How is it with the jobs in Tampa bay?

nurseheidi2009 · Feb 10, 2009

I too am interested in the Tampa Bay area. I am hoping someone will answer this question.

nrcnurse · Feb 10, 2009

All of the local hospitals hire new grads. St. Joseph's has internships for new grads. VA hires new grads, too. Just call them up and ask!

VU RN BSN · Feb 12, 2009

I live in Hillsborough County. I've been an RN since 2004.

The current job market for RNs in Tampa Bay is not good. Very competitive. Not many job openings. The nursing shortage is over and gone.

I have been conducting my job search for a month now. I have only been called in for 2 interviews so far, and wound up with 2 rejections. I attended the Nursing Spectrum career fair for Tampa in January, but haven't received any phone calls or e-mails as a result.

Hospitals are only currently interested in very experienced nurses who have been working in the field for many years and particularly RNs who have recent acute care experience. Hospitals do not want new Grads anymore. All job postings for Tampa Bay area hospitals state a minimum of 1 year hospital experience is a requirement in order to qualify for the job. Some job postings require even more experience than that. Some Tampa hospitals are only considering experienced RNs who have recent hospital experience only. So, if an RN has worked in an outpatient center or in home health, and hasn't worked in a hospital for several years, they do not qualify and can't get a new job in that hospital.

VU RN BSN · Feb 12, 2009

In Hillsborough County, the major hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and University Community Hospital. Some others are Brandon Regional Hospital, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, James A Haley VA Hospital (the Veterans hospital for Tampa) and Shriners Childrens Hospital.

My advice is to apply for a position at every single facility that you can drive to in an hour. And then hope for the best. Take whatever you can get at this point.

Lola77 · Feb 19, 2009

Skazka, this is why it is important for you to get a job in a hospital now as a nurse tech. Hospitals are more likely to hire you on as an RN if you already work there and they know you. Be a nurse tech, work hard, make connections and you will get a job. It is what I am doing and it is what several other students I know are doing. My boss told me this. Get your foot in the door now, because it is true that it is getting a lot harder for new grads to get jobs (although, that said, my friend graduated last summer, failed her NCLEX the first time and STILL got a job as a nurse in a pedi hospital no problem so that should give you hope!) You will have references within the hospital which will be a big plus!

Good luck to everyone!

miss81, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2009

What about experienced RN's? Not much here on the site about getting a job in Tampa if you're not a new grad. I have 6 years float experience (mainly OBS-caseroom, Surgery and some medicine) and my husband is a certified Critical Care Nurse working med/surg/cardiac ICU. What's that chances of getting a job for someone with our type of experience?? Please help, i'm really worried now!

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2009

I think that the situation is being blown out of proportion a little. I have had nurse internship offers in the St Pete Clearwater area which is right next door. Apply, follow up, and have a POSITIVE attitude with the belief that you will find something and you will. Believe that it is hopeless and that a new grad can't find a job and you won't find one. Take care and hang in there.

eesmith3 · Feb 22, 2009

I graduated in december and applied to Moffitt, the VA, Lakeland regional and MPM and was offered a job by three of them as a GN. They are all interested in hiring new nurses as far as I could tell

miss81, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2009

My Husband and I applied to several hospitals in the Tampa area. We haven't really heard back from them except to say that they have received our resume and applications. We have 6-7 years experience. He works ICU, critical care (he has his Certification) and I work L&D and Med/Surg. I am really disappointed. How long should we be waiting to hear form them? They ask on the application how much we make at our current jobs, which is between $55,000 and $60,000. I wonder if that has turned them off? If this site is right and the new grads are getting jobs there than surely we should at least get a look in! Any opinions or answers???

TampaTech · Feb 27, 2009

I am not a nurse yet but what I can tell you is that you need to bug these recruiters...yes they have alot on their plate but if you call them every so often and give them your name they will remember you...i really think it helps to stay in contact with the recruiters.

AmericanRN · Feb 28, 2009

I read the thread about Orlando, where a NG cant find a job and became terrified. But yesterday in my clinicals in Tampa (UCH Fletcher) I noticed again they do not have enough nurses and there was one floating nurse from UCH Carrolwood because they do not have anough nurses!!!!!!! I spoke to my nurse about that thread and she was surprised to hear that it is hard to find a job as NG in Orlando. How is the situation in Tampa? What hospitals would you recommend for NG in Tampa bay. I live in LOL and the closest hospital for me is UCH Fletcher + new location of St. Joseph North which is under construction yet. TGH is too far+ traffic in downtown is terrible. I know it is a good place for NG and if I am in the situation of NG from Orlando, I'd prefer to go to TGH:))) What other hospitals should I consider in my area? Any advice? Thanks

The other posters already covered other hospitals to apply for such as Moffit, VA, etc. The VA is student & NG friendly but many students talk smack about the VA because they think it's all old guys coming in for blood work. Some of the most medically complex people in Tampa go to the VA. It's a helluva place to build nursing skills.

I also do clinicals at UCH-Fletcher for med surg. A clinical director at another hospital I do a rotation at told me she is more likely to hire a new grad if they worked for her as a nurse tech when they were still students. She wants to know what kind of work ethic they have or don't have before she risks putting them on her unit (it's a specialty) I also suggest setting yourself apart from your clincial group as a humble student who asks questions when the time is right but does not make negative comments, gossip or be seen slouching around.

I overheard a lot of nurses including charge nurses saying that they are overhearing students during rotations saying they want a specialty unit and "I ain't doing med surg." In other words "who the heck do these newbies think they are?" A lot of old school nurses who have specialities developed their "nurse cred" in med sug. When a nurse likes a student they will tell you flat out what they think of our peers who have big mouths. We should put a year or two in med surg and then if we choose move on to the specialty stuff just like they did.

It's future career suicide for students to be overheard saying negative things especially with most not having jobs in the medical field. The experienced nurses dont forget much in the way of faces even if the names blur together. They have minds like steel traps & it's very key for us students to remember that because we want to be part of their peer group one day not on their "O crap not them" list.