The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Photographer: Zereshk)

Home of NASA’s Mission Control Center, Houston is also home to some of the best hospitals in the country. Some of the best nursing jobs in Houston can be found at the Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial-Hermann Texas Medical Center and TIRR Memorial Hermann, which are all well-rated by  US News and World Report, and all have high-ranking specialties.

Many Houston nursing jobs are in hospitals located on Portsmouth Street, including Bayou Medical Center, or Fannin Street, where the Women’s Hospital of Texas is located. The Shriners’ Hospital for Children and Kindred Hospital Medical Center are also located on Fannin.

Nurses working in the Houston area have salaries that are moderate as the cost of living is also somewhat middle of the road.  Staff RNs average about $66,000 per annum. Licensed practical nurses average just under $42,000 per year, with CNAs averaging just under $29,000 in annual pay. All figures are from Salary.Com for 2012.

For travel nurses visiting the city, there are all sorts of places of interest to see and experience, from the Johnson Space Center to the Houston Museum of Natural Science to the Theater District and the Aquarium. Plus, there’s the Mahatma Gandhi District, the Houston Zoo and the Houston Arboretum. Sports enthusiasts will surely enjoy watching the Astros, the Rockets, and the Texans, and a pilgrimage to the Astrodome is also in order. History buffs will have fun checking out the Clayton Library and the Sam Houston Hotel, or strolling around the Fifth Ward’s Frenchtown – or taking a trip west to see the San Jacinto Battleground in La Porte, which is about a half an hour away.

Houston night skyline (Photographer: eflon)

Whether residing in Houston or visiting as a travel nurse, getting around is not too bad, as the center of the city is laid out in a grid. Interstate 45 (also known as the Gulf Freeway) cuts through and then skirts the city to the west, and then it arcs around to the north. Route 610 makes a ring around the city and then another ring, Route 8 (Beltway 8), goes around that. Route 59 proceeds from the southwest to the northeast. It eventually intersects with Interstate 10.

Houston travel nursing jobs are often in the Fannin Street area, which is to the southwest. That area is near Route 59 and Route 288.

Another popular transportation option in Houston is the comprehensive public transportation system. METRO (the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County) consists of buses and regional rail. The Red Line travels from Fannin Street South to the University of Houston Downtown stop.

Housing is more expensive the closer you get to the center of things. Prices can be very high in affluent bedroom areas such as Washington Avenue and the Allen Parkway area. Prices are a bit lower outside of the city, in areas such as Tomball and Jersey Village. According to Trulia, the market is on the rise, but overall sales seem to be decreasing in early 2013. Apartment living can be in modern townhouses or developments.

Educational opportunities are plentiful, as Houston is home to a concentration of great colleges and universities. Nursing programs are available at (among others) the Houston Baptist University, Prairie View A & M and Texas Women’s University. All of these schools can improve the experience of nursing in Texas.

Houston – it’s an impressive global city. Got any more insights into living and working in Houston? Let us know in the comments section!

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Nurstoons: Nursing Shortage 2 (Carl Elbing)

A recent press release by a nursing education and career portal claims that a survey indicating that 62% of newly graduated nurses have difficulty finding a job is evidence that the nursing shortage is a myth.

“The so called nursing shortage is really a myth”, said Cathy Miller, Director of Education for NursingDegree.org. “The idea that we as a country are experiencing a drastic shortage in nurses is not really correct. Most nursing jobs now specifically state they are not interested in non-experienced nurses.”

There is no question that it is harder for new graduates with no experience to find a nursing job.  In January 2013, CNN reported on how difficult it is for many newly graduated nurses to find employment.  However, this does not indicate that the nursing shortage is a myth.  There may not be a shortage of new graduates of nursing programs but there is a very real shortage of experienced nurses.  New graduates can increase their chances of landing a job by getting additional certifications, gaining experience by participating in internship and preceptorship programs and being willing to relocate to areas where there is a higher demand for their services and more employers willing to hire new nurses.   While it may take longer, newly graduated nurses who are persistent will eventually find a job.

