entry level nurse in Houston Texas

[chikah_dorah]

I have been looking for a job in different hospitals that hire new nurses but no luck.

I have 2 years RN experience in Philippines. I still would like to apply as entry level here in Houston, TX. I am just scared that if I apply as an experienced nurse, they will put me on the floor, on the first day, as the only nurse there and there would be no one that I can ask if I dont know how to do this and that. I would apply if someone will supervise me even for 1 or 2 weeks.

I just passed my Nclex this month.

Anyody from Houston who knows hospitals that are currently hiring new nurses with under 1 or 2 weeks supervision?

Responses are highly appreciated.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In terms of job eligibility, you are considered a new grad. You only recently passed your NCLEX. Since US nursing practice differs dramatically from most other countries, non-US experience really doesn't count. Unfortunately you are facing a Catch-22 situation. The only way into the major hospitals systems in Houston is via a formal new grad program (residency). Those programs have very few slots which are filled very quickly with BSN grads (ADNs are not eligible) who have had rotations in their clinical sites.

I would advise you to focus your job hunt on smaller/independent facilities, LTCs, LTACHs or hospitals in the exurbs (farther out than suburbs).

Best of luck to you

[chikah_dorah]

Thanks for the response. I am not focusing on LTC's

[HeyHeyitsMaay]

I will tell you what I tell every other GN that I meet. If you have the opportunity to work in LTC/SNF, you truly should. It is arguably one of the hardest nursing specialties there is. Without long term care I absolutely would not have been able to handle correctional nursing, or med surg for that matter. In Houston the chances of getting into a hospital setting are slim to none for someone who didn't graduate from a local nursing program - as their GN's get first shot at GN residency programs in the area. And, I'm not sure what your education level in the Philippines translates to here, but unless it's a baccalaureate level program and is recognized as such by JHACO - you won't be hired at a hospital, except Cy-Fair or TRH, but again, as a new grad, you're also excluded.

I'm curious as to why you aren't "focusing on LTC"? Excuse my next statement please because it may come across as blunt. But I've hired a critical care nurse who wanted a change of scenery and had never worked in LTC, but had over a decade of hospital experience, half of which was in critical care. She lasted one week. We're seeing a revolving door with GN's in our area, and I know all over the country as well with respect to education that focuses more on management and delegation and less on hands on care. The result? GN's, especially BSN's (in our area anyway - but I did hire 2 from out of state who also had this issue) who are "not focusing on LTC", have very little to zero direct patient care skills, refuse to participate in direct patient care, and to be completely transparent, can't be trusted with the most basic of care expectations and patient needs.

I apologize for the length of my response to your question, but I just wanted to lend you a little insight that might help you in your nursing career. More important is that it'll help your patients.

[chikah_dorah]

Thanks for the advise. My previous comment was supposed to be "I am NOW focusing in LTC..." Im sorry for the typo error. And yes you are right, it is good to know the basics when you are just starting your nursing career. Right now, I have applied in different LTC's but nobody replied yet I'm going to start next 2 weeks as volunteer nurse in Memorial Hermann.

[HeyHeyitsMaay]

In THAT case....AWESOME! I would encourage you to apply at one of the Grace Care facilities. Northpointe especially has incredible learning opportunities as long as you don't mind orienting as a CNA, then med aide before RN. Which is the policy for new hires who are new to skilled nursing/LTC.