Considering move from Washington to San Antonio. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa vs University hospital?

[Fruit-of-the-Spirit]

Hi everyone I'm an experienced nurse from Washington state. I've been a nurse for 10 years, 4 years acute care medical-surgical float pool and 3 years critical care. Our family is considering moving to San Antonio. I found 2 hospitals in the area that have both achieved magnet status and seem like they might be a good fit. The hospitals are CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital and University hospital. Can anyone share their experiences working at either of these hospitals? If I took a position it would likely be adult medical-surgical, cardiac, progressive-intermediate care or float pool. Specifically are either hospital unionized? Also what is the average nurse to patient ratio? At my current position on nights the majority of medical floors are 1:5 some with less acuity are 1:6 and PCU is 1:4 or 1:3. Salary range would be appreciated too. I currently make $47 base plus $15 for weekends, $1 for BSN and $5.10 for nights. I feel blessed I work at a great facility but looking for alternative jobs in the event of major lay offs. Due to covid our hospital system is at a huge defecit and severely over staffed for our current patient Census. I recently transferred in the last 2 years and lay offs are based on seniority so our family is coming up with a plan in the event I need to look for work. So far San Antonio has sounded like a nice place to move. Insights on family life and nice areas to live would also be helpful we have 3 kids ages 6-14 and homeschool. Thank you.

[TexiSareN11]

Hello,

Hopefully I can help. University is the best hospital, its Level 1 trauma, so you will have interns, residents, and NPs on the unit when you need to communicate changes in your patient. They built a new beautiful tower and each patient room has a window. They are currently building a women's and children hospital in front of the main campus. I had clinical at Christus (babcock location), the have team nursing on most units (1 RN, 1 lvn, 1 tech 14-18 patients.) Christus (westover hills campus) is a newer and really nice facility, do not know much about that facility. Many nurses did not like that set up and came to University. UHS ratio 1:4, 1:2 or 1:1 ICUs. Many experienced nurses have taken a pay cut to get over to UHS. San Antonio is a really nice and safe family friendly city. There's tons of things to do with the children and summers there are great camps. There's six flags, sea world and other fun attractions in San Antonio. I had to buy my kid the Summer package because he goes so frequently. The homes are large and you get lot of space for your money, cost of living is cheap. It is a really safe city. North west, Medical center, far north west, Leon Valley, West over hills, stone oak, shavano park( $$$), Helotes are nice areas. There are many more it just depends on how far you'd like to travel (cibolo and new braunfels). They have changed downtown and lot of people love living there in the town homes and apartments. San Antonio is not a high paying city for nurses, thats the trade off. Many co-workers have PRN jobs.

There is also Methodist, they have thousand campuses throughout the city, I believe they are magnet as well. They have been affected by covid and many units closed down. Many nurses are furloughed or transferred to other units. Floor nurses rotate to care for covid patients.

Hope this helps! Best of luck.

[Psychnursehopeful, ASN, RN]

Expect a pay cut. Likely 30-36 with your experience. There are no ratios, University may be the lower paying hospital but they also have more support. Good luck!