A few more questions before moving to Texas.

[John123]

Hi guys:

Here in AZ, we have 4-5 patients in tele dept, 5 patients in Med/Surg dept. How about Dallas area?

Which hospitals you guys recommend? I am looking for a good team work environment.

I have 3 yrs experience, how much I will be getting paid working at acute hospital in Texas. Thank you all!

John

[ethelbsnrn]

WOW I'd like to know where in Midland you work. I work at both a hospital in Midland rate as of Jan 2008 WILL be $20.18 and I work at a hospital in Odessa rate NOW $21.00 I work a tecnically med surg floor at each hospital and have NEVER had more than 6 pts mostly 5.

tx2007,

Midland Memorial has 20.61 new grad rate (recent increase).

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I believe that Texas has higher nurse to patient ratios because during one of my interviews the nurse stated that I should be used to taking care of 8-9 patients on night shift. I was like "oh no" not in California. Our ratios are 1-5 on the med surg floor and 1-4 if we have a pediatric patient.

California is the only state that has legally-mandated nurse/patient ratios for acute care facilities. The other 49 states do not have any ratios.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

this is exactly why travel nurses should be paid more , otherwise what is the point. i also thought that the agency the traveling nurse goes through pays for the housing.

agency pays a lot more than being a traveler. people don't realize this. a traveler needs housing, furniture, utilities, housewares, etc at the location. agency live in their own home. it makes a big difference in the pay.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

why travel then (besides to see the sights) cause you can make that in texas and live in your own house.

i was quoted from several different travel agencies that the pay rate was between $26-$30 for an rn to work as a travel nurse in the state of tx.

[tx2007, RN]

tx2007,

Midland Memorial has 20.61 new grad rate (recent increase).

Ethelbsnrn

Maybe that is with your BSN because I just double checked my email about the recent increase and it said 20.19 starting immediately for new hires and starting Jan 6th 2008 for current employees. Unless they changed it since my email I got last week. I wish it was 20.61 we are still under paid.

[mymomisanurse]

why travel then (besides to see the sights) cause you can make that in texas and live in your own house.

exactly, that's why i decided not to do travel nursing in texas. i would consider a position back in california or maryland. they are the highest paying states for nurses. but i would be away from my girls and my husband would be in the nut house by the time i returned from an assignment. so i will be working full time at harris methodist and per diem at baylor.

[ethelbsnrn]

TX2007,

Would you accept a PM (private message)? I'd like to tell you the rates I was quoted just before Thanksgiving Holiday when I shopped around Midland-Odessa area. Your profife doesn't accept PM's.

[pangay]

Gosh is this really true of pt:nurse ratio in texas?probably not all areas?

is this true to Houston?been planning to move there next yr?! Anyone pls..ty

[rierie]

John,

I worked at Medical Center of Plano for >2 yrs and I loved working the Rehab unit. On nights the ratio is 8-9, evenings 6-7, days 5-6 and the team work was out of this world! You can pick from 12 hrs shifts or 8 hrs but only on rehab, all other units work 12. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to work with and that includes the CNA's and all other auxillary staff. I can't vouch for any other units there at MCOP because if I floated it was only a few times and not enough time to judge each unit. I regret moving to South Texas and I miss the people I worked with there. As soon as I finish RN school I plan on going right back to my old job at MCOP. The pay is competetive as an LVN with 10 years exp I was making $19+hr, add differentials to that and it was a great rate. They do expect alot from their staff. As a magnet facility you will be expected to participate in council meetings and the education they provide is non-stop to the point of overwhelming. All the charting as well as ordering is computerized and once you are used to it you will never want to return to paper charting again. PM me for more info and I can give you contact info as well if you are still interested.

Good Luck!

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

why travel then (besides to see the sights) cause you can make that in texas and live in your own house.

think about it. hubby and i travel. we make 30 but we have no living expenses. if you have a budget for yourself at home mark off the rent/mortgage, lights, cable, and phone. do you see the difference now? besides, traveling on someone elses dime is just plain warm and squishy to us.:w00t: