San Antonio ADN Q's

Yes, Tom's Ribs was good, and too bad they're closed. The County Line has good bar-b-que (off I-10 W near Wurzbach).

Wonder what happened to chocolateskye? Where are you working now? Have you decided what area you want to live? I currently live on the Southwest side of San Antonio, off Loop 1604 and Pue Rd. There is a lot of growth out that way too. New homes are going up like crazy, but the downside is it's not that close to the Medical Center or the other hospitals on the Northeast side. But there is also another new hospital being built out on the SW side...Christus Santa Rosa off of Hwy. 151 and Westover Hills, but I'm not sure when it'll be finished. It looks like it's almost done.

I'm not a nurse...not even a nursing student yet...just applied for the fall semester at BSHP (ASN program) and plan to take the NET next month and I'm very excited!!

Hey sorry I havent written on here in a while but....... well, I found a job at southwest General. I also found a nice rental home near Sea World. Lets just say that I am actively looking for employment at the moment. I am however willing to give the hospital a try before I run screaming! Getting to know the area and trying my best to look at the brighter side of things.

You picked a great area to live. I lived in San Antonio before moving up to the Austin area but once I graduate from bridging I plan on moving back ASAP!!!! I also want to live near Seaworld, outside of the 1604 loop and am interested in the new hospitals being built out there. I think Christus Santa Rosa and Baptist have brand new hospitals in that area. Either there or I may live near 281 and 1604 and apply at the new Methodist hospital there. I can't wait to get back!

Have you started SWG yet? If so how do you like it?

Im confused. Im a coder and I work from home. I have an associates in Health Info Tech. I decided to apply to the RN program at Baptist here in San Antonio, however, after reading these posts, I may have made a mistake. As a coder I make much more than the starting rates offered here. Im hoping that the rates have changes. Is this really what an ADN makes here?

It's the starting salary for an RN.

I dont like it at all. Yes I started there already. I like the woman they put me with but she is a lpn and I dont feel that she can train me to be an RN. Especially when she has not worked there for over 6 months. She is still a fairly new employee herself. I felt as if I was set up for failure from the begining and that I was just another body to help out because they needed to save money and keep costs down. But two months into my training I still didnt feel as if I could stand alone.

I am moving to San Antonio in August. I am a little uneasy about all of the staffing agencies. I applied directly to a couple of hospitals, University Health System, Southwest General, and now Methodist. I have spoken with a staffing agency about the Baptist Hospitals, but it just seems odd to me. I had one phone interview with the human resources person at SWG, and still awaiting a second interview with the manager of the ICU. chocolateskye, do you know anything about the ICU at SWG? Do you have an opinion yet as to where the best place to live is?? Thanks!!!

Hi,
I got my RN from Baptist in Dec 2007 and started working as an RN Jan 2008, I started making $21.25or $20.25 (I think, trying hard to remeber) (19.25 if i had wanted benefits) no benefits. But don't forget shift differential, weekend differentials, etc, holiday pay. For the first 3 mos. I was being precepted and received no differentials, but when I completed my taxes in April I had grossed- $28K for 7 mos. and would have easily seen 50K had I completed the year -with very little OT- personal choice. But I now have friends that graduated with me that have 1 1/2 yrs experience that are making in the $30 an hour range. I've seen agency ads for ER nurses w/ 1 yr and + experience -for $44 an hr base pay in SA w/ contract-this was in Jan-Feb of this year -the busy season. This is not easy $ it is Hardcore work.
So, My thought is -don't just consider base pay, look at the future potential! Also, no matter how much you are going to earn -don't do it if you don't love it. You will not be happy. It is a difficult and stressful job!
BTW: I loved Baptist! and I love lining in S.A. can't wait to return in August!
Good Luck!

hey everybody! this thread has also been helpful to me as I just accepted a graduate nurse position as Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center in San Antonio. It's been kind of stressful trying to switch all my licensure applications from ohio to texas, but hopefully it all goes through in time! I'm moving from ohio by myself, so i definitely want a safe place to live and was looking at the northwest area right by the medical center. Is that a pretty good place to go?

Thanks for any help!

Mo