Relocating to Houston area after NCLEX

U.S.A. Texas

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So I will be graduating with my BSN in December and will be moving to Houston after I pass the NCLEX for Louisiana. I am fortunate enough to be going live in the Houston area this summer for a month with a relative. I was just wondering if I could get any advice/recommendations on anything I could do to possibly help the process of getting a new grad position, internship, should I take NCLEX in TX, etc. I had asked my teachers and faculty about this and they really didn't know how to help me.

I know we have job fairs for my school, but wasn't sure how to go about finding information from each hospital & how to make a connection, etc. Any and all advice is welcomes & appreciated :).

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hi there.

I strongly advise you to have a TX license before applying for jobs in the Houston metro area. You will have a better chance for your application to be taken seriously if you have a local address... you can use your relative's. Employers are interested in new grads who are "good to go" because there are so many new grads in the area. Don't be surprised if they request a copy of your transcript &/or formal documentation of your GPA & HESI score..... this seems to have become a common way of screening new grad applicants.

Most of the Texas Medical Center (TMC) facilities only hire new grads via their (twice a year) residency programs - and these slots are rapidly filled with students who have done rotations in those facilities. So - basically, TMC residencies are probably already out of reach. However, I encourage you to take a look at the TMC satellite facilities that are located in just about every area of town. I know that new grads have been recently hired by hospitals in the Katy area, at the Memorial-Hermann & Methodist facility in that area.

Best of luck to you in your job search & Welcome to Houston!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

HouTX (above) has basically stated everything you needed to know. Remember that Houston is not a small city, and everything is highly competitive. Just make sure you keep your nose on the hospitals' websites, look at indeed.com for positions and attend job fairs when available. Most importantly, study hard and pass the NCLEX. Oh Yea, you might want to have some references/ written recommendation ready incase you are accepted into the residency program. Good luck!

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Where in "Houston"? City of Houston itself? A surrounding City (almost 100 smaller cities in the Houston metroplex area). Are you set on a facility in TMC?

Methodist, Texas Children's, Memorial Hermann and St Lukes all have satellite locations spread throughout the Houston area.

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Specializes in Case Management.

your license in LA will do nothing for you in TX. TX is a part of the compact states where you can use your license there to practice in multiple other states, but LA is not part of that. If you know you are moving to TX after school - just go take the NCLEX in TX.

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I definitely understand your stress of trying to find that first new grad job in the amazing place that is the Texas Medical Center, especially as an out of state student with ZERO on-site clinicals. It is a big challenge, but it is possible! I am an out of state BSN new grad (2 weeks ago), but I just accepted a job at Texas Children's for their summer residency program. My interview was my second time ever in the TMC; I had no clinical experiences or other connections whatsoever.

I started late this summer/early fall by finding and favoriting the different hospitals' residency pages online and creating a file with the specific requirements and descriptions of each program, including application date openings. I checked application openings frequently (sometimes they open a little early or later than posted) and signed up for job alert emails for each facility I was interested in. Don't be afraid to travel to a general open house or RN recruiting event during the year, especially the hospital that you are most interested in! Go with an open mind and copies of your resume and cover letter - even though they are intended for experienced nurses it definitely shows intentionality and may connect you with a specific department or recruiter. Last if you truly want to work in the TMC - apply EVERYWHERE! There are a lot of different places, each amazing in different ways.

As for boards, I am getting my initial license in Georgia for the sole reason of that is where I currently live and can best study. As soon as I get my results I will apply to the Texas Board. It is my understanding that after your completed licensure application is submitted you will be issued a temporary license within 12-14 days. Best of luck! If you have any questions please let me know, I'll be happy to help however I can!

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You don't need to take the NCLEX in Texas, you need to apply to the state board and register your test for Texas. You can take it anywhere. Case in point: two of my classmates were moving to California right after school. They didn't bother registering for the Texas board, they registered directly for the California board, took the NCLEX before they left, and got licensed directly by the California board.

As far as the Houston area, if you want to work in a hospital you will most likely have to apply for an internship. They are competitive, but there are a ridiculous amount of them in the area. Luckily you are getting your BSN, because right now, ADN's aren't going to cut it in Houston.

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In the magnolia area, to be exact!!

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Thank you to everyone!! That is exactly the information I needed.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

There are hospitals offering GN programs in the Conroe area. You should be able to find one. The only thing you need to worry about is what time of the year they offer those programs.

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