New RN, New to Houston, and No Job

U.S.A. Texas

Published

Hi everyone,

I moved to Houston from Pennsylvania after I graduated nursing school at PSU a few months ago. I passed my boards almost a month ago and have applied to probably 70 jobs since then. I have my ADN, and am 3 courses away from my BSN which I hope to be finished in May. I also did an externship in critical care. I haven't heard anything from anywhere I applied. It is discouraging, because I feel like I worked really hard to get here, and I want to start working badly. It seems like many hospitals here either want experience, or a BSN. Does anyone know of anywhere that hires new nurses without experience to positions other than internships/residencies in the Houston area? Everyone I've been in contact with tells me to apply to their internship or residency program (which I haven't had much luck with so far). Any information/assistance is greatly appreciated!

Specializes in CVICU.

Liss, I know this was a thread from awhile ago, but did you ever end up getting a job in Houston??

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Hey MissPamela, I did! I started a Critical Care Internship at the beginning of January but I was laid off when the hospital I worked for did a massive layoff in March. I searched for a new job immediately and found that no one wanted to consider me with 2 months experience, and I was competing with all the new grads again for the internships. Someone finally gave me a chance though and I just accepted a position today at Memorial Hermann in the Med Center! So I am extremely excited. I was afraid I was going to be jobless like so many other new grads in houston.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Ahh that's awesome!!! I just got offered a position for the CCU at St. Catherines in Katy that I'm thrilled about too! What type of floor will you be working on? I will be living downtown Houston so I was hoping to work in TMC myself, but I would drive an hour if I had to to work in the CCU so I am certainly not complaining haha =)

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I'm sure you will love it there, I've heard it's a great place to work. And you'll learn a ton in the CCU. I'm going to be working nights in the Neuro IMU. It is going to be challenging since I haven't worked nights before. I actually don't live downtown right now, I live in the westchase area near the Galleria, but I would like to move to the med center area once my lease is up. I drove an hour each way for my last job, and it wasn't too bad because of it only being 3 days a week with the 12 hr shifts. My boyfriend works in the Northwest area so we're trying to find an area where the commute is good for both of us. But we'd like to get an apartment in the downtown area since we're both young (23) and there's more stuff to do. You're from out of state right?? I'm from PA, moved here last June. When are you moving down here?

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Specializes in CVICU.

I will be working nights too, so I am definitely in the same boat as you. I worked nights as a tech a few years ago and hated it, lol, but I am hoping that since it's only 3 days on it won't be so bad (and the money is nice too!) I will be living at my boyfriends place in the center of downtown (Post Rice lofts) - take a look there, it's right on the train line. I am from Massachusetts, as is my boyfriend. I am moving down in 4 weeks!! =)

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Hello, thanks alot for sharing, I spoke with one of the charge nurses at the ED in bentaub yesterday and asked how can I have a better chance of applying for a position, she mentioned the same thing! Im wondering what you mean by the cover letter or resume, how do you think i need to critique it?

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Where do you live in Houston? I lived in Houston for most of my life. If you want to get a job as an ER nurse you have to do a couple of things first. First, you need to get a staff nurse job on a med surg floor at a trauma hospital. Try to get on a surgical floor or see if they have an internship for the ICU. That will be either Memorial Hermann or Ben Taub down in the Texas Medical Center. I guarantee you they have vacant positions for the floor positions. It may not be what you want to do, but you will get excellent experience on the floor. Now, while you are there you should do the following: get ACLS. PALS, TNCC and your CEN certifications. Have as many of these as you can when you apply for the ED. Depending on your schedule and available time, try to get your EMT certification. Go to work, don't call in sick and keep a spotless employment record. I would strongly recommend that you get at least 2 years under your belt before moving to the ED. Some nurses do well there directly out of school but it has been my experience that most do not. I have worked in both those facilities in the ED and they are both tops. Go to your interview dressed in a VERY professional manner. Do a cover letter outlining what you have done so far. If you need help with this, email me privately and I can send you an example of how to word your cover letter. Ben Taub Hospital is part of the Harris County Hospital District and they have another hospital located north of the medical center called LBJ hospital. They have I think a level II ED there as well. If you are going to work in the ED you might as well aim high and gear your work toward the two best ED's in town. Once you get a job at either of these ED's you can then write you ticket when you decide to go elsewhere. My experience at Ben Taub got me in other jobs that I would have never gotten without that job on my resume. Good Luck to you.

Hello, thanks alot for sharing, I spoke with one of the charge nurses at the ED in bentaub yesterday and asked how can I have a better chance of applying for a position, she mentioned the same thing! Im wondering what you mean by the cover letter or resume, how do you think i need to critique it?

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Sorry for the LATE reply...I had no idea! How are you doing by the way? how is nursing treating you?:) I live in SW houston & I do have my ACLS. PALS, TNCC as you mentioned! I currently work in MS, so far its been 3 years since I first looked for a new job. Im ready to move to a new area....what area do you work now? I know you mentioned bentaub & MH ED as great places to get experience...Thank you, I will reply faster this time!

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