Too many nurses in San Antonio?

[jazzgirl73]

I read on this forum that there are so many nurses in SA and that is one of the reasons the salary for RNs was low? Is this true? Does anyone have first hand experience of this? I constantly see adds for nurses in the paper and have thought about going into nursing but if it is a flooded market then maybe I need to think twice. Some one on the forum remarked how the nursing schools are 'churning them out'.

Any discussion on this???

[editor2rn]

From what I gather from conversations with SA friends, the salaries are lower in SA, as is the cost of living. It's not just nursing but all industries that seem to have lower salaries.

[Odimodus]

Are you kidding? Too many nurses anywhere?

While nurses probably do tend to get paid a bit less here than elsewhere the cost of living is alot better also. There is always room for improvement but the sky is hardly falling.

Keep in mind also that San Antonio is in south Texas and while most of our population comes from the local area we also get a SUBSTANTIAL number of patients to our city from all over south texas, its a huge area. I've seen a fair number of patients also come up from Mexico as well for specialized surgeries as well.

I wouldnt let worry of a flooded market stop you, even here in S.A.

You'll have a much harder time getting into nursing school than finding a job I bet. On the down side, you will have to be aggressive following up on those jobs though. I've worked several places and you practically have to pester the nurse recruiters no matter what the shortage is.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Previous posters are correct - salaries in general are lower in South Texas. Theoretically, this is tied to lower cost of living.

Texas has 254 counties - and about 80% of nurses are working in only 6 metropolitan areas. Harris county (Houston) accounts for 1 out of every 5 working nurses in Texas (20%)!!!

As a state, we have never produced enough nurses to supply all our needs. In the past, we have always relied on influx from other areas as well as international recruitment. There may be some areas of Texas that have less of a shortage, but I can't think of anywhere that has enough.... well, maybe one of those far west counties like Hudspeth that has about 1 person every 100 miles or so.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

well, maybe one of those far west counties like Hudspeth that has about 1 person every 100 miles or so.

Man, that sounds great.

[MSNorBUST]

i am looking to move to san antonio once my husband retires from the military, i used to live there well i was in the military in fort san houston and loved it so i always wanted to go back.i did not want to hear that about the low salary even though i have started house hunting and the houses are so expensive gooodnesss!!!!! i will have my bsn in may god willing and i want to finally go somewhere where i will make some money. what about houston or living in austin. how are the salaries there?

[editor2rn]

Not sure about Houston, but I've been told that starting salaries for nurses at the hospitals here is about $21-$22/hour. Housing is generally more expensive here than in San Antonio, though, so it sort of makes up the difference.