MsMorningGlory

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questions. It is Greatly Appreciated. If you can think of any other sources of information, Please let me know. I want to know the GOOD, the BAD, & the UGLY aspects. Lol! This will prevent me from making a Critical Mistake. Also, I have worked Nights for almost 30 Years. Do Nurses who work Nights have any Advantages over Nurses who only want to work Days? I will always be a Night Shift worker; due to the fact that I don't like Office Politics, and I hate Traffic & Parking Hassels. My background is mostly Psych, what are some Good Psych Hospitals? What about Harris County Psych Center & what part of town is it located in? Thanks in advance. If anybody wants to know anything about San Diego, California, Please Feel Free To Ask. MsMorningGlory

Hello there Texas RNS I am an RN who resides in San Diego, California. I have been here over 23 Years, & Frankly I am getting bored & tired of it. I cannot Afford to buy the kind of house that I want out here, the Economy is Very Bad, Taxes are sky high, and the job market is terrible. Jobs here are Slim to None, even for nurses. I have never seen it so bad, I don't think that the economy will ever fully recover here. I have been a Psych Nurse for many years, and I also do PACU Nursing Per-Diem and Primary Care Nursing. I will be finished with my BSN Program next year. I have been thinking about relocating to Houston in the future, due to the Low Cost of Living & Affordable, Beautiful, Housing. I primarily work Nights. What is the BEST area in Houston to live as Far as Safety, Traffic, Schools, Shopping, Restaurants, Walmarts, Target Stores, & Medical Facilities, Hospitals, & Psych Facilities close by? I want a house in the price range of $180,000 or Lower, & No more than 15 minutes to work or school. I hear that the Northawest Area is a good place. The place where I live here in San Diego has all of these things close by, and is Centrally located. I have heard that Houston is a City that is NOT EASY to get around. What Neighborhood/Areas are close to Hospitals/Facilities? My main Concern is the Commute Time. I DO NOT want to commute No More than 15 Minutes to work, & want to avoid heavy traffic. Also, I do not want to live in an area where Property Taxes are High. Any advice or information will be Greatly Appreciated. Thanks In Advance

Thanks for the response. It is Greatly appreciated. I plan on trying to spend some time in Houston as a traveler, to see if I want to relocate there. Thanks for the info.

Hello RNs. I am going to try for a Travel Position, when I complete my BSN next year. Which of these cities in Texas has the most opportunities in Texas for RNS, & which one uses Travel Nurses the most? Any information will be Greatly Appreciated. I am wondering about cost of living, housing, traffic, shopping and weather. I hope to relocate to one of these cities in the future. What city is most likely to use a first time traveler? All Replies Welcome. Thanks in Advance.

Thanks for all the info. Greatly Appreciated. Happy 4th of July.

Hello Nurses, Has anyone out there ever attended The University of Houston? I am wondering what the cost is, location, and if they have a good Masters Degree Program for RNs. I am considering moving to Houston in about 2-3 years. All replies are welcome & Greatly Appreciated. Thanks In Advance.

Hello Nurses Has anyone out there ever worked at any Psych Hospitals in The Dallas or Houston area of Texas? I am interested in people who have worked either as a Traveler, Per-Diem or Regular Staff. I am interested in relocating to either Houston or Dallas in the future. I would Greatly Appreciate info regarding working conditions in any Psych Facility in the Dallas or Houston. Please let me know the pay rate, types of units, Good Hospitals & what facilities to avoid. Please include what area of Houston the facility is located (NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST. Also include info on staffing ratios or anything else worth knowing about. ALL REPLIES ARE WELCOME & GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

I am a Registered Nurse in San Diego. I have been in Psych Nursing for about 18 years. I work at a Major Acute Care Psychiatric Hospital in San Diego. I àm currently enrolled in a BSN Program, & I plan on taking the Psychiatric Certification Exam next year. I also have PACU Experience for a small 5 bed outpatient surgery center, & experience in Immunization & Primary Care Clinics. I want to explore Travel Nursing next year when I graduate. Can anyone out there tell me if they use Travelers in Houston, Texas in Psychiatric Hospitals or facilities? I spoke to a recruiter over the phone, & he said that IT would be easier to get a job in PACU than in Psych. He said that Psych Travel jobs are hard to find. The facility where I am employed is full of Former Travel Nurses that got hired with the facility. A friend of mine who was a former Travel Nurse told me that recruiters have been saying that for years. Do you think that this OBAMACARE next year will Increase the need for more Travelers? Also, has anyone out there worked at any Psych Hospital in Houston, Texas or Florida? If so, Please share your experience with me. I would Love to hear all about it, as well as any hospital to avoid. ALL REPLIES WELCOME & GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Hello there, fellow RNs. I am a 50 Y/O RN who has lived & worked in San Diego for 22 years. I went from a CNA, LVN, RN & now I am pursuing my BSN, which I will complete next Summer. Believe me, all this has been a long, struggle. Jobs here are very slim, due to the economy & all the traveling nurses that stayed out here. I am interesting in buying a house in Florida or Texas. I want to take a traveling job at either one of these states, either Houston, TX or Jacksonville, Fl. Are there any companies that use traveling nurses, & if so, which state will most likely use travelers? I want to check out the city & state before I make a move, so that I can avoid making a huge mistake. Has anyone out there worked at any facility in either Houston or Jacksonville? I would like to know the BEST & WORST PLACES TO LIVE & WORK in both of these cities & states, & anywhere that I should avoid. ALL REPLIES ARE WELCOME & STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. THANKS IN ADVANCE. [email protected]

