So I just passed my NCLEX (YAY!) but since there are practically no jobs in Maine I have decided to move. Lubbock area ended up being the destination of choice. I'm trying to get a feel for the different hospitals atmosphere and where I would like to work. I also have very little idea what a new grad would get paid in any of the hospitals. Pretty much any information about that area would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance! :)

BUY SOME SUN SCREEN - And make sure your air conditioner is working!!!! Seriously, I just drove through the panhandle and West Texas on my way back to Houston & I don't think I have ever experienced temperatures that hot.... and I'm a Tx native. Sheesh..

Lubbock is a great little city - lived there for a while due to DH job. Prepare yourself for a really BIG geographical change - very flat, naturally ocurring trees are rare. They have dust storms & you'll discover that "tumbling tumbleweeds" are not just part of a song. The people are great, housing & cost-of-living is super-reasonable; home of a great university (Texas Tech) and .... let's not forget .... birthplace of Buddy Holly and epicenter of Rockabilly music. You'll love it. Keep us posted on your observations as you settle in.

Keep me posted too. I just got my LVN license in California and I want to endorse to texas and move to Lubbock or around that area. I totally agree with the previous poster. I lived in lubbock for about 3 months and it was hot and humid but it was a great little city.

I live in Levelland which is approx 30 miles outside of Lubbock. Lubbock has 2 major hospital systems Covenant and University Medical Center. Covenant has a children's hospital and most of the rural hospitals such as the one here in Levelland are under the Covenant system. There are also a few specialty hospitals such has Lubbock Heart Hospital. I do not know the starting wage for RN's but LVN's make around 15 an hour to start. Cost of living is very cheap compared to the east coast and it gets cheaper if you live outside of Lubbock. Starting at 525 for a 1bedroom apartment in Lubbock. I would suggest not living close to Texas Tech University because housing is more expensive the closer you get. It is very hot, dry and windy here most of the year however it does snow in the winter.(nothing like Maine just a few inches at a time for a couple of months) Today it was 109 with wind gusts of approx 20mph and humidity was 12% (normal is less than 8% here so EXTREMELY dry) I moved here from NC and had to get used to the long flat roads and minimal trees. There is a mall in Lubbock, 2 movie theaters,ect. Once you go outside of Lubbock there isn't much to do. For example the town i live in has a Walmart, a united (local grocery store) and some chain fast food restaurants along with lots of Mexican food places. If you have any questions feel free to ask, i'll try to answer them if i can.

I live in Levelland which is approx 30 miles outside of Lubbock. Lubbock has 2 major hospital systems Covenant and University Medical Center. Covenant has a children's hospital and most of the rural hospitals such as the one here in Levelland are under the Covenant system. There are also a few specialty hospitals such has Lubbock Heart Hospital. I do not know the starting wage for RN's but LVN's make around 15 an hour to start. Cost of living is very cheap compared to the east coast and it gets cheaper if you live outside of Lubbock. Starting at 525 for a 1bedroom apartment in Lubbock. I would suggest not living close to Texas Tech University because housing is more expensive the closer you get. It is very hot, dry and windy here most of the year however it does snow in the winter.(nothing like Maine just a few inches at a time for a couple of months) Today it was 109 with wind gusts of approx 20mph and humidity was 12% (normal is less than 8% here so EXTREMELY dry) I moved here from NC and had to get used to the long flat roads and minimal trees. There is a mall in Lubbock, 2 movie theaters,ect. Once you go outside of Lubbock there isn't much to do. For example the town i live in has a Walmart, a united (local grocery store) and some chain fast food restaurants along with lots of Mexican food places. If you have any questions feel free to ask, i'll try to answer them if i can.

Do you know of any places that hire new grads out there? Hospital, home health, skilled nursing etc.

As far as i know most places around here do due to the shortage (people tend to move away from here not to here.) I have only seen a few jobs that specify 1 year minimum