Austin, Seton-Brackenridge

ICURNGUY · Apr 25, 2011

Ok so this will be pretty extensive! I worked in the ICU straight out of school and residency for the ICU. After 2 years moved to SF for family and work. I am going back next month! Can't wait. I am making $59/hr in SF, and yes....can't wait to get back to Austin. The healthcare is pretty damn state of the art, and pay ratio to cost of living is pretty good. Other areas of TX are better, but you can't beat the progressive and hip vibe of Austin.

The hospital is on a boarderline rough area. East Austin can be rough, and there is a homeless shelter right off red river and 7th st. If you want to live hip check out South Congress and South Lamar just south of the River. The town lake, btw, is the best place to hang out in the summer if you are into fitness, and it's pretty safe. Oh yea, Austin is serious into fitness. Only in SF did I see as many skinny and fit people. SF becuase of the pedestrian lifestyle and hills. If you want to live high and mighty, check out downtown. Several highrises that lease. I lived in 1 for a year, and it was full of rich students for UT. Like a frat-house at times, but you can't beat the views! West is for the rich and north and south are families. You can get a 3 bed house for around 1k. Austin is crazy dog and family friendly as well.

Now, working for Brack.....it's really what you make of it. I worked at the Sister hospital off 38th for over 2 years in ED and ortho/neuro as a tech. It was great. Helped with nursing school. As an RN in the ICU....unbeatable! Actually Brack is unbeatable. You get everything! Level 1 trauma for 11 counties so no matter what dept you get it all. Benefits are pretty damn good, and pay is good. City makes up the rest. Only thing is it gets HOT for about 3 months out of the year. 100+ for at least 30-60 days with humidity. Rest of the time it's beautiful, friendly, MUSIC MUSIC, and chill. For a big city it is relaxed.

AMAC8487 · Apr 26, 2011

Thanks for that input!! I am looking to locate to Austin as a new RN, and am curious as to where to start looking and if anywhere takes new grad RNs. At least I know where the good areas are to move! Thanks!

ICURNGUY · Apr 26, 2011

New grads are accepted to both major medical centers in Austin.....Seton, and St. Davids. You have to apply and get accepted, and they accept different amounts every time, but @ seton it's around 30-50 per cohort and there are 2-5 cohorts a year. I went thru Seton, and the Versant Residency is AMAZING! St. Davids also has a program called "skip" I think. It's pretty great also according to fellow graduates. Good luck and you will be fine in Central Texas. Depending on the field Seton has a Heart Transplant/stroke center hospital with 600+beds, Level 1 trauma with 400+, and a few smaller with a level 2 trauma 300+ just north of Austin. St. Davids....aka....St. "dollars" has a level 3 that's pretty big with cutting edge cardio ablation and several smaller facilities around. You can't go wrong!

miami1981 · May 4, 2011

Just got accepted into seton residency. Was the residency really helpful for you? Do you get pay increases as you progress thru it? If so can you describe how that works?

RN Zeke · May 5, 2011

ICURNGUY,

Have you returned to Austin? Will you be working for Seton? Let us know if it is still the same, better or worse....Good Luck

