AdrianLU

December 09 grad. In Houston Medical Center base salary is 26.65 + about 3-4 dollars for night shift and weekends so around $30 dollar per hour total

It's "preferred" which basically means its required to have a BSN as a new hire in the Med Center. There are even rumors of them taking ADNs no matter how experience out of the ICU's where I am (rumor). Unless you know someone it will be very difficult.

What are your grades like? Are you BSN or ADN? Do you have any work experience in healthcare or related? These things factor in when applying for internship programs. Most hospitals only have the their internship as an entry point for new graduate RN's. Have you tried Harris County Hospital district yet? Keep applying I know its hard. Maybe also consider the VA as well as long term care facilities. Good luck.

It's not over saturated. There are plenty of jobs, it's just harder to get on without experience coming straight from nursing school or even having very little experience. Internships do look at grades. A lot of them are requiring at least a 3.0. My opinion is a BSN will open more doors for you in nursing. Quite a few major hospitals in Houston strongly prefer BSN's and some even require it for an entry level position.

Their residency program requires a minimum of 3.2 GPA, a BSN, and a 950 or better on your exit HESI. Also letters of reference, interviews, etc.

No, I never worked for them but, I guess it wouldn't hurt to do so if you get that opportunity. Just be sure to do your best and make sure the managers remember you for the right reasons when it comes time to apply.

I also think most schools are this way. Some people just aren't ready at that time and need to take a fail to light a fire underneath them so they can come back and finish the program, some people change their mind about nursing, and some people can't learn to think like a nurse and that is mostly what the first semester is about. Other's have things in their personal lives. In my BSN program we probably loss 20-30 people that first semester out of about 150. By the end of the program we probably loss like 10-20 more before our class graduated.

The rate stated is for Harris County in and outside of the Texas Medical Center (Houston), but I hear the base rate is very similar at St. Lukes and MD Anderson, for new graduates, but the differentials are different (slightly lower). There is a fee to park but a majority of the cost is covered by the county. St. Joseph's rate for new grads is $25 and some change as the base. The lowest I have heard is Hermann who I heard starts at around $24 for Interns but, the rate goes up comparable with the other TMC hospitals a few months into their orientation period.

Internships are pretty much the only way to get hired in Houston these days as a GN or RN without much experience. Jobs outside programs are harder to come by. Many hospitals won't even hire new nurses outside of their program. The programs are very competitive as well. I'm currently in one right now the structure is class room,, competency evaluation (testing), and working with your preceptor. We also have general hospital orientation, nursing orientation, specialization orientation, computer training, a project and ACLS certification...a LOT!! I'm in critical care and ours is 12 weeks. Other specializations last from 6-18 weeks. So far it is a really great opportunity to "hit the ground running" once you are done. You will be in a group of people in your similar situation many who are your classmates. Also you are getting paid/ full benefits in most cases throughout the orientation process.

Clearlake has a bad rep for being a difficult place to work (snobbish, cliques, high turnover rate). That all I have heard I have no experience with Clearlake first hand but this from what I have heard only.

To apply for the internship program will be posted for Hermann about 4-5 months before you graduate. The same with other hospitals. Hermann gave me the shake n bake when I applied to their program this past fall to start this January. But, luckly I got on somewhere I liked better. A lot of my classmates who did get hired initially chose not to sign contracts with Hermann due to various reasons and accepted employment elsewhere. I don't know what's going on over there or what it says in that contract but there where more than a few in my class who turned Hermann down. I'm a new grad/intern also and my schedule is every other weekend just like the other nurses in my area which is reasonable imho. Holidays are rotating based on seniority but we should have at least 1 off. It IS hard to get hired as a new nurse right now and competition is steep. At my hospital system over 300 applied for the program, 150 or so interviewed and only 38 people were selected. I applied at nearly every hospital in town and interviewed 8 times and luckily ended up with a position but, a good number of my classmates are still looking. With each hospital accepting so few the competition is FIERCE.

ADN's and BSN's make the same pay. The degree only matters when applying to certain hospitals in certain cities. In Houston's Med. center RN positions are harder to come by with an ADN but it you are hired you will get the same pay as a BSN. Most RN's at make the same pay based on experience. Some hospitals offer differentials for critical care or other specialty hospitals. It is also possible to make more by working shifts other than day shift. Here in Houston new grad RN's in the med. center are starting around $26/hr give or take 50 to 75 cents in either direction as the base pay.

