Need Help with relocating to Houston?

tsheriff · Mar 20, 2007

someone pls help me!

MintyKorn · Apr 20, 2007

Hello All-
I just wanted to say thank you for all the information everyone has provided in the Texas threads. I have read about 10 pages already....exhausting. Anyway...
Ok, here is my dilemma:
I will be graduating in May 07 from a BSN program in Las Vegas and really considering moving to Houston after graduation to take the NCLEX?
1. What is the starting pay rate (range) for a non experienced RN with a BSN in Houston? And are the hospitals negotiable?
2. Is it hard to get your first position in the Emergency Room?
3. Are the HCA hospitals good to work for?
4. How about Baylor Medical Center in Pasadena, TX in particular? Is it nice? Are the nurses happy there?
5. What hospitals in Houston do you recommend and why?
6. What nice areas in the Houston area do you recommend living in? I am a city girl but want to be in a nice surburb to raise my kids but not too far from anything I guess?
Thank you so much,
Tunisha
SN, UNLV

I used to live in Houston (now Cali). The starting pay for new grads when I left was around $21-$22 (although that was 2 yrs ago so it might be higher now. If you want emergency room experience then either Ben Taub or Hermann Hospital is the best choice since they are a level 1 trauma center.....and believe me, you will DEFINITELY get experience there!

Ben Taub hires new grads all the time and internships there are very flexible. The suburbs used to be nice especially Sugarland/First Colony area, but now it's getting overcrowded. Perhaps try the Katy area. Houston has plenty of master-planned community in the outskirts of the city. It's just a matter of if you like the cooler, pine tree scenario of North Houston or the Sunny, hot burbs in South Houston. The only thing living out in the burbs is the traffic you have to drive through going to work in the medical center. I guess the only good thing in Houston is that there are sooo many ways to get to one place, so if one option has traffic, you can use alternate routes.

Also there is definitely NOT a shortage of restaurants or stores. Everywhere u turn, it seems theres a grocery store, restaurant, gas station or Walmart :lol2: Housing is cheaper, but property taxes will kill ya :chuckle

Good luck & hope u like hot, humid weather! lolz

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2007

No Baylor Medical Center in Pasadena. You're looking for Bayshore Medical Center.

coolvibesRN · Apr 20, 2007

Hello All-
I just wanted to say thank you for all the information everyone has provided in the Texas threads. I have read about 10 pages already....exhausting. Anyway...
Ok, here is my dilemma:
I will be graduating in May 07 from a BSN program in Las Vegas and really considering moving to Houston after graduation to take the NCLEX?
1. What is the starting pay rate (range) for a non experienced RN with a BSN in Houston? And are the hospitals negotiable? around 22-24
2. Is it hard to get your first position in the Emergency Room?I guess depends with the hospital
3. Are the HCA hospitals good to work for? Havent worked in any of them yet but i had friends who worked for clearlake and they liked it.
4. How about Baylor Medical Center in Pasadena, TX in particular? Is it nice? Are the nurses happy there?
5. What hospitals in Houston do you recommend and why? Memoria Hermann Tuition reimbursement is great. Methodist, st lukes. I know people who work there and they love it.
6. What nice areas in the Houston area do you recommend living in? I am a city girl but want to be in a nice surburb to raise my kids but not too far from anything I guess? I live by the med ctr. Its nice but pricy. Sugarland, katy,pearland
Thank you so much,
Tunisha
SN, UNLV

good luck

tsheriff · Apr 20, 2007

Hi Mintykorn-

So where are you working in California? I changed my mind about Houston and decided to relocate to Orange County. I got an offer at two hospitals in Cali for the ER and really trying to figure out which one to take?

Where are you working? Do you like the hospital you are at? What area are you working?

MintyKorn · Apr 20, 2007

Hi Mintykorn-
So where are you working in California? I changed my mind about Houston and decided to relocate to Orange County. I got an offer at two hospitals in Cali for the ER and really trying to figure out which one to take?
Where are you working? Do you like the hospital you are at? What area are you working?

I'm in San Diego, about to start at Kaiser so I can't really say if I like it there or not....I have yet to see! Can't beat the distance though! I live only a block away from the hospital so it's perfect! I don't even have to drive

I'll be in their mother/baby unit...but if a chance opens up I'm hoping to work in their NICU. The thing is they go by seniority in this hospital so the nurses who have been there longer get first dibs on any new positions or shifts that open up....bummer! I'm at the bottom of the totem pole since I'm new. :uhoh3: Oh well! I'll find a way to get there!

Good luck to you! Why don't you ask around in the California nurses section about your two choices? Maybe someone can help you there.