Where to work as new-grad RN around Houston

[NonaManado]

Hi all, I'm currently in the Army as LVN/LPN. I have my ADN and will finish my BSN next June. I am also getting out of the Army and planning to get a year experience before I take FNP school. I have been working in Medsurg and ICU.

I am moving to Houston area and I do not have any healthcare acquaintance there. Any recommendation where I should apply? I'm interested to work in ER. I just learn that most hospital prefer RNs with experience, or new grads who went to school locally who have been doing clinicals there. What are my chances of getting a job in the hospital? Does being a veteran would help at all?

(although i have my RN license, I am not working as one, because the Army do not recognize ADN RNs).

Are there good FNP schools that do not require RN experience?

Thoughts and suggestions? please and thank you.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Leverage your veteran connections! Have you looked working in the VA system at all? That would be a great opportunity for you. I don't think you'll know how the hiring climate is until you apply. You are in a strange position because you are already an RN, but you're working as an LVN. Your scope is just a little different, but you're not inexperienced. When you are getting ready to transition, have someone in the transition office help you with your resume to highlight your experience. Did you ever deploy as an LVN? That looks great on a resume as well.

I would wait on FNP until you had some RN time under your belt.

[jennjenn_]

Hello, I'm also an LVN (5 year experience) and just finished my ADN and passed my NCLEX-RN board this june. I have been living in houston for approx 5 years now and I can recommend you a lot of hospitals but honestly you should have no problem finding a job here, especially with your LVN experience. I can recumbent UTMB hospitals (great benefits), theres a lot of them being that houston is huge. Also Methodist at the medcenter. Most hospitals at the medcenter prefer BSNs because of their magnet status but as long as you're currently enrolled in classes and can prove that they'll usually consider you a BSN. Also, being that the downtown medcenter is a pretty big and popular place and the traffic is horrible there are a lot of other suburb cities with hospitals look into the webster, peatland, and sugar area- all of those are great family friendly, clean, communities with friendly people. Look into Memorial Hermann hospitals and HCAs hospitals, MD Anderson. Most hospitals hear want you to join a nurse graduate residency program so you may want to look into application periods depending on how soon you're moving here, some will allow you slide because of your LVN experience. But seriously the opportunities are endless. Health care and nursing positions are very plentiful around here don't worry too much. Good luck to you! Hope this helps