new grad opportunities in around Austin, TX

U.S.A. Texas

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Hello Tx nurses,

I will be finishing up a BSN degree in Connecticut. My husband and I are looking to relocate somewhere around the Austin, TX area. There is no nursing shortage in CT (at least not a need for new grads) and we'd like to move somewhere warmer. My question is, what is the job outlook and opportunities for new graduate nurses around Austin? Are there facilities in these areas that need and hire new grads. Also, what would be an average new grad salary in this area. My husband is also a CNA, are there job opportunities in these areas for CNAs. He has over two years of experience. Thank you so much everyone for your help!! Also, if you know of states that are in need of nurses (and warmer than CT) feel free to add suggestions!

Specializes in Telemetry.

I am interested in this as well! :nurse:

Excited to see some responses... as I was about to post the same question. Coming from Michigan here as a new RN.

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

There is no nursing shortage in the Austin metro area, and the new grad pay rates are rather low ($21 to $23 hourly), but the cost of living is high for southern standards.

Your chances of finding employment would be exponentially better in a small town or midsized city such as Abilene, Lubbock, Tyler, Longview, Marshall, Waco, Alpine, Eagle Pass, etc. I would avoid the larger cities such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin like the plague since so many nurses from around the U.S. have been moving to these places. In addition, the big cities tend to have multiple nursing programs that create a glut of new grads when not enough jobs exist to absorb everyone who wants to work.

Specializes in nursing home.

I'm an LPN moving to the NW Austin area in June. We were going to move in Feb, but decided to save some extra money up, just in case. I will work on my RN starting this year.

Is a Dr. office position pretty easy to get there? I have started calling offices to get emails and fax numbers for my resume. Any advice on this long distance job search, since I am a new nurse (just under a year-LTC), and moving halfway across the country? Thanks! Kim

Specializes in Labor & Deliery.

I'm a student, graduating with my BSN in May from The University of Texas at Austin. The market is pretty darn saturated, and previous posters who pointed out low salaries are correct--they're relatively low in most fields, by industry standards, because people are willing to live in Austin even with lower salaries. Dallas and Houston are equally saturated.

Good Shepherd Hospital, in Longview, Texas, is hurting for BSN-prepared nurses, and will take new grads. I've heard they're flexible in what unit they place you in.

Specializes in Emergency.

Scott and white in temple tx

Scott and White in Temple is located about 1 hour north of the Austin area and about 45 minutes South of Waco. Austin and Waco both have fun stuff to do. Austin is more exciting than Waco, IMO. If you are willing to commute from the Austin/Round Rock/Georgetown area then Scott and White is your best bet. It's a level I hospital and is also known for it being a teaching hospital, with medical students coming from the University of Texas Health Science Center as well as nursing students completing their clinical rotations from the surrounding area. They are always hiring. If you want to get into a specialty area you'll have to wait until the next time they hire for those internships, but if you apply for any of the med/surg units through the website you don't have to wait. You can either be hired as a Nurse Intern or a GN on any of the med/surg units. The average pay rate for a new grad is about $20 which increases after you become a full-time staff. There are also CNA and LVN opportunities here...mostly on the med/surg units.

If you can't find anything in Austin then your best bet is to get some experience at Scott and White in Temple and then maybe transfer to the Round Rock location (which is closer to Austin, is in a very nice location - close to the outlets, IKEA, etc.). Med/surg positions don't require you to sign a contract, i believe, so you'll be able to leave whenever you want. I know that the Round Rock Scott and White location hires nurses with at least 6 months of experience. The Round Rock location is also in the process of expanding the hospital, so I know they will be looking for more nurses sometime in the future.

Unless you already have 2 years of experience under your belt, it's very difficult to secure a job in the Austin area. The main hospitals in Austin are all affiliated with either the Seton Healthcare Network or St. David's. If you complete a search on here about either of the two hospitals you'll find more information.

P.S. I'm in the float pool and have talked to many nurses from all over the country who only got hired at Scott and White. One nurse packed up her life in Hawaii because she couldn't get a job anywhere else as a new grad. Trust me, Scott and White hires...and it's a great facility. You'll find some bad apples, nurses who are burnt out, but that's expected everywhere.

For those who applied to scott and white, did yall have any trouble getting an interview?

Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care.

Low low pay. Housing market ridiculous. Most people who live here can't even afford to buy a house here. 110 people move to Austin a day.

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