still planning 3 months in texas

RaspberryTX, RN · Dec 30, 2008

Stay away from the valley (Brownsville, McAllen area). You do NOT want to work there. It's not safe for you or your license.

back2thebooks · Dec 30, 2008

Hmmm...I am going to try to be pc, but also give my honest opinion...

Brownsville, McAllen: Known as 'The Valley.' Either you love it or you hate it. Most people who did not grow up there hate it. You had better be fluent in Spanish.

Beaumont, Port Arthur: I have a friend there who loves it, but she's from that area. I had another friend from North Texas who lived in Beaumont for 3 years and hated it.

Corpus Christi: I can speak with experience on this one, as DH is from there. Visitors love CC. Many people who are from there and moved away vow to never go back. Very humid, VERY hot and again---better speak Spanish. Lots of oil industry.

Abilene, or Killeen: On your way to west Texas. Starting to look different than the rest of Texas with different topography and less greenery. Very close to the military base.

Personally, I would not want to live in any of these cities. If SA is still in the mix, I would do that for sure.

Mody · Dec 30, 2008

I would stay away from the valley. Are these your only choices? I'm sure they are all nice cities to live in, but if you are only getting a 3 month taste of Texas go for Houston, Dallas, Austin or San Antonio. If those are really your only choices I would pick Corpus, at least there is a beach nearby.

Beaumont and Port Arthur are pretty industrial and Abilene and Kileen are kinda far from anywhere. But if nothing else, stay away from the valley.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Dec 30, 2008

The advice to avoid the valley can't be repeated enough. This place sucks, and it will suck the life out of you. The culture here is corrupt, and it's never going to get any better. Some of the cities are beautiful and the food is great, but lying just under the surface of that beauty is an almost unbearable way of life that is unlike anything I've ever seen.

My wife and I are leaving this hellhole as soon as physically and contractually possible.

sbyramRN · Dec 31, 2008

You couldn't pay me enough to work in ANY of the cities you listed. I would stick with San Antonio. I am a native Texan, have lived several places, and can actually say the places you listed are horrible.

Kittyfeet · Dec 31, 2008

I would go for Houston... it's not too far of a drive to the beach and you can work in some pretty amazing hospitals : ) What is your specialty? I live in the suburbs of Houston and while it isn't the most scenic place in the world it's a great community and the medical industry is a *big* deal here. We have MD Anderson, Texas Children's, Hermann Hospital, Methodist, St. Luke's... lots of really well known and amazing places to work.

The only one of these places I have spent significant amounts of time in is Port Arthur, but I don't know anything about their hospitals. I don't think there is much to do there, though. I have been to the beach in Corpus which is very nice, but I don't know anything about what it's like to live there.

I have heard San Antonio isn't the nicest place to live.. but every trip I have taken there has been fun, and I have several friends who go to the branch of UT there and love it. There's lots to do there.. shopping, sights to see, and it's probably a lot less humid than the coast. Plus not too far from the hill country which is also scenic and has lots of stuff to do.

And I forgot to mention... have you considered Austin? It's a *great* place, tons to do, very pretty, awesome people and overall a nice place to live.

cryptic12 · Dec 31, 2008

Hmmm...I am going to try to be pc, but also give my honest opinion...
Brownsville, McAllen: Known as 'The Valley.' Either you love it or you hate it. Most people who did not grow up there hate it. You had better be fluent in Spanish.
Beaumont, Port Arthur: I have a friend there who loves it, but she's from that area. I had another friend from North Texas who lived in Beaumont for 3 years and hated it.
Corpus Christi: I can speak with experience on this one, as DH is from there. Visitors love CC. Many people who are from there and moved away vow to never go back. Very humid, VERY hot and again---better speak Spanish. Lots of oil industry.
Abilene, or Killeen: On your way to west Texas. Starting to look different than the rest of Texas with different topography and less greenery. Very close to the military base.
Personally, I would not want to live in any of these cities. If SA is still in the mix, I would do that for sure.

Thanks for the info. I guess since I don't speak spanish I can cross some of these off my list. Actually, I think I can cross all off my list except for SA and Austin. I'd like to live to do a 2nd assignment...LOL

shaversd · Dec 31, 2008

Dallas/Ft. Worth is worth considering also. Lots of amazing medical facilities and lots of things to do. We do not have beaches but we do have lots of lakes.

I am originally from Houston and have family and friends still there but I would never go back there to live. Too humid for me.

diane227, LPN, RN · Jan 1, 2009

San Antonio or Austin are great, fun places. Houston and Dallas are more cultural. Don't go to the valley. It is very hot there and it is just not a good place to work. If you want to Mexico, just go down for a visit. Don't try to live there.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2009

Stay away from the valley (Brownsville, McAllen area). You do NOT want to work there. It's not safe for you or your license.

I agree 100000%!

-And Fresenius is a terrible company to work for. Sorry to be so negative about the location and the company, but I have lots of negative experience with both.

cryptic12 · Jan 3, 2009

I know what you are saying about fresenius, been working for them for 2 years. Figured transferring to the travel division can't be worse. I haven't heard about any good dialysis companies on this site or any other. What's up with the dialysis world??