Current New grad RN pay at a Major Medical center hospital in Houston is starting at 26.65 as the base pay. 1.75 weekend differential 3.50 night diff from 7p-11p 4.50 night diff from 11p-7a Outside of the med. center I was told around $25 and some change as the starting RN intern base pay. HTH

Avg. GN pay I am hearing is between 25-26 and some change in and outside of the medical center. Outside of the medical center being the lower end. This is also without shift differentials or critical care diffs.

Anyone have any ideas on who is still hiring/willing to hire in Houston or even anywhere in Texas. I have my BSN from a top school, good grades, experience as a social worker and as a pt tech but, on the verge of being homeless? I just don't get it. I think a lot of hospitals are very biased in their hiring practices. i don't know what I will do...

I wouldn't say the job market in Houston is all that great for New RN's. I don't know what HR's are looking for but as someone with good grades in my BSN program, medical experience and social work experience it's hard. I don't know what I will do if I don't get on somewhere soon. Most hospitals are only hiring a few here and there.

They give really decent financial aid in the form of loans and many scholarships are available. I have a bachelors so no grants for me. I was able to complete the program living alone on loans altough I did take a few smaller private loans.

It's super easy, I passed it last month on the first try with little preparation. It's computer based, online and open book. You take it from home. You can buy the Nursing Practice act book (Not sure if its the title) for around 9-10 bucks or you can just have the Nursing practice infothat is on the website up on another computer or browser and use that to find the answers. Its 50 questions and I believe you need 38 to pass. IMHO it's not something you need to study extensively for, if at all.

Houston job market isn't that great right now. A lot of hospitals are coming of hiring freezes and only wanting experienced RN's. I have had no luck and I'm graduating with a BSN as a 2nd degree, many years of health care and social work experience and decent grades. Some hospitals are only hiring a handful of new grads. I haven't had any lucky but, maybe it's just me? Half of the recruiters won't even call or email you back.

I got into uthsc with 3.5 prereq, 3.38 sci, and 3.0 overall from previous degree. But, I also had like 99 percentile NET and prior healthcare experience.

Yes, the Hermann application opened and closed in 2 weeks. I was able to anticipate its opening due to them coming to our job fair Sept.28 and giving those that came that info. Maybe they are trying to make the applicant pool smaller or maybe they have something going on with our school? We have also been told when interviews will be in early Oct. It was hard getting the two reccommendation letters in 2 weeks. St. Lukes is open but, they don't have pediatrics, OB or NICU (St. Lukes OB is actually TCH owned). The rep. from Ben Taub stated apps will be opening in October. I can't remember when Methodist will open it's application period but, I'm sure very soon. Mks1014, most hospitals will require some training period for new graduates even for general med/surg. Specialty areas like OR, CVICU, ICU, Labor and Delivery, ect. generally require longer periods of specialized training. The interships are paid full RN salary (or at least close) and you can usually start with your NCLEX test still pending as long as you have your GN permit.

All nursing schools are relatively "hard". I'm at UT right now, while I can't say learning the material is all that difficult (if you have a strong foundation in science, math and pharm and anatomy) the time restraints and expectations make it hard. I'm in the 1st group to go through the program in its new form and it's been tough and a little unorganized. We started with about 160 in our class and we are down to 105 or less. Some of those people would have made good nurses but happened to fail and others probably should choose another profession. UT has a fairly good reputation and I feel we get top pick in a lot of things in the TMC and have a lot of opportunities. The faculty is ok but, there are a lot of attitudes and egos amoungst the staff (likely to find at any SON). If you are confident and know your stuff you'll never have a problem with faculty at all. One major con about UT is they don't really "teach" much clinically related material, you are expected to learn it on your own in the clinical setting. I'm not sure how it is at PV but, I haven't heard anything bad about it.

The best time for Spring grads to apply for internships was Jan. to April depending on the hospital. Hospitals typically only hire new grads for internships during set application periods generally about 4-6 months before you will graduate applications will open up. Applications for December grads are now opening and you can try to apply for those. I know in Houston they do hire new grads into NICU, specifically at Hermann, TCH, and Woman's but, spots are limited and internships are competitive based on GPA, hesi, experience, and interview. Recruiters have mentioned there will be a few more GN positions in December than there were in May so your chances may be better. Maybe consider something like PICU if your can't get into NICU directly and working there a while for the experience.

