Recommendations for New Grad

allnurses Guide · Nov 21, 2011

Austin is the hardest market in Texas to break into for a new RN. They have UT school of nursing plus many, many others in the surrounding areas.

If you do decide to move, do not do so without a written job offer in hand with a firm start date and salary info. You'll have to be willing to take whatever position you can get. The specialties you mentioned are the most competitive to get into as it is; in Austin even moreso.

You will be far more likely to find a position in a rural part of Texas that is nowhere near the major cities if you are determined to move here. All the major metroplex areas in Texas are completely oversaturated with new grads and Austin is the most oversaturated. I wish you luck.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 21, 2011

Agree with PP. All of our larger cities have many nursing schools & a steady stream of locally produced new grads. You'd be much better off looking at the smaller markets. Also agree - don't move until you have a job locked up and start date established.

Prettyladie · Nov 25, 2011

I just got hired on at Scott and White Hospital, which is 45 miles away from Austin. It is in Temple. They did a bunch of new grad internships, in both Labor and Deliver, Pedi, Nicu, and Picu, but the deadline I"m afraid has passed on Oct 28. They still have a few medsurg internships available, that have no deadline. I say this because it might give you a way to get your foot in, and then apply to the next round of internships.

Studentnurse418 · Nov 27, 2011

-Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco hires new grads and there isn't a specific cohort date. The pediatric unit is tied to the NICU so you have opportunities to float. The only problem with working on the pedi unit at this hospital = VERY LOW patient census. During the summer and early fall months the patient census is about 3-4 patients, but that goes up during the winter months because of RSV, asthma, pneumonia, etc. in the children. If the census is low, then there is no need for many nurses...aka you're put ON-CALL. Nurses are put on call almost everyday because of the low patient census and they don't get to work. I know of a few nurses who didn't work for two weeks straight because they were put on call so often.

-Providence Hospital in Waco also hires new grads. I know someone who just got a new grad position in L&D at this hospital.

-Scott and White in Temple just recently opened up the new pediatric hospital across the street from the main hospital. This pedi hospital is LOOKING for nurses, new grads, etc. I interviewed for an ED position. I know a few people who interviewed for the ED here and know of two people who got hired for the PICU on the spot. This hospital is about an hour away from the Austin area.

-Metroplex Hospital in Killeen is hiring new grads. I think you have to wait for the next hire date for new grads, but I know of a few people who interviewed for the NICU/L&D at this hospital.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2011

Does anyone have any recommendations about hospitals I should look into?

I recommend that you look into cities far away from the major cities of Austin, Houston, or Dallas. The employment markets in these cities are totally flooded with too many new grads, and finding a job might turn into an uphill battle that may take months or even one year before you find a job. You are also interested in L&D, postpartum, and pediatrics, which are highly coveted specialties that are insanely competitive to get into.

Small towns and midsized cities offer the best prospects for new grads. Look into Abilene, Tyler, Longview, Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Eagle Pass, Marshall, and Texarkana.

Joyful_RN · Dec 2, 2011

Hey Everybody,

I can only speak on Houston, and it is true that our medical center is overwhelmed with new grads from UT-Houston, TWU, PVA&M, and Houston Baptist....BUT if moving to a major city in Texas is what your heart desires you have to hit the ground running and be persistant. Don't be discouraged just because there are tons of applicants. There will always be competition in life and you never know if you are exactly what the hospital is looking for. I was a new grad in May 2011 and landed my dream job in the med center by June 2011 because I started early and kept on pushing until I got my foot in the door.

In regards to pediatric hospitals in houston, I would totally go for Texas Childrens Hospital because 1. I know they take new grads and 2. They are opening up a new Pavillion for Women in 2012 which would provide you the opportunity to transfer into L&D from within . Most of the jobs listed for the Pavillion right now are for the OR but I would imagine that more will be opening up as the building nears finishing. Now, it is possible that the majority of the Pavillion jobs would be given to current TCH employees, but that still leaves openings on the floor right :yeah:

The following hospitals have gotten great reviews on their L&D/pediatric units between personal experience and my nursing friends: Memorial Herman, The Womans Hospital, and Ben Taub. Ben Taub is a country hospital so no, it's not ubber luxurious but I learned SOOOO much from those L&D nurses, they're awesome.

I wish you the best of luck in your career :heartbeat

P.S. Definatly wait until you have a offer to move though,