I'm a new grad nurse in MA. I got a call recently from a recruiting specialist from HCA offering an opportunity to work in the NICU in McAllen Medical Center in Texas with sign-on bonus and relocation assistance. I've read many negative things about the hospital. I'm wondering if things have changed for the hospital or if anyone knows anything about the NICU there? Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for sharing! I'm actually having doubts about McAllen because I've read only negative things about it. I don't mind being busy but I don't want it to get to the point that's unsafe. I read your other post that John Peter Smith Hospital is recruiting. I'm going to look into that. Besides that, an agency is looking into the Seton hospitals for me around Austin. [/quote']
I've heard great things about Seton in Austin, and that's where I think my wife and I are going to go when her contract is up in RGV and I graduate NS (June and May, respectively).
I can't begin to tell you that the previous post is soooooo correct. I have been trying to get out of this he-- hole for years and have approximately 1.5 left. More than half of your parents will speak spanish only. As a person who has tried to learn spanish (out of need not desire) several times and has failed (I'm sure not wanting to learn it in the first place is probably the reason I failed), I'm living proof that it is extremely hard to be a nurse down here. How many nurse report sheets throughout the US do you have that address whether you have an english or spanish-speaking patient? We do. How many hospitals have you worked in where you have to go hunt down a CNA, unit clerk, housekeeper, dietary aides, etc (without even bringing up the fact that you already have a high pt load) to interpret for you. I just pray that I'm never brought to court for giving d/c instructions to a parent that a CNA (I try to find a nurse first, but most of the time they are busy) gave instructions to knowing I don't have a clue as to what she/he is telling them. Oh, I can't forget going on lunch break and everyone speaking spanish--talk about feelling like an outcast. The previous post was right about the restaurant and stores. Just to give you a couple of many examples, I went into a Target one day. The salesman gave me a flyer, it was all spanish only. I was in Dillard's and they announced something in spanish but the english version never came. I was offered a $50,000 sign-on bonus at McAllen Medical for 4 or 5 yrs (I don't remember) but didn't take it because I thought I was going to be out of here sooner, but circumstances beyond my control has forced me to stay. When I do get to finally leave this horrible place, I will never, ever return. Maybe the previous post was right. You might be one of the few that like this place and culture. The only thing I will miss will be the mexican food (it's very good), but I won't miss it enough to stay.
P.S. I just started working in NICU, but in a different hospital. Working with the babies is the only reason I'm able to go on. I worked the adult floors here in the RGV. Oh my goodness! Never again.
More than half of your parents will speak spanish only. How many nurse report sheets throughout the US do you have that address whether you have an english or spanish-speaking patient? We do. How many hospitals have you worked in where you have to go hunt down a CNA, unit clerk, housekeeper, dietary aides, etc (without even bringing up the fact that you already have a high pt load) to interpret for you. I just pray that I'm never brought to court for giving d/c instructions to a parent that a CNA (I try to find a nurse first, but most of the time they are busy) gave instructions to knowing I don't have a clue as to what she/he is telling them.
That sounds like my NICU in Houston... except the report sheets don't say that.. but they SHOULD!!
Although this is a post from a while ago, I would like to add that your experience in the RGV is what you expected it to be. I was born and raised in the RGV and I can honestly say that, yes there are parts that are similar to third world countries, and yes there is crime in some areas, but where is there not any? Culturally, yes we are primary Mexican-American, but gosh if I were to move to Ohio I'm sure I'd feel the culture shock too. It's hot the summer and cool in the winter and every inch of here is to the brim with culture. But I can assure you that it's not the cesspool that you described. I'm sorry you guys had bad experiences, but were you even expecting good ones?
And to add one last thing, we are close to the Mexican Border, did you expect every single patient to speak English?
If you did, well that was a little naive. This area of Tx used to belong to Mexico. The border crossed this area, not the other way around. If you had done research about the area, then maybe you'd have learned that Spanish is spoken here, primarily for some people. You can't blame patients for speaking the only language they know.
This might be a little late but I was wondering if anyone works at Edinburg Children's Hospital or knows what the RN environment is like down there? How is the town? Is it possible to live outside of town and commute??
There really aren't any suburbs or "out of town" around here. The McAllen/Edinburg area is sorta one large clump with nothing around it but cactus on the north and Mexico on the south.
It was opened 4 or 5 years ago, right next door to Edinburg's "adult" hospital. My wife worked there in the ER when it was originally a "children only" ER. They no longer only see children in the ER however. Several classmates of mine from NS work at ECH on the m/s floors, and I see them often post about being flexed and canceled, but with winter coming I'm sure the census is going to increase. I haven't been inside the hospital for 3-4 years, and then only as a student, so I don't really know how the workload is.
Thanks for responding! I have a phone interview for PICU and was wondering if they have some sort of orientation for new grad. I mean, they have to right, hopefully! Also, would it be possible to live in the area around south padre island? Is that a better place to live than Edinburg?
South Padre Island is about an hour to 1:15 away from Edinburg. I like going to the beach occasionally, but I wouldn't want to live on the Island (nor in any of the nearby towns - Brownsville, Port Isabelle, etc). That's kind of the "dirty" part of the valley. There are nice neighborhoods in Edinburg, Mission and McAllen (I live in a very nice neighborhood in Edinburg) and you'd be a lot closer to the job. Also, I wouldn't want to put up with Spring Breakers/Summer Vacation traffic - or hurricanes on the Island.
Just look around and don't live in a Colonia or Barrio.
Bortaz, MSN, RN
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