Hi guys, I'm currently in the general BSN program at UTSCH. It has been super crazy but half-way in I feel it is totally worth it. You will soon feel the same if Nursing is your true calling. Just kind of wanted to give you guys my perspective on Nursing school at UT-H. I started last Fall with very moderate GPA's (mid 3's) with a 98% on NET. I initially was wait listed but then accepted. I have a prior Bachelors as nearly half of our class does. I think being persistent about calling after being wait listed letting them know I still wanted my spot may have helped me. Also having all of your prereqs done by interview time probably helps, so does having a prior degree and health care experience. The program itself has been nuts. We are the first group to go through this 4 semester program and kind of have been guinea pigs, so hopefully it will be a lot more organized for you guys. I'm glad I didn't go for the Accelerated program this one is fast enough. The program is tough we lost about 20-30 people out of 120 the first semester. You need to know your A & P and Math on the first day. The will be a Dosages test in the first few weeks. Start familiarizing yourself with NCLEX style questions, understanding how to answer these types of questions is your bread and butter. Its always assess, prioritize, and being able to choose the BEST answer b/c most of the time 2-3 of the answer choices are correct. Start studying for pharm and learning about the nursing process now. Not knowing the nursing process and being able to critically think like a nurse is what causes even the best and the brightest to fail. And yes, failing is below 74.5. Notice I say critically thinking like a NURSE, because its definitely a different frame of mind. You have to know the underlying concepts and rationales behind everything you do, memorizing facts other than Labs and Meds won't help you. Most of the instructors are personable and generally friendly. Everyone is treated the same until you do something to "stick out" in bad way, then you will be the target/scapegoat. Certain instructors feed on the weak. They all will be so friendly and excited to see you in the first few weeks. The key is to stay on their good side, you do this by demonstrating you are competent, doing what is required, being honest, on-time, prepared, and not expecting preferential treatment. This can save you a lot of heartbreak and being used by them as an example (this has happened). Yes, they are watching everything you do in class and clinicals. They aren't trying to fail you, they are trying to see who will be able to pass NCLEX and be a safe and responsible RN. Clinicals are good but, you have to make your own opportunities to learn skills. Clinical prep and write ups totally suck it. Clinicals will show them if you are learning anything. It's easy to pass clinicals and check offs unless you cheat or do something totally unsafe so don't stress about it. If your care plan sucks you will just have to redo it. No biggie. Check offs become easier and easier and if you fail you always get a second chance if not more. Learn as much as you can and take some time for yourself when you get it. Study your NCLEX books!!! Knowing the general concepts and critically thinking will get you a better grade than knowing every fact in the textbooks. Yes, there will be times where you won't sleep, you will likely cry at some point, your family and friends may be concerned about you, you will live off coffee/Redbull/French Corner, and you will have nightmares about nursing school and dream about test material. Eventually, you will look down at your planner (buy one!) and realize you have 2 tests, a paper, a presentation, two clinical days, and a clinical write up due in one week, take a deep breath and be able to cope. You will talk like a nurse, think like a nurse, and act like a nurse and if the UT-SON God's say it should be so, you will eventually be a Nurse. The thing that's up to you is how great of a Nurse you will be.:w00t: I know I have droned on but, if anyone has any questions feel free to pm me. Good luck everyone!

They generally take in GN's into the GN programs only twice per year and they have to apply 6months or so in advance. So if you are to graduate in May your application would be due by December to start the residency/internships in June. So by this time they likely have hired most of the GN's that they will hire for the Summer and have only a few limited spots for GN's outside of the intership programs. These programs also have requirements like 3.0 gpa and certain HESI scores, and the hospitals give first preference to GN's that have been accepted to the internships for this reason. I don't know how true it is but I have been hearing prefence is also given to BSN graduates in the medical center hospitals from a few of my friends in ADN programs but, I'm not sure about suburban hospitals. Maybe just keep applying but, since it is almost graduation time most places already have likely filled up their slots. Maybe try smaller hospitals or clinics.