Labor statistics indicate that the nursing shortage is indeed very real and not a myth.  A recent press release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the healthcare sector added 23,000 jobs in January 2013 and 320,000 jobs in 2012.  This is significant increase over the 296,900 healthcare sector jobs added in 2011.  Most of those jobs are for nurses and there are many more jobs that are going unfilled due to a shortage of experienced nurses.  As the economy recovers, nurses retire, the U.S. population ages and tens of millions of previously uninsured Americans gain health care insurance in 2014 when certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect, health care spending will increase significantly and the demand for nurses and nurse practitioners will continue to increase and remain strong.

It is clear that filling this growing demand will require hundred of thousands of new nurses over the next few years.  It is also clear that nursing schools and healthcare employers need to provide more opportunities for nursing school students and new graduates to get clinical on-the-job training so they have the experience needed.

What do you think?  Is the nursing shortage a myth or very real?  What should nursing schools and healthcare employers do to increase opportunities for nursing school students and new graduates to gain the experience needed? Let us know in the comments or the forum.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest nursing news and important announcements: Follow us on Twitter  or like the Ultimate Nurse page on Facebook. 

One of the most recently revitalized cities in the United States, Indianapolis is home to some great Midwestern hospitals. Some of the best nursing jobs in Indianapolis can be found at the St. Vincent Hospital and Clarian Health Partners, which are all well-rated by  US News and World Report, and have high-ranking specialties.

Many Indianapolis nursing jobs are in hospitals located on various numbered streets, including the Richard Roudebush VA Medical Center and Wishard Health Services.
Nurses working in the Indianapolis area command salaries that are moderate as the cost of living is about average compared to the rest of the country.  Staff RNs average about $67,000 per annum. Licensed practical nurses average about $40,000 per year, with CNAs averaging just under $28,000 in annual pay. All figures are from Salary.Com for 2012.

For travel nurses visiting the city, there are all sorts of places of interest to see and experience, from the Children’s Museum to the Museum of Art. Plus, there’s the Indiana Repertory Theatre, and the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library. Sports enthusiasts will surely enjoy watching the Pacers and the Colts, and a pilgrimage to the Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum is a must. History buffs will have fun checking out the President Benjamin Harrison House, or strolling around the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum – or spend time at the Indiana State Fair in November.

Whether residing in Indianapolis or visiting as a travel nurse, getting around is not too bad, as the center of the city is laid out in a grid. Interstate 465 rings around the city and intersects Interstate 74. The White River runs to the west of the city and is crossed at Maryland Street.

Indianapolis travel nursing jobs are often in the downtown area, which is where a lot of the numbered streets are. Other downtown cities are named after presidents or states, with New York Street cutting all the way across from east to west, and Pennsylvania Street traversing north and south.

Another popular transportation option in Indianapolis is the comprehensive public transportation system. IndyGo (the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation) consists of buses with connections to CIRTA (Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority), a regional rail service. Several of the bus lines service area hospitals, particularly the #10 and the #28.

Housing is generally more expensive the closer you get to the center of things. Prices can be higher in affluent areas such as Forest Hills, Herrin-Morton and Windsor Park. Prices are lower in the Warren Park and Devington areas, and are rather low in comparison to other parts of the United States. According to Trulia, the market is in flux, with many listings rising but sale prices falling in early 2013. Apartment living can be in modern townhouses or sometimes in developments.

Educational opportunities are plentiful, as Indianapolis is home to a concentration of great colleges and universities. Nursing programs are available at (among others) Indiana University, Purdue University, Marian University and the University of Indianapolis. The experience of nursing in Indiana can be greatly improved by attending any of these schools.

Indianapolis – it’s not just the Speedway. Got more great ideas about living and working in Indianapolis? Feel free to add them in the Comments section!