ziggy150 · May 31, 2011

Ok so this will be pretty extensive! I worked in the ICU straight out of school and residency for the ICU. After 2 years moved to SF for family and work. I am going back next month! Can't wait. I am making $59/hr in SF, and yes....can't wait to get back to Austin. The healthcare is pretty damn state of the art, and pay ratio to cost of living is pretty good. Other areas of TX are better, but you can't beat the progressive and hip vibe of Austin.
The hospital is on a boarderline rough area. East Austin can be rough, and there is a homeless shelter right off red river and 7th st. If you want to live hip check out South Congress and South Lamar just south of the River. The town lake, btw, is the best place to hang out in the summer if you are into fitness, and it's pretty safe. Oh yea, Austin is serious into fitness. Only in SF did I see as many skinny and fit people. SF becuase of the pedestrian lifestyle and hills. If you want to live high and mighty, check out downtown. Several highrises that lease. I lived in 1 for a year, and it was full of rich students for UT. Like a frat-house at times, but you can't beat the views! West is for the rich and north and south are families. You can get a 3 bed house for around 1k. Austin is crazy dog and family friendly as well.
Now, working for Brack.....it's really what you make of it. I worked at the Sister hospital off 38th for over 2 years in ED and ortho/neuro as a tech. It was great. Helped with nursing school. As an RN in the ICU....unbeatable! Actually Brack is unbeatable. You get everything! Level 1 trauma for 11 counties so no matter what dept you get it all. Benefits are pretty damn good, and pay is good. City makes up the rest. Only thing is it gets HOT for about 3 months out of the year. 100+ for at least 30-60 days with humidity. Rest of the time it's beautiful, friendly, MUSIC MUSIC, and chill. For a big city it is relaxed.

Wife and I are noth thinking bout relocating somewhere "better" than Metro Detroit area for many reasons - including weather. The pay is good here after researching what others make in different parts of the country. You said the pay was "good" in Austin. Any examples? I make $36.60 hr in the cath lab as per diem and my wife is making $29 hr full time in recovery. Also, I see you ride. How's the riding in Austin? I would imagine it's awesome, but that's based on nothing. Your reply would be most appreciated.

ICURNGUY · Jun 1, 2011

I did move back and working @ Brack......love it like a fat kid loves cake! Trauma, and med/surg ICU.....can't beat it. I am sure there are other places, and always better places, but this is a stable secure position. Average pay is 21-30 depending on exp. I make 25. With night dif it's 29 and we also have a weekend diff on top of that so it's 31.50. Per diem with pay different, I think about $10+and with cost of living no tthe cheapest in Tx you certain can be frugal and save. I live about 5m to downtown and the river and pay under 1k for a 2 bed apt about 50 ft from the hike and bike trail and greenbelt.

I do ride, and there certainly is good riding in Austin. Not the friendliest motorcycle state, but the city is a "urban" want-to-be, and it tries so there is more ped and bike/motorcycle traffic than most. We don't have the huge sprawl of Houston or Dallas so it's great. No lane splitting tho so waiting at lights and in traffic with this heat sucks.

The residency is the "shis-nit" for new nurses. You get paid while you sit in classes and OJT. Un heard of in CA. Also when you finish come time for the cost of living rais you will get it. Having not been on my own....without a preceptor, and getting a raise? What? It's awesome. Don't be so concerned about the $. People get paid crap cuz it's a good place to live, not for the money. No "raises" till after you are out of residency. It was extremely helpful. Hands on and playing with equipment before you set foot in the room with it in your face alarming or not functioning. Helps with confidence and safety!

GatorNurse10 · Jun 7, 2011

ICURNGUY - Another question! Did you apply for jobs out of state or wait until you got back to Austin to apply for jobs?

azariasRN · Jun 2, 2013

I am currently trying to get on at one of the ICUs at Brack. I am a Trauma & Surgery ICU RN with a bulk of my experience coming from Level 1 Trauma in Louisiana. Any advice how to navigate the hiring process? I have tried to go to HR in person and call the nurse recruiter, both with no luck at contact or a call back. I know how competitive Level 1 positions can be and how valuable advice is to the process.

rollingonariver · Apr 1, 2014

Hi ICURNGUY, I'm not sure if you are still in the area, but I am applying to the New Grad Residency - hoping for ICU (I'm graduating from a direct-entry MSN/RN program in VA, and my last 500 hours are in a level I trauma ICU so I'm 99% sure I belong in intensive care) or the new psych ED (background in counseling). Anyway, I am having a ridiculously hard time getting in touch with HR, and I was wondering if you knew any managers who wouldn't be put off by me contacting them directly. My friend has had an offer from Dells, and we don't really want to relocate alone (man that looks lame in writing). Any advice is greatly appreciated!