the houston dilemma-need your help!!

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I'm planning a move to the Houston area from Phoenix. I'm doing alot of research and i realize much of my confusion will be solved when i get to actually drive around and look at things for myself. The dilemma is not only what part of town but hospital choices since there seems to be a ton!! I am tired of the big urban city life and working in a large inner city hospital! My original thought was that i would look at some of the smaller cities around houston like bellville, cypress b/c i love the country feel and old historic houses etc.. the problem is that i am 33 years old, single and will be starting over in a new city where I need to make new friends! I feel like being in one of these small towns will isolate me from others my age in a similar situation. Someone suggested the "Heights" neighborhood of Houston but from what I've read, sounds like i will be a stone's throw away from the urban life I'm trying to get away from. Ive heard about the Woodlands as well but once again I'm worried im going to end up in a very family oriented area and no hope for the single girl :) The second issue is I really want to find some type of outpatient nursing job possibly at an outpatient surgery center and having trouble finding this. I welcome any and all of your ideas PLEASE!!!!! Thanks a million.....

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you might look into the katy area or the tomball area. we lived in houston for 3 years and it was a huge adjustment, but if you get out of the inner city part it isn't too bad! tomball has a good hospital and out at katy memorial herman has a new hospital! both areas are really good and they have kind of a small town feel to them too with the city stuff close by! hope that helps, if you have anymore questions feel free to ask!! good luck!!!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

if i was faced with living houston i would look into other area. i have heard katy is a nice area, my sister in law lives there but ive never been. when i was traveling doing medicare auditing and i had about 5 nursing homes in houston, i would stay in galveston . it is 36 miles from houston and lots of great food and atmosphere...

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Ditto on Galveston...It seems like a good match for your situation. Katy is very family oriented and the traffic that way is nuts! You would die of boredom in The Woodlands...so I pick Galveston for you....you should visit and see what you think. Not sure where you are coming from but get ready for the humidity. It's enough to choke a horse right now....Galveston always has a nice breeze at least.

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Heights = neat area, convenient to downtown and the Texas Medical Center, but be prepared to pay out the nose for that convenience and ambiance.

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I live 26 miles south of downtown Houston and 23 miles North of Houston. Although I live in a the 'burbs, I experience a nice mix of family oriented fun. But there is also plenty of singles nightlife. The Clear Lake area hosts a number of nightclubs and hundreds of restaurants. I am close enough to Galveston that I can go and enjoy the water, and I am just a twenty-five minute car ride from Houston's greatest shopping area, the Galleria.

The midtown area (inside Beltway 8 on the West side) is great for singles, but it has more of an urban appeal than the suburbs.

Katy is great, but the traffic is a nightmare. Forget the I-10 corridor!

Galveston has alot of beach life, but the native population can be a challenge. The crime is high, the housing is poor (especially apartment living), and the only hospital on the island is UTMB which specializes in indigent and correctional care.

I completed my student rotations on Galveston Island, and I found that commuting over the causeway bridge to be a nightmare during Spring Break and the long (8 month) summer tourist season. The island hosts Kappa Beach Party each year which paralyzes the police force and forces the closure of businesses due to excessive drunkeness and lude behavior.

In addition, Mardi Gras is celebrated for several weeks on the island, Dicken on the Stand during December, Lone Star Motorcycle Rally, and a host of other "attractions" add to the problem of increase travel time to work. Additionally, the hospital census jumps during any of the festivities.

I love to play in Galveston, but I would not want to live there. As a matter of fact, three UTMB docs live on my street just 23 miles North on I-45. I large number of the professional staff of UTMB live off the island and commute due to the shortage of housing on the island. For example, many homes built prior to the 1900 hurricane still stand in all their splendor, with Section 8 housing (Govt projects) just next door.

Google the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for a better overview of the Clear Lake area.

The Woodlands is a beautiful community nestled in tall pine trees. And it is home of the Cynthia Woods-Mitchell Pavilion where all the big concerts are held. The city has great shopping at the Woodlands Mall, and Memorial Hermann-The Woodlands Hospital and Methodist Hospital Woodlands. If you decide to live in Houston and commute to the Texas Medical Center (a few city blocks lined with 7 or 8 large highly-acclaimed teaching Hospitals), the drive would take about 1 hr during rush-hour (which may or may not be a problem depending on your shift).

Oh yea, rush hour in Houston starts around 3:30 pm.

Another idea, if you want a small town appeal in the heart of the city, try looking at West University. It is located just blocks from the Texas Medical Center and Rice University. Historic homes are a staple, and you are close enough to everything that matters. A few blocks from West U is the Village which is a cluster of restaurants, boutiques, and night venues like the Gingerman Bar and the Baker Street Pub. Plus, with Rice nearby, there are plenty of young singles.

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Specializes in OR, Pediatrics.

I live in Houston on the edge of Cypress & Tomball. If it were me, I would choose The Woodlands. It is beautiful!!! The 2 hospitals out there are Memorial Hermann & St. Luke's - The Woodlands. Also, there is Conroe Hospital just north of The Woodlands. There are PLENTY of surgery centers around here. Spring Creek Surgery Center, Sterling Ridge Surgery Center are 2 that I can think of off the top of my head.

Best of luck to you!!!

J

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What hospital will you be working at???

I work in the medical center and live in uptown. I am bout 20 minutes away but the traffic is bad. Crime is really high too, but to be honest with you it's high even in the 'burbs. Not sure what is going on....

But if I could live anywhere I would choose woodlands and work at hermann hospital there....

Less crime, prettier, less traffic....

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I havent narrowed down a hospital yet but still looking at all the areas first!

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well ive lived in the woodlands for 21 years now (i am 21) but i have a good grasp on the area. if you have anyone questions send me an email [email protected] i can tell you the woodlands area is really nice . . .

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Specializes in ER, Infusion therapy, Oncology.

I live on the southeast side of Houston. There are a lot of smaller towns. Pearland, Alvin, Santa FE, Friendswood, League City, Clear Lake (which is officially part of Houston). There are numerous smaller hospitals out that direction, and if you want to go to the medical center to work it is right down the road. What it comes down to is, your choices are unlimited in Houston and the surrounding area. Good Luck!

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