If you hold an active Arizona RN license, or a multistate license from your home compact state, you can use ShiftKey to browse RN shifts that Tucson facilities have posted.
ShiftKey is a technology platform and marketplace. As an independent contractor, you request the PRN or per diem shifts that fit your schedule and propose the rate you want for each one. The facility reviews each request and decides who to accept.
To browse shifts, use your home ZIP, or one in the part of Tucson where you'd prefer to work, and filter by “RN.” Listings change as facilities post new shifts and fill existing ones, so what you see today may differ from next week.
Each listing shows the facility's location, the shift details, and the requirements the facility has set. Recent RN listings in Tucson have included behavioral health and skilled nursing facilities, but settings and available shifts depend on what facilities post at any given time.
Before you request a shift, check:
- The shift’s start time and length, and whether the shift fits around your other commitments.
- The stated requirements, such as certifications or recent experience in that type of setting. Compare each listing's requirements with your experience.
- The full facility address, and how you'll get there, especially during monsoon season.
When a shift fits, request it and propose your desired rate. The facility then reviews your request and decides whether to accept it.
To request Tucson RN shifts via the ShiftKey app, you need either an active Arizona RN license or an active multistate license from another Nurse Licensure Compact state. Your multistate license must be issued from your primary state of residence.
Can you work in Arizona on a compact license?
Arizona is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. So, if your primary state of residence is another compact state and your multistate license is active, you can work in Arizona on a compact license.
Primary state of residence means your legal home. The Arizona State Board of Nursing describes it as the state where you vote, pay taxes and hold a driver's license.
You'll need an Arizona license if:
- You live in a state outside the compact. You can't hold a multistate license, even if you're licensed in another state.
- You're moving to Arizona from another compact state. Once Arizona becomes your primary state of residence, you have 60 days to apply for an Arizona license. You can use your compact license until you receive your Arizona license.
Getting an Arizona RN license
If you're licensed in another state, you can apply for licensure by endorsement through the Arizona State Board of Nursing. You'll need to show a recent-practice requirement, such as 960 hours of nursing practice in the past five years.
You'll also need to submit fingerprints for state and federal background checks. Fingerprint results can take anywhere from about a month to 12 weeks. Arizona’s State Board of Nursing won't issue a permanent license without them, so start the state and federal background check well before you plan to request Arizona shifts. A temporary license may be available to qualifying applicants.
If you've passed the NCLEX but have never been licensed in any state, you'll apply by examination instead.
Credentials a Tucson facility may require
Your license gives you the legal authority to practice. Each facility decides what else it needs for a particular shift. Depending on the setting, a listing may ask for:
- Basic Life Support certification
- Health screenings, such as tuberculosis testing
- Recent experience in the same type of care setting
- Additional background checks or documentation
ShiftKey's technology stores your credentials, so you don't have to resubmit the same documents for each facility. It also reminds you when a license or certification is due for renewal.
From June through September, monsoon storms can send water across Tucson streets and wash crossings with little warning. A flooded crossing may be barricaded, but don't wait for a barricade to tell you it's unsafe. It's hard to judge how deep moving water is, especially at night.
Build the monsoon into how you choose shifts and plan your drive:
- Before you request a shift between June and September, look up the facility address. Check whether your usual route crosses a wash or dip crossing.
- Choose an alternate route that avoids those crossings, especially for night or early-morning start times.
- Check conditions before you leave. AZ511 and the regional TransView map show current closures and incidents. The City of Tucson posts its own street updates. Pima County's road closure page covers unincorporated county roads, not streets inside Tucson city limits.
- If water is flowing across the road, turn around and take your alternate route, whether or not a barricade is up. Pima County's advice is simple: "Turn around, Don't drown." Never drive around a barricade. Under Arizona law, drivers who do can be charged for their rescue.
New to ShiftKey? Create an account to start requesting RN shifts in Tucson. Already have one? Open the ShiftKey app to review current listings near your preferred part of town. Either way, make sure your license, certifications and profile are current before you request.