think the greatest challenge of this job was utilizing creative ways to keep patients safe from falling and at the same time minimizing the use of sitters. One of the most rewarding things in this job was seeing a patient make a full recovery after a debilitating brain injury.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered nurse 6 salaries reported	$40.17 per hour
Patient care technician 5 salaries reported	$24.50 per hour
Medical laboratory technician 3 salaries reported	$23.00 per hour
Manager 3 salaries reported	$105,667 per year
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner 1 salary reported	$135,000 per year

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