Hello Charles 805, Superkyx, Jo877, & Sophisticated 49:wink2: Many thanks to all of your Words of Encouragement & Response. I really Appreciated it. I tested at The Pearson Vue Center here in San Diego on Chesapeake Avenue, which is right down the street from my house. It is the only one here in San Diego, The one in Bernardo Plaza Court is New. I have been at The Testing Center so many times, always the same ones who checked me in, That I was Downright "embarrassed" to show my face. I got tired of seeing them, & I Know they Got tired of seeing me. I told the one lady that does the Checking in that i should "Jus Move In", & she laughed & said that they opened up a New testing Center in Bernardo Plaza Court, which is too far for me. The last time I tested was June 23. I started around Noon, & did not finish until 5:45 PM. I had exactly 2 minute to spare. I was sweating & stressed. I got all 265 questions, which were all At The Highest Level Of Difficulty, with 20-25 SATA, 5-7 Drug Calculations. I did however; get the last question right, but with 265, you can still fail, which is what I did. I checked the Board of Nursing Daily, & after a week went by, I knew. It took almost 3 weeks to get The "Dreaded" White Envelope in the mail. I think what killed me on that Exam was they gave me Extremely Difficult drug Calculations, that I just stared at, & didn't know where to begin. I spent to much time trying to figure those out. I sent in my application right away, which was processed ASAP, paid the $200, & called for a test day. The only available date was 8/13 in the afternoon. I am not a 'Morning Person", in any Aspect, so I took the 2:00 time which was perfect for me. I had Oatmeal & OJ, & a Banana in the AM, & took H20, Gatoraid & another Banana with me to the Testing Center to eat during the break, as I anticipated being there the entire 6 Hours. I read somewhere that eating Bananas & Oatmeal Increases Brainpower, which is Exactly what I needed. It Apparently Worked! LOL:D I also Brushed up on the Drug Calculations, mcg-mg, kg, ETC. I bought a book at Barnes & Noble, a pocket sized book called: MATH For NURSES. I swear it Helped. It covers everything. I spent the day before, & morning of exam practicing these calculations. What I have noticed with these last 2 Exams, is that the Drug Calculations were not Basic, they were as complicated as they could make them. I really brushed up to Prepare myself, because i couldn't beaR TO GO THRU THIS AGAIN. All of you should Know by Monday or Tuesday, One Way or another. This is my story, as well as my worth. Any questions, Please ask. You can do this, I am living Proof. Struggling Along the Way Builds Character, Strength, & Wisdom, which makes you feel like You Can accomplish Anything! Take Care.

Hello:yeah: You would go to the CA Board of nursing website, Type in your last name, & see if it comes up. I took exam on Wednesday, 8/13/08, & finished around 5:15 PM. That day probaly would not count. My name was on the website this morning, 8/16/08. Your file Must be complete, with a #SSN, which mine has been for sometime. If not, it could take longer. I tested on the ONLY available date for August, (What I was Told by the call center) which was the 13th. They were booked up this month. Apparently, It was my Lucky Day!:loveya: Best Of Luck To You:jester:

Hi Supersky:nurse: I Hope that you passed too!:loveya: If your file is complete with a SSN#, then your name should should be posted on Tuesday, 8/19, or Wednesday, 8/20, as they don't update the records on the weekend. Good Luck:redpinkhe

Hello! Don't wait too Long. That is the mistake i made before. I took THE Exam Exactly 50 days after the last time I Failed. Don't Test Until You are Absolutely ready, However; Don't wait until You Have forgotten everything you have learned. Do it while it is Still Fresh In Your Mind. Hope this Helps.

Hello:bow: This Exam Is Very Unpredictable. I took it on 6/23/08, went to 265, with only 2 minutes left to spare. It took me the Entire 6 Hours. I answered the last question Correct, but still Failed. I was Totally devastated. It's Hard to say what they cosider the "Highest Level of Difficulty", but I assume it is The SATA, as well as the Drug Calculations. I Think that if you cut off at a # smaller than 265, & answer the last question Correctly, then you will pass. The Kaplan Course Book States that if you go to 265, & the last Question is not considered at "The Highest Level Of Difficulty" then the Candidate Fails, & Vice Versa. Hang In There, You May Have Passed. Best Of Luck:loveya:

:yeah:Hello Everyone!!! I Have good News to Report this time. I PASSED the NClex Exam. I took it on Wednesday, 8/13/08, here in San Diego. My name was posted this morning on the website. My issue date is 8/15/08. So yes, It really does only take 3 days to post your name, as long as your file is complete & they have your SSN#. I just can't Believe it. I really did have a Long Struggle, But Dedication, & The Power of Positive Thinking really does pay off. I logged on The CA Board of Nursing this morning when I came home from work, closed my eyes & clicked. I couldn't bear to open my eyes & Not See my Name, But Up It Came. I Feel Like "THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD" has been lifted from my shoulders, & That I am at "Peace With The World", which is a Great Feeling.:loveya: I Want to say "Thank You" to each & everyone of you for your Support & Words Of Encouragement. I Truly Appreciate you all being there for me, & I promise to be there for you. A Psychic told me back in December that I would pass this Exam in an "A Month", meaning April or August. She said that it would be when the weather was warmer. I am a huge believer in Psychics, but I shrugged it off. She sure was right. I think what helped me this time was Not waiting too long between exams. I took the last one on 6/23/08, went to 265, & failed. I accepted the only available test date in August, which was 8/13. I wanted to see if there was something to what she told me. She said I would 'pass with Flying Colors". Well, I cut off around 140, & the Last question was Correct. I also studied the Saunders 4th Edition, (Blue Book) & the CD Rom, & completed up to 100 Questions per day. I also studied the Random Fact Throwing, Located on this Thread. Let Me Be Your Inspiration:bow:, If I can Do This, So Can You! A Few Struggles Along the Way, Builds Courage & Wisdom, & Makes Better Nurses. God Bless You All, & Again, Thanks For Your Support:jester: