considering lubbock

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hi to everyone! i am a nurse in the philippines, currently being petitioned for a working visa to the US. My destination will eventually be in Lubbock, Texas and i'll be working for the Covenant Health System. As i am going to embark on this new journey abroad, can anyone pls help in a way and describe how life is in Lubbock...? Also my initial offer from Covenant is $19.75.... is that a good offer and a sufficient income for a nurse? any feedback would really be helpful. thank u in advance!

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I've lived my entire life (37 years) in Lubbock. My current job requires me to travel EVERYWHERE and there is no place else I would ever want to live if I had the choice.

Depending on your lifestyle, you will or will not like it. I know several Canadian nurses who came and ended up staying (they're still here after 10+ years).

If you will PM me, I would be glad to talk with you in private about my experiences at Covenant. I lasted there 9 months back in 1993. I worked at the other large hospital in Lubbock for 9 years and was much happier there. But I also know plenty of nurses that work for Covenant that wouldn't work for the other hospital. So it just depends on what you look for in a work environment.

As far as the hourly rate, I'm not sure. I am not a nurse in the "real world" or hospital anymore and couldn't tell you what they pay. Back when I worked at the hospital my starting salary was $12.75 as a RN! But that was over 15 years ago, lol. You may want to give the nurse recruitment office at both hospitals a call and see what they would give you for an hourly wage (but don't tell them you have already talked to anyone, and make up a name) then you can tell if it is a good wage or not. It is probably pretty decent as a base wage. Then they should have shift differential and weekend differential.

Hope this helps.

Cristi

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I've lived my entire life (37 years) in Lubbock. My current job requires me to travel EVERYWHERE and there is no place else I would ever want to live if I had the choice.

Depending on your lifestyle, you will or will not like it. I know several Canadian nurses who came and ended up staying (they're still here after 10+ years).

If you will PM me, I would be glad to talk with you in private about my experiences at Covenant. I lasted there 9 months back in 1993. I worked at the other large hospital in Lubbock for 9 years and was much happier there. But I also know plenty of nurses that work for Covenant that wouldn't work for the other hospital. So it just depends on what you look for in a work environment.

As far as the hourly rate, I'm not sure. I am not a nurse in the "real world" or hospital anymore and couldn't tell you what they pay. Back when I worked at the hospital my starting salary was $12.75 as a RN! But that was over 15 years ago, lol. You may want to give the nurse recruitment office at both hospitals a call and see what they would give you for an hourly wage (but don't tell them you have already talked to anyone, and make up a name) then you can tell if it is a good wage or not. It is probably pretty decent as a base wage. Then they should have shift differential and weekend differential.

Hope this helps.

Cristi

please pardon me for asking but how do i PM you? i don't know how. LOL thanks Cristi

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Hi im a filipina too just migrate here in lubbock and an Rn in the Philippines but dont have any job here yet. Im gonna take their NCLEX exam as of now im still reviewing. I graduated 1999 and rusty already.Anyways i lved near in covenat and its one of the biggest hospital here in Lubbock and youll gonna like it..

So Good Luck!

quote=bibam69;2057811]hi to everyone! i am a nurse in the

philippines, currently being petitioned for a working visa to the US. My destination will eventually be in Lubbock, Texas and i'll be working for the Covenant Health System. As i am going to embark on this new journey abroad, can anyone pls help in a way and describe how life is in Lubbock...? Also my initial offer from Covenant is $19.75.... is that a good offer and a sufficient income for a nurse? any feedback would really be helpful. thank u in advance!

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to maury,

good luck on ur nclex exam! i hope to arrive there by next year ;)

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Just out of curiosity how many years experience do you have? I know they do not start RN's from this area at that rate so I was wondering how much experience you have.

Covenant has very high patient to nurse ratios ... average is 8-9:1 on med surg, 6:1 on step downs and 3:1 in ICU. Do not believe what they tell you about staffing, as covenant does not have a written staffing plan dealing with ratios. They do not staff by acuity either. I do know that covenant is about to lose 30 nurses over staffing issues because it never gets any better and management is not willing to help out.

Good luck and truly consider going to UMC (University Medical Center).

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Specializes in ICU, Psych.

I go to WT in Amarillo and Covenant was up at our school last semester offering us this "fabulous" package. 5k tuition assistance while we're finishing school and 5k sign on bonus, 20/hour to start and day 1 bennies all for a one year contract.

I have a friend who signed on with them and come to find out the payouts for tuition and the sign on bonus are over 2 years and their facilities aren't what you would expect from the "nice" hospital in town (UMC is the county hospital).

I will NOT be going there. I thought about it for awhile...but not so much!

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