Moving to the Houston area

Hi all,

I have been through the site and cannot find an answer to my question. I am moving to Southeast Texas to finish up my prereqs at one of the schools in the area. Then will be applying to LPN-ADN programs and will take whatever program accepts me. I have been a travel nurse for several years and am finally putting down roots for awhile to finish my RN. I will answer the inevitable question "Why Texas?" Because I can afford the tuition, the waiting lists don't seem to be as long for programs and there seems to be a need for per diem LPN's. Plus I'm sick of winter. Have been on the east coast for the last 4 winters!!!

What I need to know is where is a good place to live in southeast Texas. I have researched until my eyes are goo and have come up with either Texas City, Alvin, or southern Houston area. However, not being from there, I am not familiar with the safety of the areas, traffic concerns, etc... I will be working per diem and will need to be in an area where there is need for LTC LPNs. Does anyone live/work in these areas? If not, can anyone suggest somewhere else? I'm not real keen on living IN Houston, too much traffic/too many people. At the end of the day, I need somewhere quiet where I can take a walk and relax.

Thanks for all your info!! Looking forward to finally settling down for awhile.

I'm partial to the Bryan/College Station area, where I live.

Two major hospitals, both hire large numbers of LVNs (don't know about per diem, but both have tuition reimbursement programs and will work w/ schedules for school). Local community college w/ bridge program: Blinn College in Bryan (not the Brehnam campus), good community to raise kiddos. (although the College Station school district is better, IMO).

It's about 60 miles N. of Houston on the map.

You're welcome to PM me for more info.

~faith,

Timothy.

Coming from Pennsylvania myself, be prepared, summers are killer down here!!!

I actually miss winter now, it doesnt feel the same being here as it did up North.

I live right in Houston, right near downtown. There are actually 1 or 2 really nice communities very near the city, but right when you head out of the "inner loop" of Houston, there are a lot more communities and I would venture to say less traffic as well.

My only gripe? I constantly get lost here!! And there is a ton of traffic..other then that..I guess I like Houston itself..

When do you plan on moving? Either way..welcome to Houston.. :)

Hi all,

I have been through the site and cannot find an answer to my question. I am moving to Southeast Texas to finish up my prereqs at one of the schools in the area. Then will be applying to LPN-ADN programs and will take whatever program accepts me. I have been a travel nurse for several years and am finally putting down roots for awhile to finish my RN. I will answer the inevitable question "Why Texas?" Because I can afford the tuition, the waiting lists don't seem to be as long for programs and there seems to be a need for per diem LPN's. Plus I'm sick of winter. Have been on the east coast for the last 4 winters!!!

What I need to know is where is a good place to live in southeast Texas. I have researched until my eyes are goo and have come up with either Texas City, Alvin, or southern Houston area. However, not being from there, I am not familiar with the safety of the areas, traffic concerns, etc... I will be working per diem and will need to be in an area where there is need for LTC LPNs. Does anyone live/work in these areas? If not, can anyone suggest somewhere else? I'm not real keen on living IN Houston, too much traffic/too many people. At the end of the day, I need somewhere quiet where I can take a walk and relax.

Thanks for all your info!! Looking forward to finally settling down for awhile.

I live on the Southwest side in Richmond and its great. Anything on the southwest side of Houston in Fort Bend County is great from Sugarland on outward. It is just far enough from the city to be safer and quieter and close enough to not be such a pain to drive to school, work, or shopping. Traffic is traffic-its inevitable and everywhere. It really is safer out here...Ive worked at a local law enforcement agency for 8 years now and do the crime analysis for the agency and there is a BIG difference in the rates of types of crimes out here. Let me know if you have any questions.

Another town you might check out is Temple, about 30 miles N. of Austin on I-35.

Again, big hospitals (Scott & White, King's Daughter, and VA - with a long term area that I'm sure hires LVNs) and a community college (I think Temple Jr. College, but don't quote me.)

It's an 'urban' area without being 'in the big city'. And it's close enough to Austin to expand your community college options into Austin.

~faith,

Timothy.

Thanks so much for all the replies. Meghan, I will be moving late August, hottest time of the year I assume? Heat doesn't bother me, but I may end up missing the winters, who knows.

Zashagalka, thanks for the suggestions. Hadn't even thought about College Station/Bryan. Looks like a nice area, definately considering it.

Ree-nee, I had looked into SW Houston, but saw alot of things popping up on different websites about worsening crime rates, people not feeling safe. Do you feel safe in that area, say walking around by yourself, leaving your car out in the open, etc...? Right now I'm living in a very dodgy area and really don't want to repeat the experience.

Thanks again for all the info.

I live on the Southwest side in Richmond and its great. Anything on the southwest side of Houston in Fort Bend County is great from Sugarland on outward. It is just far enough from the city to be safer and quieter and close enough to not be such a pain to drive to school, work, or shopping. Traffic is traffic-its inevitable and everywhere. It really is safer out here...Ive worked at a local law enforcement agency for 8 years now and do the crime analysis for the agency and there is a BIG difference in the rates of types of crimes out here. Let me know if you have any questions.

I agree. I live in Sugar Land and love it. We moved here two years ago from New England and love it. The Richmond/Sugar Land area is a short drive into downtown Houston and a very nice location. Fort Bend County has great schools and my kids like their classes. There isn't alot of crime either. It does get hot and muggy over the summer and traffic in Houston is major; however, I've lived in Orlando and Phoenix so I'm kind of used to it. Good luck and welcome to Texas. PM me if you have any more questions.

School,

I think that you are looking in the right direction. I rarely go into Houston so I'm not as familiar with it.

Not to say that I don't like Houston because I really do, I just don't get a lot of opportunity to go up there between school and work.

Texas City has College of the Mainland that has an LVN-RN program. I haven't heard anything bad about it. The hospital in that town is Mainland Medical Center. Their website is mainlandmedical.com

Up I-45 a little farther north is Clear Lake Regional. Unfortunately, they are both HCA facilitites but I've heard few complaints about either one.

I know for sure that Mainland Medical in Texas City uses LVN's in many areas and are always hiring.

Farther south of Texas City on the island is Galveston College. They have an LVN-RN program as well and I've heard that the waiting list is fairly short, I've heard around a year or less but I'm not certain.

The local hospital there, UTMB, only hires LVN's in the outpatient/clinic areas.

Alvin also has a community college with a nursing program so you have some options down here.

However, I would advise you to steer clear of LTC and stick with hospital nursing in this area.

I have yet to hear anything good about any LTC facility in SE Texas.

I've lived on the east coast as well. I don't miss the winters and will never go back.