Jobs Anyone?

sjalv · Oct 20, 2011

As strange as it seems, bigger cities (like Houston) seem to have less job opportunities. I'm a nursing student in a mid-sized Oklahoman town (Muskogee, 40k people) that has 2 hospitals, and both have multiple positions open for charge nurses, RNs, and NPs. The home health agencies I have checked are also hiring RNs. That's not counting hospitals in surrounding towns or cities like Tulsa.

Marte · Oct 20, 2011

Im in south texas in mcallen. Dry oh so dry. No jobs in hospitals. Few patients. Home Healths are closing down and those nurses used to getting 80 grand are now applying at hospitals for a little over half as much. Those of us that work in the hospital are getting sent home and we r losing so many hours. Then there is this hospital which has a nurses union and they are picketing for better and safer nurse patient ratios. I dont blame them. Spillover violence from our neighbors in Mexico is keeping SnowBird people away. I cant blame them ether. Oh well, thats McAllen Yall!

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2011

I am so sorry you are struggling. Culture shock plus no job has to stink.

Scott and White have opened up their new grad internships. They are a couple of hours north of you. Smaller towns (more than an hour from big cities and that are NOT a suburb of said cities) are hiring more than big city/suburban hospitals at this time. A lot of graduates from the class previous to mine found work in Sherman, a couple in Wichita Falls, a couple in Tyler. I would suggest you start looking all over Texas and get geared up for another potential move to a smaller town. Hopefully you are doing your BSN bridge online so a move won't shake that up too much. If not, perhaps that potential is there.

In a way I am glad you posted. This site seems to be flush with folks thinking Texas is the nursing promised land and it truly is not.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2011

Personally I blame Texas! LOL.

I blame the current economic situation for the problems that many nurses are having with local employment markets across the U.S. Prior to the economic meltdown of 2008, Nursing Jobs were extremely abundant in Texas, and new nurses could even get hired into coveted specialties such as the ER, ICU, and L&D. Now, the pickings are very slim in the major cities.

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2011

Yep. And even in the less desirable specialties it is more who you know and what connections you have (and for some just dumb luck) than anything else. I recently was hired for an internship that starts this coming January. There were 600 some applicants. I was the only one they interviewed due to my connection to the hospital.

alby_dangle · Oct 20, 2011

I'm sorry to hear about your luck. This is strange to me, not that there are no jobs, because there aren't many anywhere, but that in Texas you can't find one. I dont live there, but I thought LPNs/LVNs were big down there, so why wouldnt ADN nurses be? Try and apply anywhere they hire lots of LPNs and see if they take you there due to the fact that you have a higher degree.

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2011

I'm sorry to hear about your luck. This is strange to me, not that there are no jobs, because there aren't many anywhere, but that in Texas you can't find one. I dont live there, but I thought LPNs/LVNs were big down there, so why wouldnt ADN nurses be? Try and apply anywhere they hire lots of LPNs and see if they take you there due to the fact that you have a higher degree.

LVN/LPN were phased out of the hospital setting in Texas a long time ago, just like most places. And the push in Texas hospitals in the major cities is for a BSN work force. Can you say where you are getting your information? Because this is just kind of bizarre.

Marshall1 · Oct 20, 2011

I don't live in Texas but have family in the medical field that do & they are always trying to get me to relocated there. They are in the San Antonio area and the web sites and Sunday insert of newspapers they are always sending me it seems that area has a lot of jobs and the military hospitals there do hire non-military nurses. I have no idea of a BSN would be required at any of the medical facilities in that area but you can always look at indeed.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com to name a few and see.

happyinillinois · Oct 20, 2011

Try Assisted Living or SNF for experience. Is there a free clinic you can volunteer at to provide some experience? Let anyone and everyone know you are looking and sometimes word-of-mouth can be the opening you need. Keep pluggin away at your BSN and stay positive!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2011

Im in south texas in mcallen. Dry oh so dry. No jobs in hospitals. Few patients. Home Healths are closing down and those nurses used to getting 80 grand are now applying at hospitals for a little over half as much. Those of us that work in the hospital are getting sent home and we r losing so many hours. Then there is this hospital which has a nurses union and they are picketing for better and safer nurse patient ratios. I dont blame them. Spillover violence from our neighbors in Mexico is keeping SnowBird people away. I cant blame them ether. Oh well, thats McAllen Yall!

Home health nurses making $80 grand where are you getting those figures. Home health usually pays less than the hospital and worse benefits! I'd like to know how I can be a home health nurse and make $80,000! LOL

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2011

Texas is the magic land of nursing, haven't you heard? Those of us who live here just don't realize it. :rolleyes: