Thinking about moving to Texas

U.S.A. Texas

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Hello all. I am a mom of 4 and wife of the 5th :chuckle . I am currently in an LPN program and due to graduate in 6/06 . I have also completed all prerequisites for the ADN program but I have to wait to apply until my younger kids get in school full time :uhoh3: . I am seriously considering moving my family to texas after I receive my LPN license but I really need some input from you all. I lived in Dallas from 8y-12y old and loved it :) . What part of Texas would be best to work as an LPN, raise an African American family, a tractor trailer drivin' husband, be a single family home owner and live comfortably? Education for my kids and nursing advancement is very important. Thank you all in advance for any input and advice.

Futurenursern

I too have read nothing good about nursing in Texas. I have heard the board is always against the nurse and any complaint, even one so silly or stupid as to automatically deserve no merit is looked at and goes on the nurses record. I have heard of some sort of reporting on a nurses credit, personal habits, and life-style issues that should have nothing to do with the type of job a nurse can do. If this is not true, then all of the nurses in Texas need to be more positive and supportive of the state.

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In my experience, the extensive background check stuff and blackballing is mostly in the DFW area. My own experience with the BNE was good...altho many of my friends in Texas are not pleased with them. Nurseprotect is an organization formed to help nurses deal with the TX BNE, so that says something. ;)

Admittedly, Texas was an eye opener for me, an RN who moved there from a union area. It is employment at will, nurses are well controlled as a group and don't speak up. (except against each other and that seems to be encouraged in DFW, where the hospital association is like mafia)

I"m sure there are better places, units than others to work but in DFW its a crapshoot IMHO. I worked just about everywhere via agency there over the past 25 yrs and found conditions similarly understaffed in various stages of abuse and most nurses are not happy. With decent reasons. They stick it out because they need a job.

LPN's moving to Texas need to be aware of the new regulations by the BNE, limiting their areas of practice. Some DFW hospitals have dissed LPN's altogether, some still hire them on medsurg. Nursing homes seem the major employers of LPN's but they run through staff fast...huge turnover. Austin and San Antonio hospitals do not utilize LPN's much anymore either I have heard, but I don't know for sure.

Hate to be a wet blanket...guess if nursing in Texas is all someone has known they would think its OK...decent money, flexibility. My perspective is coming from a union area in the north to down south.

Schools are not good compared to other areas of the country, sadly.The 'exemplary' schools in Texas could not compete with the average school up north. I'm not sure what the problem is but I could not believe my kids' shortcomings in their education compared to my own.

Glen Rose is a pretty area. While I can't say specifically, beware of smaller towns in Texas which tend not to be so welcoming as the big cities, if they don't like your race or anything about your family. Sad to say this is not unusual in Texas to this day. Do your homework, visit for an extended period of time before you move there is my advice.

DFW does have a wide cultural spread and is tolerant, but there are lots of 'transplants' there. Most of my friends in my 25 yrs there were transplants as well. Texas Brag is alive and well and they are quite proud if they were born/raised there. ;)

Now...this is from my unique perspective so take it all with a grain of salt. I was only there for DH's job and never really go into it. Others here just LOVE Texas and would never want to live anywhere else. Good for them. Texas just luvs folks who luv Texas.

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Specializes in ICU.

I love TEXAS!!!!

I am originally from West Texas and moved to Austin 5 years ago. Love It!!!

I am really not for sure about some of the things that some of the above posters had mentioned. I have not had these problems here. Knock on wood, I have been nursing for 10 years in Tx and have never had a complaint filed against me nor have I had to deal with our BNE. As for the problems that people have said about our hospitals, well you can have those problems ANYWHERE! The only draw back I may see is that it may be more difficult fo you to find emplyment as an LVN as most hospitals in this area are going to an all RN staff. But there are still places to be hired. Also ACC has one of the best ADN programs in the state and they do have a bridge program. It does have a wait list though. Austin is a great, layed back city with lots of things to do. It is very "family" oriented. Cost of living is high in areas but affordable housing is out there if you look. We live in the burbs, Round Rock and I have a 15 minuet commute to my job in central Austin.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Yes it is. Glen Rose is in the southern part of Johnson County and I live in the northern part between Burleson and Cleburne. WOW it is a small world

Hi I am moving to Glen rose, is that any where near you[/quote']
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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

What is this all about? There has been no change in the practice of LVN's in Texas , we still are controlled by the policy and procedures our employers have though. Just because there have been some hospitals that all all RN now doesnt mean our practice laws have changed. This whole post is just wrong. If Texas was this bad ,do you think we would have one of the highest populations in the US. My children are well educated and your comment on Texas schools is garbage. Maybe the problem is your children didnt pay attention. If you dont have the facts ,dont say it. There is nothing wrong with small Texas towns ; No way would I live in the big city. And Im not sure what you have come into contact with here in regards to racism , but that is everywhere. I dont have any information about the BON and complications that occur with dealing with them BUT.... I do know Texas is a great place to live and raise kids. Glen Rose is a area I would love to live in. I love my state and think there is no other place to be. I also find it very offensive to read a whole post knocking my great state and the people that live here.

