Relocating to Texas

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Hi all,

I have been applying for jobs in Texas and it's been real hard to get interviews. Do you think my chances are higher if I am actually in Texas? I currently have ADN, enrolling process for BSN, 2years and 2 months as RN, working in specialty NICU for 1 year and 5 months. I'm currently out of states and live on a US Territory. My only concern is that it is taking a risk relocating without a job. Any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Do you have a Texas nursing license? If not, you need to obtain one as soon as possible. Employers will not consider you a serious candidate if you do not have a Texas RN license number on the applications you submit, and therefore, they will not be calling you.

In addition, your lack of a BSN degree might hinder your chances, depending on the hospitals to which you are applying. Good luck to you!

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Thanks for the response TheCommuter. I have temporary Texas license. Requirements are all turned in so I'm waiting for my permanent license. As for BSN, I will be enrolled in May with WGU if all goes well. Will that give me a better chance even though I don't hold BSN but I'm enrolled in the program?

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Specializes in Oncology.

Where have you been applying? I know the job market is a lot harder in the major cities, but you shouldn't have a problem in the smaller middle-of-nowhere cities since you do have experience. When I got hired in my new grad program I didn't have a Texas license at all, I had to apply for the license as soon as I found out I got the job.

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Mainly applying in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth area. I did apply in Temple too. Would you recommend starting as a travel nurse? I'm hesitant to go with that route since I have a family including an infant. It may be difficult.

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Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.

Just stay positive it would all work out. What area hospital have you been applying to?

I am just curious because I too am relocating to Texas and have gotten job offers from Scott and White in Temple and will be interviewing for Hendrick hospital in Abilene Texas.

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I've tried applying to Memorial Hermann, Texas Health, Baylor, Medical City, St. Luke's, Parkland, and Scott and White.

Which position did you apply in Scott and white? Were they fast to respond?

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Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.

Likewise, I applied to all those hospitals that you have, except for perhaps Saint Luke.

As for Scott and White in Temple, they're very quick to respond to me and both interviews were for med surg. If you can get in there, it would be great especially since they are now a part of Baylor health systems so after six months (if you were offered a PRN job) or after your internship has ended, you could bid out to any of Baylor hospitals or outpatient facilities.

I can also say honestly everyone else takes forever!

I did also apply to Memorial Hermann and I attended two of their current barriers in Katy & Houston last month when I flew in for my Scott and white interviews. I interviewed at the Katy hospital and the southeast location said that they would try to match our previous applications with our current application information from the career fair. And the HR manager that we met with gave us her business cards and said that if we had not gotten interviews by next month, that we should call her directly.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Unless you have a BSN and Tx license, major Houston hospital systems will only be interested if you have mad skills/experience in a hard to find specialty. If it's at all possible, go ahead and get your specialty certification - this will greatly increase your employment chances. You'll have much more luck with suburban & community facilities in the surrounding communities, but they will probably not take you seriously without your Tx license in hand.

There are a lot of applicants, so the recruiters are not going to take you seriously if they don't think you're readily available. The process is to geared to fill jobs "NOW" rather than months in the future. If you don't plan to relocate very soon, you should probably wait to submit applications. When your relocation is imminent, I would suggest that you provide a "local" address along with email and cell phone as contact info on your applications. It could be a PO box or friend's address - but this will increase the odds of a call back.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Oncology nursing and patient navigation.

I wouldnt really suggest relocating here until you have a position lined up unless you really have the finances and resources. Ive seen too many liscensed nursed waiting 6 months-year for a job or having to settle for a position in a nursing home or rehab facility. Obtaining interviews for positions at the larger hospitals in Houston and Dallas will be difficult with only a year and 5 months experience. At some places that's barely considered finishing a new grad program so you're still kind of a new nurse. And some of those bigger hospitals will only hire you if you have a large amount of experience if you only have your ADN. Being enrolled in a BSN program will help but not until it's actually official and starting. But I also know many smaller hospitals don't have NICUs. Have you only applied to NICU or have you also considered peds, new born nursery, medsurg? Also try smaller cities. Conroe, college station, lufkin, nacogdoches. Best of luck!

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