San Antonio ADN Q's

chocolateskye · May 5, 2009

I dont like it at all. Yes I started there already. I like the woman they put me with but she is a lpn and I dont feel that she can train me to be an RN. Especially when she has not worked there for over 6 months. She is still a fairly new employee herself. I felt as if I was set up for failure from the begining and that I was just another body to help out because they needed to save money and keep costs down. But two months into my training I still didnt feel as if I could stand alone.

LilRedHedd · May 6, 2009

I am moving to San Antonio in August. I am a little uneasy about all of the staffing agencies. I applied directly to a couple of hospitals, University Health System, Southwest General, and now Methodist. I have spoken with a staffing agency about the Baptist Hospitals, but it just seems odd to me. I had one phone interview with the human resources person at SWG, and still awaiting a second interview with the manager of the ICU. chocolateskye, do you know anything about the ICU at SWG? Do you have an opinion yet as to where the best place to live is?? Thanks!!!

MissDoodaw · May 6, 2009

Hi,

I got my RN from Baptist in Dec 2007 and started working as an RN Jan 2008, I started making $21.25or $20.25 (I think, trying hard to remeber) (19.25 if i had wanted benefits) no benefits. But don't forget shift differential, weekend differentials, etc, holiday pay. For the first 3 mos. I was being precepted and received no differentials, but when I completed my taxes in April I had grossed- $28K for 7 mos. and would have easily seen 50K had I completed the year -with very little OT- personal choice. But I now have friends that graduated with me that have 1 1/2 yrs experience that are making in the $30 an hour range. I've seen agency ads for ER nurses w/ 1 yr and + experience -for $44 an hr base pay in SA w/ contract-this was in Jan-Feb of this year -the busy season. This is not easy $ it is Hardcore work.

So, My thought is -don't just consider base pay, look at the future potential! Also, no matter how much you are going to earn -don't do it if you don't love it. You will not be happy. It is a difficult and stressful job!

BTW: I loved Baptist! and I love lining in S.A. can't wait to return in August!

Good Luck!

MoLawrence09 · May 6, 2009

hey everybody! this thread has also been helpful to me as I just accepted a graduate nurse position as Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center in San Antonio. It's been kind of stressful trying to switch all my licensure applications from ohio to texas, but hopefully it all goes through in time! I'm moving from ohio by myself, so i definitely want a safe place to live and was looking at the northwest area right by the medical center. Is that a pretty good place to go?

Thanks for any help!

Mo

Bortaz, MSN, RN · May 6, 2009

Welcome to Texas, Mo. :)

If you see my beautiful granddaughters there in SA, kiss them on the cheek for me!

LilRedHedd · May 7, 2009

How was the jurisprudence exam to get your TX license? Did you study for it? I am sorta bummed you have to take an exam to transfer your license! I got a call from Methodist today and they are setting up an interview with the SICU at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, anyone have any thoughts about that particular hospital? The recruiter did say it was more of an "urban" population... my better half is going to be working at Fort Sam Houston, anyone know a good area that would be convenient for us both?

MoLawrence09 · May 7, 2009

i haven't taken the exam, but i did start to study a bit for it today trying to get comfortable with looking up everything. Is that the only exam you have to take to transfer your license? I asked about the test in another pots and they said that it wasn't too bad and that a lot of it was common sense. I'm thinking about maybe taking it tomorrow though so i'll let you know how it was!

LilRedHedd · May 7, 2009

I hope that's the only exam!!! I just hate tests and if the NCLEX is "nationally" recognized, why should we have to take another test?!

MoLawrence09 · May 7, 2009

haha i hear ya. I was kind of startled because i had applied for ohio licensure thinking if i ended up getting a job in TX (which is where i wanted to go) that the compact licensure would make it ok. But then i found out since it's a GN position that i needed to originally apply for TX. So i've been scrambling to get all that done hoping that they process it all in time, and then i find out about the jurisprudence! I don't even really know the scope of practice in ohio, but i think it's a good idea to test over it. Oh well, hope i pass!

Bortaz, MSN, RN · May 7, 2009

There is no need to study for the jurisprudence exam. It took me about 10 minutes to take, you can use the internet/BON website to find answers, and most of the information was probably covered in your leadership or management class in NS. Regardless, it's all common sense stuff.

kdsrn · May 7, 2009

The medical center area, northwest, and north central SA are the most popular areas to live in. I've been a nurse here for over 20 years. Let me know if you have any other questions. :yeah:

LilRedHedd · May 7, 2009

kdsrn- Do you have an opinion on Baptist Medical Center (downtown) vs. Metropolitan Methodist (downtown)? They both have positions available in their adult ICU. My main concern really is just work environment, and I know that's really hard to know unless you've really worked there on that particular unit which I see your specialty is Peds. But, any thoughts at all about the two different hospitals in that location? The word "urban" from the recruiter made me a little unsettled, does that mean I'm going to see gun shot wounds, violence related injuries, etc? I know I'll be able to ask the mangers as well, but just wondering!! Also, how much espanol do I need to know?!?!? Are most spanish speaking patients in SA able to understand and communicate in english as well?? I'm thinking I may need to brush up!