pennylane18

turnforthenurseRN 105+? Damn, that's hot! I'm pretty excited about the move! I just hope I'll get used to the heat, living alone, working in Tx and etc... lol. This would be my first time actually living on my own and I've never been to Texas. Yes, I heard about the infamous IH-35! Thanks for the tip! Would avoid that road really since I'm working downtown Austin (78705).

Lovelymo79 How did you get there? Do you have family there? How did you get a place? Any tips on surviving Austin, Texas? :)

not.done.yet Climbing steadily toward the armpit of hell!!!! hahaha! I hope a $25/hour is enough for a $900/month 1 bedroom/1 bathroom! Thanks so much! Any more tips on surviving Austin, Tx? Thanks! :)

txredheadnurse Thanks for the info! I do hope I can find a place immediately! It's expensive to live in a hotel or a B&B! I already scheduled meetings and tours with several apartment complexes. Hopefully it goes well! I don't mind driving. My work is in downtown, I believe, in the 78705 area. I would definitely look for a apartment locator service! Can you recommend one? lol. How's the weather in May in Austin? Do you believe a $25/hour for a RN, BSN with 2 years LTC experience is normal? Thanks so much!

HouTx Thank you! I'm moving in a couple of weeks and I'm excited! I hope so too! The company sent me a local apartment guide and circled which ones are safer than the other. I contacted several apartment complexes and scheduled tours and etc. Hopefully it goes well. Is $25/hour normal pay for a RN, BSN with a 2 year LTC experience? I heard Houston, Tx pays so much better than Austin. I get $35/hour in NJ but that's a Per Diem job. I hope $25/hour is enough.

JOB outlook in 2014-2015 in New Jersey area. If you have no experience, it'll be tough! You're best bet would be in a LTC facility or Rehab. Do you know anybody in NJ that can help you get in any hospitals or nursing homes? It's tough in NJ but I would think it's tough everywhere. Best of luck!

Hi daisyfleur70! Are you working in Texas now? How was your application? In my experience, I applied for work first. Then when I got a couple of calls from Texas, I applied for my temporary license. I'm from NJ btw. And now, I'm about to move to Austin, Texas next month! I still am waiting for my permanent license. Let me know if you need any assistance! Oh, do you recommend any safe and affordable area to live in Austin? My budget is 750-900/month. Thanks!

Hi tua42321! What state are you in? I know how you feel. I am a foreign grad and when I first got here and took my NCLEX I was hired in a LTC facility. They gave me 2-3 weeks orientation. (I'm from NJ btw) and it's sooooo hard to get a FT work here. I tried to keep my head up and learn everything I can. After about 3 months, I become a Charge Nurse in the SubAcute Unit. It was overwhelming but I took it as a challenge. I kept working and educating myself, perfecting my assessment skills... After 6 months of working, I took my ACLS, IV class, etc and applied in a hospital setting. No one wanted me. They said that they only hired skilled RN who have a hospital experience. I was devastated. I kept working in the Rehab Center and on my free time, I volunteered in the Red Cross to remind myself why I become a nurse. It's absolutely hard to find work in the hospital setting in NJ/NY area since a lot of hospitals are closing plus I don't know anybody to help me get in as well in any of the big hospitals. Anyway, after a year and a half of working in LTC/Rehab, I tried my luck again. I'm now going to start in an Ortho/Neuro unit next month in a different state (Texas). So, I think you just have to try and remind yourself why you become a nurse and be patient. Learn as much as you can. Don't be shy and communicate with your supervisors as well. Tell them you feel like you didn't understand some parts of the job you were assigned and would like a refresher. It's tough being a nurse right now. But stay positive! Good luck!

Hi everyone! I will be moving from NJ to Austin, Texas next month. I will be working in Seton Medical Center Austin area (Downtown), Ortho-Neuro Unit. I'm excited. Anybody worked in Seton before? Is a $25/hour salary for a BSN, RN with 2 year LTC experience a fair salary? I've never lived on my own before so this is quite a challenge and exciting experience for me. I will be driving from NJ to Austin and will bring my cousin and my sister along with me. I only have my books, shoes, bags and clothes with me so I will pretty much start from the beginning. Any tips to look for apartment in the downtown/central or South area of Austin? I heard from my employers to stay away from the east side of Austin... That's all I know. I just want a safe environment where I can park my car and not break the bank. Do you guys know any good apartment complexes? I don't want to search in Craiglist or in Sublet.com.. I'm much more comfortable living in an apartment complex. Thank so much! God speed!

thank you Annaiya! I will talk to some schools around my area like Monmouth University and FDU. Hopefully someone will give me a chance. I was also thinking of taking GRE and TOEFL. Getting certified as a critical care nurse also would up my chances. This would take me a year to get things done but I have to do this in order to get what I want. Do you know any schools around NJ or NY area that are lenient to my situation? Thanks!

hi Wavewave!I know it's been a year and a half since you posted this but I was wondering how things are? Were you able to get into a NP program? What steps did you take in order to be accepted? I, myself am interested in becoming a NP. But unfortunately my GPA is 2.58 and I'm a foreign graduate. I lived in NJ and have been a RN for 2 years. I want to become a NP so bad but I get discourage because of my GPA.

Hey 25ssb! I know it's rough. Who says success is made out of cotton candy anyway, right? Are you planning to take it again? If so, when? Have you tried HESI NCLEX reviewer or Saunders? I used the two myself and passed. I know what you are going through right now must be painful but know that you are not alone. You also can retake it again which is another bright side. For now, relax. Take a breather. Then after a couple of weeks or months depending on how you feel, go back again. Only now you know what are your weaknesses and strengths and etc... Good luck!

Hi Sumandeep! You have a lot of books. Did you really read them all? That's great. I used HESI NCLEX reviewer and Saunders myself. I really like Saunders because of the test questions and tips they gave... Focus more on how to eliminate answers. Make sure you time yourself and do the test in the accompanied CD. Then, understand why the answer is this and not that. Read the reason on the reviewer as to why it's the best answer to that question. It'll help you focus and understand more rather than just guessing. Study for 6-8 hours a day, no more than that. Do at least 200 a day for 5-6 days a week. Then, relax on the 7th day. Be sure that when you study, you actually study and not on your phone or etc. Focus. You'll pass! Good luck!

Hi pedsnurse12. I know how you feel. It's exhausting and exciting at the same time. You want to know right away if you pass or fail but to be honest, those pop ups stuff is still not bullet proof... I took my NCLEX 2009 and the computer stopped around 70s. I did the trick everyone did but I got the message to apply again. But then after a week of waiting, I saw my name on the list of the people who passed. So just relax now, take a breather, stop worrying. Go to a movie and if that doesnt work... Polish your resume. LOL. Good luck! And the number of questions you answer doesn't mean anything. You can pass or fail with 80 or 200 or 265.

Yes NJnewRN I currently live in NJ. Do you have any suggestions of schools and subjects to apply? I will take TOEFL and GRE soon and hopefully will help me get into a good school...