In my experience, the extensive background check stuff and blackballing is mostly in the DFW area. My own experience with the BNE was good...altho many of my friends in Texas are not pleased with them. Nurseprotect is an organization formed to help nurses deal with the TX BNE, so that says something. ;)

Admittedly, Texas was an eye opener for me, an RN who moved there from a union area. It is employment at will, nurses are well controlled as a group and don't speak up. (except against each other and that seems to be encouraged in DFW, where the hospital association is like mafia)

I"m sure there are better places, units than others to work but in DFW its a crapshoot IMHO. I worked just about everywhere via agency there over the past 25 yrs and found conditions similarly understaffed in various stages of abuse and most nurses are not happy. With decent reasons. They stick it out because they need a job.

LPN's moving to Texas need to be aware of the new regulations by the BNE, limiting their areas of practice. Some DFW hospitals have dissed LPN's altogether, some still hire them on medsurg. Nursing homes seem the major employers of LPN's but they run through staff fast...huge turnover. Austin and San Antonio hospitals do not utilize LPN's much anymore either I have heard, but I don't know for sure.

Hate to be a wet blanket...guess if nursing in Texas is all someone has known they would think its OK...decent money, flexibility. My perspective is coming from a union area in the north to down south.

Schools are not good compared to other areas of the country, sadly.The 'exemplary' schools in Texas could not compete with the average school up north. I'm not sure what the problem is but I could not believe my kids' shortcomings in their education compared to my own.

Glen Rose is a pretty area. While I can't say specifically, beware of smaller towns in Texas which tend not to be so welcoming as the big cities, if they don't like your race or anything about your family. Sad to say this is not unusual in Texas to this day. Do your homework, visit for an extended period of time before you move there is my advice.

DFW does have a wide cultural spread and is tolerant, but there are lots of 'transplants' there. Most of my friends in my 25 yrs there were transplants as well. Texas Brag is alive and well and they are quite proud if they were born/raised there. ;)

Now...this is from my unique perspective so take it all with a grain of salt. I was only there for DH's job and never really go into it. Others here just LOVE Texas and would never want to live anywhere else. Good for them. Texas just luvs folks who luv Texas.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In my experience, the extensive background check stuff and blackballing is mostly in the DFW area. My own experience with the BNE was good...altho many of my friends in Texas are not pleased with them. Nurseprotect is an organization formed to help nurses deal with the TX BNE, so that says something. ;)

Admittedly, Texas was an eye opener for me, an RN who moved there from a union area. It is employment at will, nurses are well controlled as a group and don't speak up. (except against each other and that seems to be encouraged in DFW, where the hospital association is like mafia)

I"m sure there are better places, units than others to work but in DFW its a crapshoot IMHO. I worked just about everywhere via agency there over the past 25 yrs and found conditions similarly understaffed in various stages of abuse and most nurses are not happy. With decent reasons. They stick it out because they need a job.

LPN's moving to Texas need to be aware of the new regulations by the BNE, limiting their areas of practice. Some DFW hospitals have dissed LPN's altogether, some still hire them on medsurg. Nursing homes seem the major employers of LPN's but they run through staff fast...huge turnover. Austin and San Antonio hospitals do not utilize LPN's much anymore either I have heard, but I don't know for sure.

Hate to be a wet blanket...guess if nursing in Texas is all someone has known they would think its OK...decent money, flexibility. My perspective is coming from a union area in the north to down south.

Schools are not good compared to other areas of the country, sadly.The 'exemplary' schools in Texas could not compete with the average school up north. I'm not sure what the problem is but I could not believe my kids' shortcomings in their education compared to my own.

Glen Rose is a pretty area. While I can't say specifically, beware of smaller towns in Texas which tend not to be so welcoming as the big cities, if they don't like your race or anything about your family. Sad to say this is not unusual in Texas to this day. Do your homework, visit for an extended period of time before you move there is my advice.

DFW does have a wide cultural spread and is tolerant, but there are lots of 'transplants' there. Most of my friends in my 25 yrs there were transplants as well. Texas Brag is alive and well and they are quite proud if they were born/raised there. ;)

Now...this is from my unique perspective so take it all with a grain of salt. I was only there for DH's job and never really go into it. Others here just LOVE Texas and would never want to live anywhere else. Good for them. Texas just luvs folks who luv Texas.

Thanks that was helpful.

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"I also find it very offensive to read a whole post knocking my great state and the people that live here."

Well ain't it great to live in America where we have freedom of speech? My post shared my opinion which the OP asked for and she is free to disregard or consider as we all are here. Rudeness however is not necessary.

Below in quotes a partial post in 'LPN's In CCU....a vent.'..where another poster described the latest BNE decision. I was unaware of it until she updated us last week.)

"Here is the file from the Texas BNE...

ftp://www.bne.state.tx.us/lvn-guide.pdf

The is RN vs. LVN Chart is about half way down the page.

it all really comes down to three words. "Unpredictable Health Status".

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