Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, AZ

noordinarypath
Sep 4
3 min read

🏥 Banner Desert Medical Center – Mesa, AZ

Location: Mesa, Arizona

System: Part of Banner Health – a large nonprofit healthcare system

Size: ~615 beds

Designation: Level I Trauma Center

Specialties: Comprehensive care including Trauma, Cardiac, Neuro, Surgical, Ortho, Women & Infant Services, and Pediatrics (via Cardon Children’s Hospital)

Charting System: Cerner

Traveler Vendor: Banner Staffing Services (internal) or through VMS like ShiftWise or Medefis depending on agency

*Note: Chatgpt is an amazing tool that I believe comes in handy for analyzing reviews. This information was gathered by me, Kristin Farnsworth, from travelers I have worked with as well as various social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit and then filtered through Chatgpt to put it all in an easy-to-read format.

👩‍⚕️ Traveler Experience

Banner Desert is one of the busiest and most high-acuity hospitals in the East Valley—and it has a mixed reputation among travelers that heavily depends on the unit.

✅ Pros:

Traveler-Friendly Culture: Many travelers report good teamwork and say they felt accepted as part of the core team.
Modern Facility: Includes a recently renovated women and children’s tower, all-private patient rooms, and updated surgical suites.
High Acuity = Great Experience: ICU and PCU nurses appreciate the opportunities for growth and skill usage.
Location Perks: Right in Mesa, near Tempe and Scottsdale—plenty of great housing, food, and recreation options.

⚠️ Cons:

Fast-Paced, High Turnover: Some units run very lean, especially Med/Surg and ED.
Float Policies Vary: Travelers can be floated frequently, including between adult and peds units (especially nights).
Cancellation Risk: While Banner typically honors contracts, there have been traveler reports of mid-contract rate drops or cuts during census dips.

🧵 Scrub Colors

Navy blue for most inpatient RNs
Ceil blue or grey for surgical areas
Confirm during onboarding, but navy is safe for most units

🧪 Ratios & Experience Requirements (Estimates from Reports)

Unit	RN-to-Patient Ratio	Notes
ICU	1:2	High acuity, fast-paced. Expect use of vents, CRRT, trauma. Generally positive traveler feedback.
PCU/Stepdown	1:4	Solid ratios. Travelers like this unit. Some float expected.
Med/Surg	1:5–6	Busy. Multiple traveler reports of being stretched thin. CNA help not always reliable.
ED	1:5–6+	Very busy. Trauma center. Reported to be chaotic at times. Confirm support staff during interview.
OR	1:1 (Scrub/Circulator)	State-of-the-art ORs. Usually strong teamwork. Schedule predictability varies.
L&D / Mother-Baby	1:3 L&D, 1:4–5 Mother-Baby	New tower = great facility. Often busy. NICU and Peds at Cardon Children’s are onsite.

💬 Real Traveler Feedback

🗣️ “Loved my time at Banner Desert. It was super busy but I learned a lot and worked with great people. Would go back.”
🗣️ “ICU was intense, but so worth it. High acuity and a good team—just be ready to hustle.”
🗣️ “PCU was traveler-friendly. Good ratios, usually 4:1. Just floated a bit more than I expected.”
🗣️ “Med/surg was rough. I had 6 patients and only one CNA who was covering the whole floor.”

(compiled from Vivian, TravelNursingCentral, Facebook nurse groups, and Reddit)

💡 Tips for Travelers

Ask about float policies during your interview—some units float frequently to peds or women’s units.
Verify cancellation policies and pay protections—especially during census fluctuations.
Be ready for high volume and fast pace, particularly in ER, Med/Surg, and ICU.
Use downtime to explore—Mesa is close to Tempe, Phoenix, and great hiking spots like Usery Mountain and the Superstition Mountains.
If you’re L&D, NICU, or PICU, you’ll love the updated Cardon tower—it’s well-equipped and traveler-friendly.

✅ Final Verdict

Banner Desert Medical Center is a high-volume, high-reward facility for confident travelers ready to hit the ground running. It’s best for ICU, PCU, and L&D nurses who thrive in fast-paced environments and want strong clinical experience. Med/Surg and ER can be more challenging. Ask lots of questions up front to ensure support and fair assignments. Overall, a solid facility in an excellent location with real learning opportunities.