RN50TX

They are paid alot of $ and should expect calls. What we need to do is get all the info they need up front and SBAR helps: Situation, Background, Assesment, Recommendations. You know sometimes they have a right to be upset we call unprepared with the info they need to give us orders: Vital Signs, Allergies, etc. But bottom line, they should have chosen another profession if they didn't want calls! Don't let them push you around.

New Grads, new to the Houston area and no nursing experience; new grads that aren't having any luck because they are being told by some hospitals that they need at minimum of 1 year of experience before they can be considered; or the applicants aren't able to be hired thru the internship program for different reasons.

Hi, for the nurse wanting to know about what is considered outlying area hospitals in Houston area: First, you need to understand that Houston is 600 sq. miles and is broken up in to Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. Not knowing exactly what quad you will be in I would tell you that if you are thinking of going directly to the Med Center, inside the Loop you may run into some problems. What I meant is in the smaller communities, Katy, Woodlands, Spring Branch, Richmond, Rosenburg, just anywhere out away from the Med Ctr. Areas that are 20-30 miles out from the Med Ctr. I hope that helps you.

Hi, I too am a ADN RN in the Houston area. My looking was similar to yours it seems. Here is what I read after I became employed. "There is a shortage of nurses, but not a shortage of new grads." So this nurses advice to new grads in Houston area was to go to the smaller outlying areas around Houston to get your start, "rural". I concur with that completely because that is all that opened up for me. I was not in the best place, I DID NOT take a sign on bonus and when my year was completed I was able to get into the Methodist system and I love it. Those bonuses (vacations, cruises, money, etc) put you at that hospitals mercy and I would not advise that. Also, familiarize yourself with the Nurse Practice Act of Texas often and do not be afraid to exercise our right to use Safe Harbor if it is really needed. Also, I don't know where you can consider but there is now a Houston area hospital, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, in Northwest Houston that is the 1st in Texas to be unionized for nurses. That might offer something good for new grad, maybe check that out.

Kudos to your wife and you. But as an older non-science background graduate of Nursing School myself, who graduated with honors, I can tell you from experience Nursing School is not to be compared with other academics.....it is grueling and beyond at times. Just hope you are both counting the cost beyond financial; Then after graduation it isn't a picnic either and believe me politics definitely exist in hospitals too! I love nursing and don't regret my sacrifices but I hear & see far too many people who don't realize it will take more than grades to stick with the profession, you need to be "called" or you will burnout fast! Not to be discouraging we need more nurses! Just go in with your eyes open.

Hi, I am trying to figure allnurses.com out, I am new at this obviously! I am not sure if you got my 1st response so......I have always liked the idea of travel nurse assignments to go somewhere for 12 wks, 16 wks, etc and get a real feel for where you think you might want to live. I personally have not done it, but maybe that would be an option for you to consider, if you haven't already. I even know people that have done that in the same city they live in! Good luck!

Hi, I have always thought that taking atravel assignment would be a good way to check out a new area.