Houston job market for new grads

[ohwerehalfwaythere]

Hi everyone,

I am a soon to be BSN grad in May 2009 and was wondering what the Houston job market is looking like for NG RN's. I am from Ohio/Michigan boarder area and it's a horrible time for any job here, even RNs are getting laid off! Also, a lot of experienced RN's that would have retired are staying on or picking up extra shifts to make up for a spouse's lost income. All of this combined with no experience makes it nearly impossible to find a job for a new graduate.

I have several friends in the Houston area and am considering the move there but am trying to gage the market first to see what I'm getting myself into. I have already glanced at the Med Ctr and it looks awesome but you can never really tell if they are actually hiring based on websites.

So a few questions--job market conditions (nursing and else where too), any relocation assistance? tuition reimbursements? Any hospitals that give shift differential for BSN?

Any info would help greatly! Thank you so much!

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I don't know of any that pay more for BSN. I think MD Anderson only hires BSNs and up, though. Start contacting recruiters now though!

[earthcrosser]

Pretty much all of your magnet hospitals are hiring new BSNs only (ADNs sometimes have a shot, given they come from certain ADN programs - or have worked for a while). There's a lot of nursing schools here producing new grads, so it can be a bit comepetitive for spots for internships/new graduate positions, depending on if you are specializing and what kind of specialty it is. Pediatric spots are ridiculously popular, haha.

Never seen a shift differential for a new grad BSN here - I get paid the same as my BSN companions. The night differential can be quite lovely, though - where I work, it's at least $4. Tuition reimbursements seem to apply more towards FUTURE schooling to be done - not often retroactive because there is such a large pool of potential hires. They really don't need to throw out too many incentives these days, haha. I really doubt for a GN that they would offer relocation assistance - that would be more likely for someone who had more nursing expirience (I could be wrong, but it's pretty unlikely). Houston pay is good - but lower than what a lot of other places pay for new nurses, but the cost of loiving isn't as high, and there's always merit based raises.

I personally love working in the Medical Center, but Houston has a lot of hospitals within the community that are also excellent places to work. You will see a lot more in the Medical Center, as so many people travel from all over the world just to be treated here.

Internship fairs would probably be starting sometime in February to March. But contacting Human Resources for each hospital system is important, so you get can be prepared for these, as you will need to get some letters of reccomendation ready.

[taylorxteddy]

I do know that Memorial Hermann offers tuition reimbursement; I was looking at it a second ago. Check into that.