The Lone Star State has seen six different flags fly over its territory, and the cultural remnants of those cultures – Spanish, French and Mexican – remain to enjoy. As a nurse, you can enjoy living, working and studying in metropolitan areas such as Houston, San Antonio, Austin or the Fort Worth/Dallas area. Or, you can choose smaller, but no less exciting, areas such as Abilene, Killeen or Corpus Christi. The state is large, and its need for nurses is just as big.

Becoming a Nurse in Texas

Nurses who want the fast track to an associate’s degree have many opportunities to accomplish that goal in Texas. Try Lamar State College in Port Arthur, Grayson County College in Denisen, or El Centro College in Dallas. Nurses who seek their BSN can look to East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, or Canseco School of Nursing in Laredo, with programs offered in adult care, community health, management, nursery, nutrition and pharmacology. Nusing students who wish to obtain their MSN can do so at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Baylor University in Waco, and Houston Baptist University, a school that offers programs in adult care, clinical nursing, community health and more.

Nursing Jobs in Texas

Texas health care centers are located in every nook and cranny of this state. Some of the largest health care employers include: Triad Hospitals in Plano, with 53 hospitals (including one under construction) and 12 ambulatory surgery centers in 17 states with approximately 9,790 licensed beds; Tenet Healthcare, headquartered in Dallas, but with regional offices in California, Missouri and Florida; and, Parkland Health & Hospital System, home to world-renown specialties and groundbreaking technology in Dallas. Nursing salaries vary statewide, and depend upon the nurse’s degree earned and experience, job description and location. For instance, a critical care LPN in Dallas can earn about $50,000 per year, and that same nurse can earn about $44,000 per year in Fort Worth. An RN in Texas can earn between $48,000 and $106,000 per year.