Nursing In Texas?

[Second Life]

I currently live in Milwaukee, WI where I work full time as a CNA while working full time on getting my ADN for RN. I am very strongly considering moving to Texas when I get my RN, since I want more from my career than what this state will afford me. I am curious as to which are the best cities to consider seeking long term employment as a nurse in the Lone Star State. I want to specialize in cardiology, is there a particular city that is a leader in such care? Is there any advice for prospecting a nursing career in Texas? I plan on working on my masters and DNP through the University of Texas, though another university may be able to win me over.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Just out of curiousity - how do you imagine that working in Texas can do more for your career than staying in Wisconsin? Are you referring to the prospect of actually getting a job? In that case, I would tend to agree with you in the current economic climate, however - by the time you get your RN, things may be entirely different.

It does seem that we have more jobs for new grads here in Tx as compared to other areas. I think it is is the 'downstream' result of population growth. Tx is still growing, particularly the Houston and San Antonio areas so we have new hospitals being built - and they drive up the demand for nurses. Keep in mind that our larger cities have become pretty saturated with a steady influx of experienced nurses from other states moving here for jobs and this has had a very negative impact on the new grad job outlook. FYI, many of the more prominent hospitals in Houston only hire BSN grads & are hiring only a few new grads these days. So if you are keen on moving to Tx, I would advise you to consider the smaller cities such as Midland-Odessa, Tyler, Abilene, Amarillo, etc where the job market for new grads is not as competitive as the major cities. Beware of the always-recruiting hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley -- there is a reason why nurses are loathe to work there.

The University of Texas system has campuses throughout the state, so if that is really your goal for graduate school, it should be do-able no matter where you end up in Tx.

[Second Life]

Thank you for the heads up HouTx, its nice to know critical things like that I should be on top of my BSN before making a push for the big city hospitals, so I can map out my future better.

Texas really catches my eyes because its almost the polar opposite of my home state. I like to be on the forefront of what I do and Houston and San Antonio have massive medical centers while Wisconsin doesn't even have one. Wisconsin tends to get hit harder and longer by recessions and benefits less from economic growth, all while also having a ridiculously high cost of living. The hospitals up here are pretty good but don't compare to those in Houston or San Antonio. Nurses have been laid off while I see everyone and their grandma pushing themselves through nursing school. I foresee a stagnant nursing career for myself in frozen tundra while I can see my career growing with an area that is practically a paradise to me.

I welcome stronger competition in the Lone Star State, it should push me to become an even better nurse. Up here, I'd be competing primarily with the "Where's my job that starts out at $30 an hour and skyrockets from there? The diploma mill promised me one for suffering through all these brutal courses."