New Grad LVN moving to Dallas..any psych?

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Hi everyone, I am a new grad LVN here in San Diego and plan to move to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Nov/Dec. this year. I have garnered much info on the site and The Commuter in particular has inspired me to move based on her experiences moving to Texas from So. Cal. I cannot afford to live here any longer....so off I go.

My question relates to Psychiatric LVN nursing...are there Jobs for a new Grad LVN in Psych in the area? I am currently working as a Mental health worker for San Diego county until I receive my License. I am also interested in Correctional Nursing as well...any info on that would be appreciated as well.

Thanks again everyone and Commuter for sharing your experiences.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hi, there!

As with any major metro area, there are hundreds of suburbs in and around DFW, and there are some psychiatric hospitals located in these suburbs.

University Behavioral Health is a small psychiatric hospital located in the city of Denton. Denton is located north of Dallas, but is still regarded as part of the DFW area. I worked there last year as a medication nurse on their adult chemical dependency unit. They hire LVNs, although their greatest needs are for RNs.

Millwood Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in Arlington. Arlington is about 12 miles from Fort Worth, and about 18 miles from Dallas, so it is basically equidistant between the two big cities. Milwood is always hiring LVNs.

Parkland Hospital is a major hospital in Dallas that has a large psychiatric unit. Parkland hires LVNs, but I am not sure if they're hired into the psych unit specifically.

JPS Hospital (John Peter Smith) is Fort Worth's county hospital. They also have a psych unit, and this hospital hires LVNs, albeit at low pay rates.

Don't forget about all of the nursing homes and long term acute care hospitals that have Alzheimer's lockdown units, because this segment of the population has unique psychiatric issues.

Good luck, and welcome to Texas!

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Thank you so much Commuter. :) That sounds great and I am looking forward to moving to Dallas/Fort Worth.

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i know its been a while since you posted, but for anyone reading with the same question, try Timberlawn Mental Health, they hire new lvn grads

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Hi OrangeMel,

Thanks for the info. Do you know their starting pay rate for LVNs?

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16.50, plus $2 shift differential for working weekends (most do doubles on sat and sun, 16 hours a day) weekdays are 8 hour shifts

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Thanks for your response OrangeMel!

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What about wise regional in decatur. They always have opening and its not that far.

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Do you know the starting pay for a graduate nurse at Timberlawn?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

There is also Terrell State Hospital and Wysong (part of HCA Medical Center of McKinney). No idea if they hire LVNs. I think Terrell does. Not sure about MCM.

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