Dallas vs. Houston vs. San Antonio

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Which city is best for this new grad?

    • 2
      Dallas
    • 3
      Houston
    • 0
      San Antonio

5 members have participated

Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.

Hello everyone,

I graduate very soon and have been saving immensely for a big move. I currently live in the NorthWest area of Louisiana and have plans to live in Texas for the first few years of my nursing career. From experienced nurses, what pros/cons would you give a new grad that's:

-23 yrs old

-single without kids

-Not really a party person

-African(I enjoy diversity especially from the African diaspora(Caribbean etc...)

-not looking to date until probably 25 yrs old.

-continuing my education for either Psych or Neonatal NP.

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I travel to these cities fairly often to see various hospitals and I would rank it;

For personal life:

1) Dallas

2) Houston

27) San Antonio

For career advancement

1) Houston

2) Dallas

32) San Antonio

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

I would pick Dallas because it seems to have a much larger healthcare system. There are multiple hospital systems to choose from. I live in central Texas so I travel to these cities a lot for weekend trips. San Antonio is my top travel choice of the 3 but I don't know if I would live there. It really is just personal preference though.

Austin may be a city to look at too if you want diversity. These cities running motto is Keep Austin Weird. I also love visiting Austin and it has a lot to offer.

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
I travel to these cities fairly often to see various hospitals and I would rank it;

For personal life:

1) Dallas

2) Houston

27) San Antonio

For career advancement

1) Houston

2) Dallas

32) San Antonio

Thank you but why is San Antonio so low on the ranking lol?

I would pick Dallas because it seems to have a much larger healthcare system. There are multiple hospital systems to choose from. I live in central Texas so I travel to these cities a lot for weekend trips. San Antonio is my top travel choice of the 3 but I don't know if I would live there. It really is just personal preference though.

Austin may be a city to look at too if you want diversity. These cities running motto is Keep Austin Weird. I also love visiting Austin and it has a lot to offer.

Thank you! I visited Austin and I can honestly say that it doesn't have enough diversity for me and it's crazy expensive.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.
Thank you but why is San Antonio so low on the ranking lol?

Thank you! I visited Austin and I can honestly say that it doesn't have enough diversity for me and it's crazy expensive.

Austin is typically much more diverse than the other cities. It is one of the most diverse and liberal cities in the state. Just FYI.

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
Austin is typically much more diverse than the other cities. It is one of the most diverse and liberal cities in the state. Just FYI.

Houston is the most diverse in Texas hands down. When I went to Austin the liberalism to me was accompanied by severe passive aggressiveness.

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I have lived in Houston before and I loved it. Multiple Hospitals, UTMB in Galveston is a drive away.

Austin is the only city in Texas where people will be offended or confront you for carrying a gun and it is our state capital...go figure.

~Nurse K

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
I have lived in Houston before and I loved it. Multiple Hospitals, UTMB in Galveston is a drive away.

Austin is the only city in Texas where people will be offended or confront you for carrying a gun and it is our state capital...go figure.

~Nurse K

Thank you! I am 85% leaning towards Houston!

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The only downside to Houston is the weather. It is vulnerable to hurricanes (as we found out to our immense horror recently), and even in a good year, it can be ungodly hot and humid. But there are a lot of great hospitals/jobs in the medical district. Are you graduating with a BSN? Don't know about the current job market, but for a while, it was pretty tough to get a job in the medical district without one.

Have you checked out the new grad externship programs?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Thank you but why is San Antonio so low on the ranking lol?

Thank you! I visited Austin and I can honestly say that it doesn't have enough diversity for me and it's crazy expensive.

If Austin doesn't have enough diversity for you, you're next bet is the west coast, cuz Austin is the most diverse city in Texas...and yes, crazy expensive! Let us know what you decide.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I have lived in Houston before and I loved it. Multiple Hospitals, UTMB in Galveston is a drive away.

Austin is the only city in Texas where people will be offended or confront you for carrying a gun and it is our state capital...go figure.

~Nurse K

TOTALLY!!!!!

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
The only downside to Houston is the weather. It is vulnerable to hurricanes (as we found out to our immense horror recently), and even in a good year, it can be ungodly hot and humid. But there are a lot of great hospitals/jobs in the medical district. Are you graduating with a BSN? Don't know about the current job market, but for a while, it was pretty tough to get a job in the medical district without one.

Have you checked out the new grad externship programs?

Thanks! I'm in an Adn and BSN program. We get our Associates first then we continue for another 6 months and we're awarded the BSN. I have been checking out the extern programs but none have cause my eye. Any suggestions?

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