South Texas

RN1989 · Nov 14, 2007

Expect a life of hell there. No one wants to live there except the illegal aliens trying to get over the border. They pay big bucks and bonuses because they can't keep people. None of the people I know that have been down there enjoyed it. Several broke their contracts and paid back the bonuses just to get out of the poorly staffed hospitals.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

The chances of healthcare workers becoming involved in malpractice lawsuits is extremely high in the Rio Grande Valley cities of McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, Edinburg, and surrounding communities. The "rich" healthcare workers tend to be targeted for money by the penniless local population, and lawsuits are the quickest way to cash. The nurse-to-patient ratios are also horrible.

http://www.bulletproofasset.com/malpractice.htm

http://www.tapa.info/html/TheProblem.html

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Archives/Arch02/p100302a.htm

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

The Commuter and RN1989 are right. I worked in a hospital in McAllen. It was one of the worst experiences of my life- It was due to extreme lateral violence and a horrible work environment. The pts were pia, but they were nothing compared to mgmt, and the other staff.

A former moderator from allnurses moved to McAllen, and worked in the same hospital I did. Before she went, I advised her against it. She emailed me about a year later telling me that she experienced the same hell as I did- but she'd signed a two year contract for a big sign-on bonus and could not leave.

I signed on for a shorter time period than she did. I eagerly paid back my bonus to get out of there.

After quitting that hospital, I did not work for six months and seriously considered leaving nursing.

If you search "Mcallen" here on allnurses, you will find threads with many negative posts about the area.

I had a friend who worked ER at Mac Med. After working there for a few months, she became a very angry and bitter person.

BTW, I worked in med surg. I had 9-13 pts by myself. No LPN, no CNA, no unit clerk, and no hope.

chakranurse · Nov 10, 2008

I was recently in a 13 week contract in South Texas. Raymondville to be exact. My housing, along with the very large roof rat, was in Harlingen/Palm Valley Country Club. Hurricane Dolly had just rolled thru and Ike was about to hit, until he turned north. So, the roaches and rats were plentiful!!

I started traveling last Spring, with my 17 year old son who wanted a change in his life too, in an attempt to see what the rest of the world was like and from a nursing standpoint, it's the same everywhere. My first assignment was in Maryland and I was sent to a facility that didnt like nor did they have RED BAGS for bio-hazard. One of the nurses who I worked closely to was hospitalized for MRSA and during her 7 week course of being in Easton Memorial, I got sick as well with an unexplained fever (almost 102), severe abdominal cramps and got to where I couldnt work. I couldnt get anyone to help me either. Went to an in and out clinic and they told me to go to the ER at Easton. I sat there with my symptoms for almost 4 hours..and they were not busy. I finally packed it up and came home just 2 weeks shy of the end of my contract.

I found out I had lost 19 pounds while I was there vomiting with fever. I was never so glad to see home! Then about 3 weeks later I got a call from a company I was signed up with..while waiting on my Vet Pro to clear for Tuscon VA. So I took the position in Texas while waiting on my Vet Pro.

South Texas just doesn't seem to follow any rules, except their own in healthcare and I belive that is how a lot of these lawsuits are accomplished. I worked in a 120 bed facility with 70 beds filled and 2 nurses. It wasnt a nursing home, it was a SNF. So the load was heavier. I was cussed by the ADON for calling on a Saturday and asking for gloves, not once but twice, I was left with no batteries for a fingerstick on a Saturday morning. Do you know how many Hispanic are diabetic? Have you seen their diet? OMG help me! I was in such a panic from the 3 week until I left.

I was offered a perm position as treatement nurse but when I asked about ordering Arginaid, which is an over the counter wound supplement that words miracles, they ordered me a box of 12 for 5 patients who had it ordered BID. There was NO KEY for the nurses to get into the supply room at any given time and the weekends especially seemed to be chaotic. The DON drank so bad that you could smell it on him over his cologne the next mornign. I liked him a lot as a supervisor but I had to think of who my license was under.

I was wrote up for getting into the supply closet with the administrators "permission" but I was trustworthy enough to be preceptor to their new hire/graduate lvn.?????????????

The patients were hostile to me because I was a female caucasian and if they werent trying to pinch me on the *** they were cussing me and calling me a worthless jack a*S. I was told I didnt have God in me becuase I didnt speak Spanish fluently and I was lazy because I never learned Spanish.

I was instructed to kiss a** while I was there; which I dont do well at all. I was under contract for 40 hours a week. I never got those hours and wouldnt have if they had not fired a nurse for diversion and I gladly took her shift and my shift. So I was workign about 56-60 hours a week and my son was at the hacienda alone and became deprressed. He finally felw home early. During this time I found out I had a heart condition, was having panic attacks and found out I was a severe sleep apneatic.

I finally had enough and when I made a little scene (diplomatically I might add), my hours were cut to 16 a week and I was put on 2-10. Thats when I decided to pack my bags. My company had not done anything to this point and I felt alone, abandoned and alienated.

So, South Texas? I dont think so. Not in my lifetime. I came home, got a regular job at a hospital where they want to get rid of their travelers so their relations with the community are improving. I got the floor I wanted and the shift I wanted. Not exaclty the pay I wanted but I am goign to give it 100 % and pray its my home in nursing. If not, Im Tuscon bound. Right now, I cant travel because I trust NO ONE out there. Maybe that will change. :nurse:

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Nov 11, 2008

Ah, good old RGV, haha.