Hello all. I am a mom of 4 and wife of the 5th :chuckle . I am currently in an LPN program and due to graduate in 6/06 . I have also completed all prerequisites for the ADN program but I have to wait to apply until my younger kids get in school full time . I am seriously considering moving my family to texas after I receive my LPN license but I really need some input from you all. I lived in Dallas from 8y-12y old and loved it :) . What part of Texas would be best to work as an LPN, raise an African American family, a tractor trailer drivin' husband, be a single family home owner and live comfortably? Education for my kids and nursing advancement is very important. Thank you all in advance for any input and advice.

Futurenursern

Hey there, Future ! :)

Don't know much about Texas and nursing other than some unfavorable things I've read here on this site in the past. Bummer, I know.

But seriously, do check it out very carefully, as I hear that Texas does NOT treat their nurses too well (and yes, there are always exceptions) nad also look into their workmans comp policies as well !

Wish you the best !

I am not sure what the above poster means by "Texas does not treat their nurses very well". I have lived all my life here and been a nurse for years in this state and have never had a problem. I live just south of Ft Worth , in a small country town. I only work weekends and drive 27 miles to work for two days then Im home for 5 days. I support a family of 7 on about 45K , one year when I did quite a bit of overtime and I made around 60K. The houses are kinda high in the bigger cities , but you can find some good deals... Dallas has I think a pretty high crime rate , so I personally would not live there. The hill country is beautiful and Im not sure about the job market for nurses or truckers ( I do know there are many jobs in the DFW area for truckers,Im sure Houston area as well). One thing I am finding is that in this area is the competition for LVN to RN school here is pretty tough. Since Tarrant County closed their bridge program, LVN's have the choice of Weatherford college, El Centro, Southwestern Adventist, Navarro College, Hill college, Tarleton (LVN to BSN). I think TWU still has their LVN to BSN program , but it is not on their website anymore . This may sound like alot but it isnt. For example I took the NET test for Weatherford back in early March. I did not do so well on it and since you can repeat it once , I called to get an appointment,a 2 week wait. Also it is just the LVN to RN students taking this test, they have 20 slots twice a day. Anyway that my soap box about North Texas LVN to RN programs. To me all areas of Texas are great , I dont like the weather though, to hot in the summer and spring I spend most of my time in the cellar. Good Luck to you and Welcome to Texas!!!

I moved here 15 months ago and hated it at first ( I am a west coaster). But it does grow on you. The suburbs around Fort Worth are very reasonable, and lot's of diverse jobs in the area. The people are very friendly and it is not the racist, red necked place I was afraid of at all! It really is a pretty nice place to live, I just wish it wasn't so dang cold in the winter. I would avoid Dallas, but all us Fort Worthians say that:chuckle . I have actually only been there twice - I will say dallas traffic sucks:o. Anyway - I am surprised to say I reccomend it.

I own ten acres of land in north San Antonio, and cost of living is MUCH lower in S.A. than Dallas... but then again the heat isn't as bad in Dallas.. LOL!

Not sure about the LPN hiring situation since I'm home full time now, but I see ads for LPN's in nursing homes... If you want me to check the Sunday paper for you, just email me...

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

[email protected]

You can find some openings online dallasnews.com. Go to classifies, find new job, and type in LVN.

I own ten acres of land in north San Antonio, and cost of living is MUCH lower in S.A. than Dallas... but then again the heat isn't as bad in Dallas.. LOL!

Not sure about the LPN hiring situation since I'm home full time now, but I see ads for LPN's in nursing homes... If you want me to check the Sunday paper for you, just email me...

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

[email protected]

I'm seriously considering San Antonio. Fell in love last fall when I went to visit my son in the AirForce.

Dazzle256, you'd LOVE it here!! MALLS out the wazoo, and MAN do we have clearance specials!!

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

[email protected]

Dazzle256, you'd LOVE it here!! MALLS out the wazoo, and MAN do we have clearance specials!!

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

[email protected]

I'm calling some recruiters tommarrow :).

I am not sure what the above poster means by "Texas does not treat their nurses very well". I have lived all my life here and been a nurse for years in this state and have never had a problem. I live just south of Ft Worth , in a small country town. I only work weekends and drive 27 miles to work for two days then Im home for 5 days. I support a family of 7 on about 45K , one year when I did quite a bit of overtime and I made around 60K. The houses are kinda high in the bigger cities , but you can find some good deals... Dallas has I think a pretty high crime rate , so I personally would not live there. The hill country is beautiful and Im not sure about the job market for nurses or truckers ( I do know there are many jobs in the DFW area for truckers,Im sure Houston area as well). One thing I am finding is that in this area is the competition for LVN to RN school here is pretty tough. Since Tarrant County closed their bridge program, LVN's have the choice of Weatherford college, El Centro, Southwestern Adventist, Navarro College, Hill college, Tarleton (LVN to BSN). I think TWU still has their LVN to BSN program , but it is not on their website anymore . This may sound like alot but it isnt. For example I took the NET test for Weatherford back in early March. I did not do so well on it and since you can repeat it once , I called to get an appointment,a 2 week wait. Also it is just the LVN to RN students taking this test, they have 20 slots twice a day. Anyway that my soap box about North Texas LVN to RN programs. To me all areas of Texas are great , I dont like the weather though, to hot in the summer and spring I spend most of my time in the cellar. Good Luck to you and Welcome to Texas!!!

Hi, I am moving to Glen rose, is that any where near you

Never heard of Glen Rose. Where is it?

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

Never heard of Glen Rose. Where is it?

Linda/CMAS, BS, RN

It is just outside of Granbury, it's about 40 miles southwest of Ft Worth.

I too have read nothing good about nursing in Texas. I have heard the board is always against the nurse and any complaint, even one so silly or stupid as to automatically deserve no merit is looked at and goes on the nurses record. I have heard of some sort of reporting on a nurses credit, personal habits, and life-style issues that should have nothing to do with the type of job a nurse can do. If this is not true, then all of the nurses in Texas need to be more positive and supportive of the state.