This month’s State Spotlight takes us to tremendous Texas! The Lone Star State is known for its warm weather and varied landscape, exciting sports culture, thriving arts scene, incredible food, maverick attitude, and tons more. Read on to learn more about why you just might want to mess with Texas during your career in Travel Nursing!
Travel Nursing in Texas
They say everything’s bigger in Texas — and that includes the state’s abundance of Travel Nursing opportunities. Not only does The Lone Star State dependably have lots of Travel Nurse jobs at great facilities, Texas also offers plenty of exciting, bucket list level things to do and see on your days off.
Texas is home to about 600 hospitals — more than any other state in the nation — 23 of which meet high enough standards to be ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 2018/2019 Best Hospitals list. That includes their #1-ranked Texas hospital, Houston Medical Center in Houston, which is nationally ranked in eight adult specialties, in addition to being ranked “High Performing” in two additional adult specialties and nine procedures/conditions. Rounding out the top five overall best hospitals in Texas are: UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 “Best States”ranked Texas #36 overall, as well as #8 for economy,#17 for fiscal stability, and #21 for infrastructure. Livability.com ranked Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock, College Station, Dallas, San Antonio, Denton, Plano, Garland, and Fort Worth among the best places to live in Texas.
As for licensing, Texas is not currently a walk-through state, but it is a compact state and a NURSYS state. Click here for more, up to date info on licensing in Texas.
Texas Fast Facts
State Nickname: The Lone Star State
Capital: Austin
Largest City: Houston
National Parks: 14
State Parks: 95
National Historic and Natural Landmarks: 67
State Motto: “Friendship”
State Flower: Bluebonnet
State Tree: Pecan
State Mammal: Texas Longhorn
State Small Mammal: Armadillo
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Dish: Chili
State Fruit: Texas Red Grapefruit
State Sport: Rodeo
State Music: Western Swing
Texas was the 28th state.
After being an independent nation from 1836-1845, Texas became the only state ever to join the United States by treaty rather than territorial annexation.
Texas is the nation’s second-largest state, coming in behind Alaska.
In fact, The King Ranch in Texas is itself larger than the entire state of Rhode Island!
Austin, Texas has been dubbed the live music capitol of the world.
The Dallas/Fort Worth airport is home to the world’s largest parking lot.
Handheld calculators, 3D printing, stadium nachos, integrated circuits, liquid paper, frozen margaritas, silicone breast implants, corndogs, ruby red grapefruits, Whole Foods, Dell computers, chili, Six Flags, 7-Eleven, fajitas, shopping centers, and Dr. Pepper were all invented in or originated in Texas!
Texas’ 624 miles of coastline run along the Gulf of Mexico.
Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in Texas.
The Waco Bridge was the first suspension bridge built in the U.S.
On July 20, 1969, “Houston” was the first word spoken from the moon.
The Texas cattle population is estimated to be 16 million.
Amarillo, Texas is home to the world’s largest helium well.
Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson, Texas.
The world’s first rodeo was in Pecos, Texas on July 4, 1883.
Famous folks from or who’ve lived in Texas include Chuck Norris, Beyonce, Matthew McConaughey, Robin Wright, Jamie Foxx, Patrick Swayze, Woody Harrelson, Ethan Hawke, Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson, Carol Burnett, Jennifer Garner, Selena Gomez, Joan Crawford, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Larry Hagman, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Tommy Lee Jones, Willie Nelson, Sandra Day O’Connor, Dan Rather, Rip Torn, George W. and H.W. Bush, Alvin Ailey, George Foreman, Kenny Rogers, Luke and Owen Wilson, Ciara, Roy Orbison, Steve Martin, Jim Parsons, and Mary Kay Ash.
Honorary members of the Texas rangers law enforcement group include Chuck Norris, Will Rogers, and John Wayne.
Approximately 75% of the world’s Snickers bars are made in Waco, Texas at the Mars/M&M plant.
Laredo, Texas is the world’s biggest inland port.
The famous saying “Don’t Mess With Texas” originated as part of a 1986 campaign to eliminate litter from Texas roadways.
San Antonio’s Bracken Cave is home to the world’s largest bat colony.
Rumor has it that Aurora, Texas is home to an alien grave, after a UFO crashed in the area in the 1800s.
To Do & See in Texas
Texas is known for being big and distinct. Thoughts of The Lone Star State may conjure images of everything from prairies to ranches to beaches, from charming small towns to urban hubs. And the truth is, Texas contains all of these multitudes and more!
Texas’ capital of Austin is known for keepin’ it weird and for being hailed “the live music capital of the world.” Great music, abundant outdoor activities, killer breakfast tacos, and cool festivals like South By Southwest and Fun Fun Fun Fest are just a few reasons why U.S. News & World Report named Austin #1 on its list of Best Places to Live. Check out Austin’s Rainey Street District, South Congress Avenue, Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs Pool, Mount Bonnell, and the famous Congress Bridge Bats.
In Houston, Texas’ largest city, you’ll want to check out the Space Center Houston, Discovery Green, Museum of Natural Science, Buffalo Bayou, The Galleria, and tons more. There’s also lots to see in cities like San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, El Paso, and other urban hotspots.
Sports fans will be right at home in the state that made “Friday Night Lights” a thing. Pro teams here include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallass Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Dallas Wings, FC Dallas, Houston Astros, Houston Dash, Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers. But keep in mind that Texas is also packed with incredible collegiate and high school teams, and the state is also a hotbed for rodeo sports, golf, gymnastics, and motorsports.
When the chuckwagon comes a rollin’ ’round in Texas, taste buds are bound to be delighted. In addition to The Lone Star State’s famous barbecue, Texas is also known for iconic faves like chili, chicken fried steak, kolaches, funnel cake, burgers, breakfast tacos, pecan pie, Gulf shrimp and oysters, peaches, Blue Bell ice cream, Frito pie, fried okra, Texas caviar, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Tex Mex like fajitas and queso. Wash it all down with an ice-cold Dr Pepper, sweet tea, or frozen margarita and you’ll be living like a true Texan!
When it comes to outdoor adventure, be sure to explore Big Bend National Park, Padre Island National Seashore, Palo Duro Canyon, Del Rio/Lake Amistad, Hueco Tanks State Park, Santa Elena Canyon, Natural Bridge Caverns, Lake Travis, Fort Davis, and many more of Texas’ natural wonders.
Ready for your adventure to terrific Texas?! Search jobs now to find your dream Travel Nurse job in Texas! Or, search all jobs here.