San Antonio ADN Q's

Welcome to Texas, Mo.

If you see my beautiful granddaughters there in SA, kiss them on the cheek for me!

How was the jurisprudence exam to get your TX license? Did you study for it? I am sorta bummed you have to take an exam to transfer your license! I got a call from Methodist today and they are setting up an interview with the SICU at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, anyone have any thoughts about that particular hospital? The recruiter did say it was more of an "urban" population... my better half is going to be working at Fort Sam Houston, anyone know a good area that would be convenient for us both?

i haven't taken the exam, but i did start to study a bit for it today trying to get comfortable with looking up everything. Is that the only exam you have to take to transfer your license? I asked about the test in another pots and they said that it wasn't too bad and that a lot of it was common sense. I'm thinking about maybe taking it tomorrow though so i'll let you know how it was!

I hope that's the only exam!!! I just hate tests and if the NCLEX is "nationally" recognized, why should we have to take another test?!

haha i hear ya. I was kind of startled because i had applied for ohio licensure thinking if i ended up getting a job in TX (which is where i wanted to go) that the compact licensure would make it ok. But then i found out since it's a GN position that i needed to originally apply for TX. So i've been scrambling to get all that done hoping that they process it all in time, and then i find out about the jurisprudence! I don't even really know the scope of practice in ohio, but i think it's a good idea to test over it. Oh well, hope i pass!

There is no need to study for the jurisprudence exam. It took me about 10 minutes to take, you can use the internet/BON website to find answers, and most of the information was probably covered in your leadership or management class in NS. Regardless, it's all common sense stuff.

The medical center area, northwest, and north central SA are the most popular areas to live in. I've been a nurse here for over 20 years. Let me know if you have any other questions.

kdsrn- Do you have an opinion on Baptist Medical Center (downtown) vs. Metropolitan Methodist (downtown)? They both have positions available in their adult ICU. My main concern really is just work environment, and I know that's really hard to know unless you've really worked there on that particular unit which I see your specialty is Peds. But, any thoughts at all about the two different hospitals in that location? The word "urban" from the recruiter made me a little unsettled, does that mean I'm going to see gun shot wounds, violence related injuries, etc? I know I'll be able to ask the mangers as well, but just wondering!! Also, how much espanol do I need to know?!?!? Are most spanish speaking patients in SA able to understand and communicate in english as well?? I'm thinking I may need to brush up!

Even though I am a peds nurse, my husband is an adult nurse so this info is from him: Both Methodist Metropolitan and Baptist M.C. are downtown hospitals. Methodist is part of HCA, a for-profit hospital system. Methodist would be a more community feel with chronically ill pts with multiple co-morbidities. Baptist would have a more medical center feel with a little more acutely ill patients. Of course, all pts in the ICU are acutely ill, but hopefully you understand what I mean. You will not see Level I trauma at either of these hospitals. Level I trauma all goes to one of three hospitals here-University, Brooke Army Medical Center, or Wilford Hall Medical Center. Although Spanish is good to know at any hospital in SA, you can get by without it. There are usually enough Spanish speaking nurses to get by just fine. Older adults may speak Spanish only, but most younger adults speak at least some English. You'll get some Spanish only pts downtown but you would see more at the University Hospital which sees a lot of indigents. A lot of elderly people live in those areas. I can't speak to the work environment/staff at either hospital. Hope this helps.

I commend you for makinng it through the nursing school process. We all know that is a mountain to climb in itself. I moved to San Antonio about three years ago. I moved to the North Central area also. I applied only at North Central Baptist, and received a job working in the ICU with about 1 year 5 months experience. Offered a sign on bonus for 3,000 dollars, and a relocation bonus of 1,000 dispersed in yearly increments for 2 years.

My starting pay in November was $19.36/hr with a $3.25/hr. night diff. and a $3.25 wkd/diff. By March of the next year I was making $20.50/hr and by the next year $24.14/hr with same diffs. If you want to work as a pull nurse, to work in different areas of the hospital you get approx. $10.00/hr extra pay but you do not et benefits, or for about the the same amount, option N and not receive benefits and stay in the same unit.

NCBH is also located in a beautiful area, with amazing administration, physcians, staff, and most importantly patients that make this hospital more than average to be a part of. You should check it out!