[LRRN7]

I'm Currently An Rn In The Chicago Area. Looking To Relocate To Austin Tx. Trying To Find Out If Pay Scale Is About The Same. Also Does Anyone Know Of Any Weekender Programs Avail. I Work Weekends Now- Work 2 12hr Shifts Each Weekend And Get Paid An Extra 12hrs. Are There Any Programs Like That Avail In Austin. Looking For Hosp Setting, Med/surg, Tele, Post Op Ortho. Also How Wide Spread Is Agency Rn Use In Facilities. I Use That Now To Supplement My Income M-f. I Get Hours Pretty Guarenteed. Looking To See If I Can Expect Much Of The Same In The Austin Area. Any Info Would Be Appreciative

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by LRRN7

I'm Currently An Rn In The Chicago Area. Looking To Relocate To Austin Tx. Trying To Find Out If Pay Scale Is About The Same. Also Does Anyone Know Of Any Weekender Programs Avail. I Work Weekends Now- Work 2 12hr Shifts Each Weekend And Get Paid An Extra 12hrs. Are There Any Programs Like That Avail In Austin. Looking For Hosp Setting, Med/surg, Tele, Post Op Ortho. Also How Wide Spread Is Agency Rn Use In Facilities. I Use That Now To Supplement My Income M-f. I Get Hours Pretty Guarenteed. Looking To See If I Can Expect Much Of The Same In The Austin Area. Any Info Would Be Appreciative

Options

- Seton HealthCare Network
- St David's Columbia HealthCare Network
- Heart Hospital of Austin

These three are the major players in Austin with the first two each being a chain of hospitals. Contact Human Resources of each to get an idea of the pay scales commensurate with your RN experience.

My wife & I both worked in Austin as RNs for over 10 years. Feel free to email me with more questions cary.barrett@us.army.mil ... better email me soon cause after 25 March I'll be pretty darn busy. Hint, see my avatar.

[atxrn]

Hello,
I have been working in Austin, Tx for 13 years and it sure is nice except during the 5-6 months of sweltering heat (May - Oct.) But it is great if you can swing the high rents and high cost of living. I lived my first 12 years in the suburbs which has a more reasonable cost of living (Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pfleugerville). The hospitals are pretty cheap about hiring weekend plan staff from what I have seen. At our hospital we had to rally together and get the weekend plan reinstated. Only 2-3 nurses on each shift are eligible. They also want you to work 32 hr. (2 12hr and 1 8hr) and get paid for 36 hr. with benefits. Also, the pay I am told is percentage wise lower in relationship to the cost of living compared to other major cities like Dallas, Houston or San Antonio. They say it is because Austin is such a nice place to live. I see this all changing in 2008 because there are at least 3 new hospitals opening up and the 3 major hospital systems (ST. David's, Seton and Heart Hospital) are going to take a big hit and lose lots of nurses so I would definitely give serious thought to moving down here.