Phoenix

Like a diamond in the rough!
Phoenix, Arizona is rightfully known as the crown jewel of the American Southwest. Shining bright with more than 300 days of sunshine every year, it’s no wonder that this capital city is also located in a place known as the "Valley of the Sun," along with surrounding cities Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe. But beyond the perfect weather and the illuminating environment, Phoenix is a place of great diversity. From its rich Native American heritage to the recent boom and influx of the tech industry, Phoenix continues to grow at a steady pace (3.4 million residents), attracting savvy professionals and nature lovers alike to create a one-of-a-kind culture. In the heat of the desert, there’s always a place to stay calm, cool and collected in Phoenix.

Even out here in the desert, Phoenix continues to grow – now being the second-fastest growing metropolitan just behind nearby Las Vegas. It’s a trend that’s long attracted the ambitious types, the ones drawn to the beauty and rugged nature of the West. Yet for any prospective travel nurse, it’s also a place of wide-open opportunity. This is what the West looks like in the 21st century, and it’s set to stay on the cutting edge for a long time to come.

Phoenix Transportation

Sprawl is definitely a fitting way to describe the lay of the land in Phoenix and the surrounding areas that make up the Valley of the Sun. That means it's essential to have a car when going to and from any activity (it should go without saying that a vehicle with working air conditioning is a big bonus). But to help alleviate any commute, Phoenix has more than adequate public transportation to help you get where you need to be – on-time without ever breaking a sweat.

Airports
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Ground Transportation
Valley Metro
Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH)
Bus RAPID Transit
Taxis

Traffic
Phoenix Traffic

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Phoenix Attractions

Phoenix is definitely a city that benefits from ideal weather conditions and a lush ecological backdrop (especially magnificent sights of rich green grass at the cities many world-class golf courses set against the beige hues of the desert). Here, there’s a good bet that you’d want to enjoy the grandeur of the great outdoors both day and night. But for those who like to stay cool, there’s plenty of fine dining and world-class spas and resorts. In addition, Phoenix is also a hot spot (literally) for museums and galleries, a wide variety of sports events such as baseball’s annual spring training games, Old West and Native American history, hiking, biking and many more outdoor activities.

Heard Museum
Chase Field
Desert Botanical Garden
Piestewa Peak
Scottsdale Art Walk
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Apache Trail
Phoenix Zoo
South Mountain Park
Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin

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Phoenix Shopping

Like any big city, Phoenix has an abundance of opulent shopping malls, unique boutiques, antique shops and plenty of spots to just stroll and take in the scenery while window-shopping. Just about everywhere you go, you can count on finding some of the most striking, original Southwestern art, gifts and jewelry in the world. Art collectors and enthusiasts are especially in luck with the amount of artistic talent on display here.

Biltmore Fashion Park
Arizona Mills
Arrowhead Towne Center
The Borgata of Scottsdale
Chandler Fashion Center

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Phoenix Nightlife

Even when the sun goes down in Phoenix, there’s no shortage of hot spots to entertain and amuse during the cooler nights. Area favorites range from trendy nightclubs to plenty of laid back sports bars and restaurants. For the more refined tastes, quality venues to listen to music or take in the performing arts abound here as well.

Copper Square
Alice Cooper’s Town Sports Bar & Grill
Mill Avenue
Symphony Hall
Herberger Theater Center

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Phoenix Healthcare Facilities

Because Phoenix has seen such dramatic growth in their technology industries, and attracting the country’s top tech businesses, the city’s healthcare facilities have also benefited greatly from this influx of advanced technologies. This has resulted in many of Phoenix’s most prestigious facilities as being some of the most modern and state-of-the-art facilities in the world. Yet all the while, working at any one of these facilities means being surrounded by the natural beauty and tranquility that the Southwest has to offer.

Banner Desert Medical Center
Arrowhead Hospital
Sun Health Boswell Hospital
Maricopa Integrated Health System
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation
John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital

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Phoenix Nursing Resources

Arizona State Board of Nursing
Arizona Nurses Association
Arizona Nurse Practitioners
Arizona Department of Health
Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Arizona Online Licensure Verification

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Phoenix Weather

When you’re smack dab in the middle of the "Valley of the Sun," chances are you’re in for plenty of…you guessed it - sunshine. So much in fact that the entire state of Arizona isn’t even required to take part in Daylight Savings Time. And really, what’s the point when the city of Phoenix basks in sunshine an average of 300 days a year. But with all that sun comes plenty of heat, and Phoenix is definitely one of the hottest places in the country. So while you’re guaranteed to get a good tan, make sure you always beat the heat in the shade or the comfort of some cool air conditioning. Apart from the stray rain shower here and there, the weather in Phoenix is just like you’d expect it – hot, hot, hot! Dress accordingly!

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