aggieamy5

Hi. My husband applied to Clear Lake for new grad. externships in the ER and ICU this past May. I believe he was offered about $25/hr with an additional $5 differential for nights, although he decided to go with a hosptial in the medical center. This seemed to be the going rate for new grads. at the time.

I would consider anything around $25 or over a good pay rate for a new grad. working in a major hospital in the Houston medical center. This is not including night and/or weekend differentials. The patient ratio is about 2-3 patients per nurse where he works (ICU). I have no idea about patient ratios for the other specialties at his hospital.

The job market really depends on which area of Texas you are working in. My husband is an RN in the Houston area and there definitely appears to be a shortage of nurses here. When he applied for jobs this past June as a new graduate, he was offered a job at every single place he applied. All of these jobs offered very nice wages and most pay the employee's health benefits in full. The nursing shortage here is only projected to get worse. As for housing in the Houston suburbs, it appears to be a buyer's market right now.

My husband took the NCLEX a several weeks ago and was very confident he passed upon leaving the test. He is generally a confident person and rarely worries. (I wish I was more like that!!). He found out a couple of days later that he was right through the Quick Results. My husband claims he did some review questions to prepare, but I never saw him crack a book, which stressed ME out!! In fact, I do not think I ever saw him study the entire time he was in nursing school. I guess he did this during his down time at work.

I guess I should consider my husband and myself to be very lucky. My husband is a new RN and comes from a very loving, nurturing family. Although I am not a nurse, I too come from a fabulous family. I see my parents and sister about 2 to 3 times per week and love spending time with them. I could not have asked for a better family even if I was able to hand pick them myself!! What's interesting is that in my area of expertise, many come from extremely dysfunctional families as well. My graduate training is in Clinical Psychology, and I have noticed that a large amount of the students came from extremely difficult circumstances and/or did not get along with their families. I've observed the same to also be true of numerous colleagues.

Although I did not attend this school, I have lived in the Houston area all my life and know that UTMB has a great reputation for nursing. (I actually work for this hospital at a satellite clinic in the Clear Lake area, but not as a nurse). In my opinion, I would never even dream of living in Galveston. Although there are some nicer areas, there appears to be a lot of low-income areas and crime. Since it's on the water you also have to worry more about flooding and hurricanes. Galveston also becomes extremely busy and conjested around special events like Mardi Gras, the annual biker ralley, etc. which makes it hard to get off and on the island. Personally, I would look at living in other areas that are pretty close like League City, Clear Lake, etc. If you do not mind more of a drive, I also really like the Pearland and Friendswood areas.

I hate the whole mindset that employers not wanting to hire people with 4.0 GPAs. I'm friends with a high school principle who says he will not hire a first year teacher with a perfect 4.0 because he/she will expect this from all students and not understand when they may make poor grades. Personally, I think this thinking is assinine, as I graduated with a 4.0 in both undergrad. and graduate school and would never expect everyone to make the same grades. I can also definitely roll with the punches and do not always expect perfection. In my field, having a very high GPA or even a 4.0 is necessary for getting into graduate school and I was hired for the first job I interviewed for. It's sad that in some fields such hard work is not rewarded. I had no idea that this may be true in nursing. My husband has a 4.0 in nursing school and is about to graduate. I hope this does not hurt his chances of jobs/internships, as he sounds like he's really enjoying it and relating very well to the patients!

I was just stating a well known fact about doctors and work. Many of the nurses here seem to forget this fact when people start discussing working many hours and medical care. I know this topic was not about this issue and I'm not trying to restir the pot. So...I will shut up now. I apologize for bringing this up!!

Many doctors work such hours. My ER resident friend works 60 hours in a week, often working 5 12's in a row. I know of plastic surgeons who even more hours than this. When my father was in the ICU, many of his doctors including his PCP where often working 12 hr days. The PCP would not even get to my Dad until about 10pm at night. We asked him about his hours and he said he just puts in long days, getting to work still at 8 or 9am. He is an excellent doctor and my family loves him. For some people, I do not think that working these kinds of hours necessarily jeopordizes medical care. It seems like some posters have forgotten that countless doctors work these kinds of hours and I'm sure their jobs can be just as stressful and hard. I do agree that this is not for everyone. I could NEVER do this. I tire very easily!

Although I am actually pretty young, I have seen all kinds of things in my line of work and graduate training in psychotherpy and am aware of the interconnectedness of these things you have mentioned. Some have made the point of what would I do if my husband became disabled or died. This could happen to any stay at home mom. That's what a good life insurance policy is for. Plus, I consider myself equipped and educated enough to find employment is that so happened. It really seems that this has turned into a stay-at-home mom vs. working mom arguement and that was not my intention. I know I started this topic, and I'm pretty sorry I did. People have been so rude and have made me feel rather bad (even though I shouldn't let strangers get to me). I think I have well over enough input and opinions now. Thank you.

Yes. I agree. I'm not a nurse, so I will never know the type of mental and physical strain it entails. That's why I was getting feedback. I am skeptical of this plan because I know I could NEVER work that much, so I can only rely on what my husband says he could do and others advice. My husband and I do not plan on ever going back to school. We both have Master's degrees and have had enough school!! (My husbands Master's is in an entirely different field-HR management and he went back to get his RN). At least with nursing he has a lot of options. Much more than I have.

Thanks! I especially appreciate your help and encouragement.

Please do not tell me I will be divorced. You do not know me or him nor do you know our values/beliefs on divorce. Like I said my husband is totally happy with this idea. No one is forcing or pressuring him to do anything. He is a grown man who can make his own decisions. I have thaked people for their advice several times and am considering ALL of it (both good and bad). I just do not like to be called names or harshly criticized - plain and simple. Most everyone has been very nice and helpful, with the exception a couple of exceptions. I never dreamed that some would be so rude.

I've already said numerous times that part-time work is not really available in my field, as this would be our ideal circumstance. I would love to work a just a couple of days a week. I'm not a nurse and do not really have those kind of options.

I just read your above post and really do not appreciate being called "selfish." I believe staying home with children is a pretty selfless act. I will also be taking on all of the cooking, cleaning, etc, which my husband does now. He is an extremely generous, selfless person whom I appreicate dearly. RNSacht, I will not lower myself to this kind of name calling and rudeness simply because we disagree.