High Patient ratio. 1:8 or more. It is like work 20% extra hard not getting paid.
1.5-2% extra on housing tax would make you lose even there is no state tax there. Save 2000 dollar on state tax. But you pay about 3000 dollar more on housing tax if you have a house worth more than $200,000 .
Electricity bill is 13c/kwh. This is another 100-200 dollar extra loss financially.
Plus, your wage is $5-10 less, depends where you are from.
I have been Texas. It is a nice place. This my view from financial point only.
In Texas we are able to speak properly including in clear
statements. Do you realize how large our state is, and your
research information or conjecture.
Karen G.
Try working in Canada where you pay an average of $70 a month for parking (surface lots in the freezing cold where they cycle the plugs so if your car starts in the -25C it is barely starting) and $70 a month for union dues, not to mention NO reimbursement for tuition, PALS, etc. Sure the pay may SEEM higher (starting out of school is $29/hr) but take away the high income tax rates, the HIGH housing costs (average condo prices in Calgary are $325K), high food prices (cheap chicken is $2.50/lb, cereal is on sale for $3-$4 a box), and the high fees from everything from cars, gas, car licenses, auto repairs, etc. to books, furniture, household items...you have nothing left!
I am moving BACK to TX as fast as I can!
[/quote
Hey: We are not comparing nursing salary in Texas with Canada or South Pole ! We are comparing with other states. Be logic.
You are right. The tite of this post should be: Which part of Texas is the best deal for nurses? Houston area? DWF area? or East Texas? Thank you. John
You are right. The tite of this post should be: Which part of Texas is the best deal for nurses? Houston area? DWF area? or East Texas? Thank you. John
I don't work in any of those parts. There's a hell of a lot more to Texas than the metro areas! Maybe that's why my view on the quality of life in Texas is so rosey. I'm far enough away from the Dallas area to enjoy my small town life and close enough to drive there for dinner and a movie, see a more experienced Dr, or pig out on the samples at the Whole Foods Market while buying my organic meat for the month.
Sure I make a few dollars less an hour than a DFW nurse, but I also drive 6 miles each way to work, there is NO traffic. I have time to get home and make dinner from scratch if I want. Everything is 15 minutes away.
Here's a short rundown on my costs...house pament (1800 sq ft, 1000 sq ft shop, 2 acres) less than $750.00 a month (taxes & insurance included); property taxes $ 1100 a year; homeowners insurance $900.00; auto insurance, 2 cars fully covered is 667.00 / 6 mos; electric $ 145.00 (all electric house..grrr); No water or sewer because we have a well and septic; trash 16.50; gasoline for 2 cars 175.00. Who can complain about that???
Without taking a vote here I am sure most of us agree that you might attempt your future elsewhere. Texas is a wonderful state; those of us who live here, and are professionals know this. When you attack a state and it's professionals due to your own misconceptions it makes "one" wonder where you should practice. I'd suggest Alaska John.
Thanks!
Karen G.
You are right. The tite of this post should be: Which part of Texas is the best deal for nurses? Houston area? DWF area? or East Texas? Thank you. John
More electricity you use, the higher rate should be. Do a specific search. Don't make assumption.
Tell me in specific, which hospitals have 1:5 ratio? prove it.
The standard at nearly any hospital in Houston and Dallas I've been in as a student or working has been 1:5-6 med surg 1:3-4 telemetry/step down and 1:1-2 ICU (sometimes 3 if 1-2 of the pts are downgraded patients that haven't found a bed elsewhere yet).
Property tax % is a bit high, but our actual property values are ridiculously low. A 2,100 sq. foot townhome in California will sell for $750,000, whereas one here in an incredibly upscale town (The Woodlands) will go for $175,000. Electricity depends on your company. Mine's 12 cents/ kWh and that's pretty good anywhere in the US.
Wage : cost of living is incredibly good in Texas.
As a student, I've been to several hospitals in the DFW area. Most of the time, things run around 1:4 or 1:5. The only time I've seen things higher is on the night shift of a general med surg floor, where the ratio was 1:7 because someone called in and they were trying to find someone to help with the load. The nurses weren't happy about it, but they also admitted it was a rare occurrence.
I agree with Jaxia. I haven't seen that high of nurse to patient ratios, and the pay is 'decent'.
Yes, we could always want more, and deserve more, but being offered $23 to start is much more than I heard 2 years ago ($19/hour) when I started clinicals.
Electricity is RIDICULOUS, I agree, but there are things we can do to keep it down.
1) Unplug things, not just turn them off.
2) Keep the thermostat at a happy medium...don't be afraid to wear light clothing or use a blanket while watching TV or reading, etc.
3) Use fluorescent bulbs.
As far as moving to Texas, well if you don't like our state, please, DO NOT MOVE HERE. If you love our state, and have what it takes to be an 'HONORARY TEXAN', then best of luck wherever you end up in our great state. :)
Texas is a wonderful place for nurses. The ratio at my hospital is mostly 1:5 and 1:6 if someone calls in. I am in north texas and believe me the hourly wage is not the only benefit to look at. Cost of living is way lower here and besides that YOU GET TO MEET THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!!!!! Now what is better than that.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I have not read through the entire thread, so please forgive me if I am repeating something already said.
I pay 10 cents per kwh for electricity. I live in a suburb just north of Dallas and use Ambit energy.
Property taxes are high, but this is to make up for the fact that we have no state income tax in Texas, which most people feel pretty darn good about.
Nurses are in high demand here. I could not comment on patient ratios or pay rates yet as I am still in school, but while my son was undergoing cancer treatment (pediatric) the nurses never had more than 4 patients on the onc. unit and never more than 2 on the transplant ward.
While I can't personally comment on ratios (although I tend to lean towards people's words who have actually SEEN the ratios), I can comment on housing/energy costs. Our housing in D/FW is probably the least expensive per square foot than any other metropolitan city of its size. We have 3600 s.f. for less than $270,000. Our electric bill is $400-500 in the summer but only because we run our A/C at 66-69 (we are hot natured!). Our property taxes are high in my suburb---we pay around $8,000 per year. But we are in a mostly exemplary school district (not that I put that much faith in that these days). This much I know---I have lived in other large cities and paid FAR more for housing, but far less for property taxes and about the same for energy--namely, in the Phoenix metro area. I loved Phoenix, but I am MUCH happier with Texas' schools. MUCH. Plus, like previous posters have said---no state taxes. Texans are proud people. It doesn't sound like the original poster would fit in here very well. We don't take to complainin' very well As they say Quit-yer-b$#@*in'
.thumb.gif.55aeaafdb61768ab641b1fab52f42961.gif){kind=avatar}
As they say
KarenGeorgeBSRN
80 Posts
Dear John,
In Texas we are able to speak properly including in clear
statements. Do you realize how large our state is, and your
research information or conjecture.
Karen G.