Interested in Seton Residency - From Cali to Austin

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I'm a BSN nursing student in the California Bay Area (graduating Dec 2019) and interested in relocating to Austin. I wanted to find out more about the Seton RN residency program.

How often do they start new cohorts? When do they hold open house sessions? Do they accept graduates from out-of-state who get their Texas license?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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They start new cohorts three times a year, on their FAQ section on their website it says February, July, and October and generally have their open houses five months before the start of each cohort! Yes, they do accept graduates from out of state, just be aware that it is INCREDIBLY competitive. I went to their open house and there were soo many future new grads/ new grads there.

Make sure you fill out an interest form on their website and sign up for a time slot if you do plan on going to the open house. Also, the open house is more like mini job interviews rather than a place to get information... learned that the hard way.

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nrsng2019 Thank you for all the advice and input. Good to know that it's really competitive, which is similar to the new grad programs here in the Bay Area, particularly Stanford.

I was planning on attending an open house to get a feel for the programs and thank you for pointing out they are like mini interviews. For the open house, do you bring your resume, cover letters and letters of references?

For the interest form, do I wait to submit it for the cohort that I am applying for? I won't sit for the NCLEX until next Feb, so the earliest cohort I can apply for is the July 2020 one.

Do you know what happens after the interviews and how long they take to let you know you're accepted? Do you know anyone in the program now? Are there any other places besides Seton that offer new grad jobs?

Thanks so much for any advice

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No problem!
I was going to the open house thinking I would get more information regarding the program too but that didn't happen lol. Yes, I would definitely bring your resume, cover letter, and references for the open house!

Also, wait and do the interest form for the cohort you're planning on joining, they sent out invites during January last time.

I think interviews will depend on the hiring managers on each unit and how many applicants they're interviewing. I got hired and will be starting in the July cohort!

There are two main hospitals in Austin so there's Seton and St David's which is a private hospital. Then there's Baylor Scott and White I don't know much about that hospital though. St davids also has an open house, I didn't attend that one but it was a week or two after Setons.

Also, be aware that there is a significant pay difference between California and Austin. New grad pay starts in the mid $20s at both of the main hospitals. I'm not sure if you're aware of that but I'm just filling you in! I'm from California too and had to dig deep to find out all this information about all the hospitals in Austin lol.

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Thank you for your input on the different hospital and what to expect at open house.

My husband and I visited Austin last month and toured downtown and all around the city, looking at the different neighborhoods of north and west Austin, looking at different homes we could afford and I was very impressed with the city and the schools. The landscape is beautiful, hilly and full of trees, not what I expected. The food trucks had amazing food and the people were friendly. I had a great time. Right now my goal is to be looking for jobs both here in the Bay Area and also in Austin after I graduate because I could see myself living there.

But I'm disappointed in the low pay for new grads compared to California. That is something I will have to keep in mind if my family and I do decide to move out there. My question is: Does the Seton New grad program require a one-year or two-year committment? What is the salary like for RNs there after completion of the program? Do you have any say in which hospital they place you?

Also, I'm really curious about the difference in the standards of practice and the culture between nurses and doctors. Do you find that they are similar to how we are taught in California?

Last question: Do you see yourself moving back to California?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Keep in mind the cost of living here in Texas is one of the lowest in the nation. There is no state income tax. Property taxes tend to be high but real estate prices are low. The vast majority of people have a better quality of life and more discretionary money living in Texas than they did when living in California, even with the wages.

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