What kind of pay can I expect as Bsn RN in ICU in Tampa Bay area???

U.S.A. Florida

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I'm just a student now, but I want to work in ICU. I was wondering what to excpect for pay. I have to have a full time job to pay for school. THis takes a toll on my study time (big time) so I was considering taking on a loan. I want to be an ICU nurse and I know I won't get to be one right out of school, but I want to get there as soon as possible. So I was thinking whether I should take a full time loan or just a little one and work part time. I'm concerned about paying back my loan so I wondered what to expect for pay (so I know whether to keep my job as part time to minimize the loan). So... what is some of your experiences working in ICU for a hospital and an agency...

THANKS IN ADVANCE... :)

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Probably you should expect to be paid in the low 20's, in the range of 19 to 21. Good luck. You might be able to get right into ICU.

Probably you should expect to be paid in the low 20's, in the range of 19 to 21.

That's for day shift base pay, right?

Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

There are quite a few hospitals that have a loan payback as part of their offer. I believe the state of Florida is what funds it (in order to recruit nurses), so it should be available no matter which hospital you go to. Check Myflorida.com for details.

My classmate received $2500 to pay back her student loans.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
That's for day shift base pay, right?

Not necessarily. Please use search to research the several hundred threads that cover Florida pay rates. There is generally a new one started every week, but the complaint remains. Florida is considered one of the worst (if not the worst) paying states in the nation. It is the informal winner of the "Nursing Salary Hall of Shame".

And no, the lack of a state income tax and so called low cost of living is not adequate enough to make up the difference.

They tell you that they "pay in sunshine". Well, until my credit card company and rent can be "paid in sunshine", they can keep their sunshine.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Yes, I was talking dayshift pay. Carolina is right though, I took a pay cut from North Carolina to Florida 15 years ago. And Tampa Bay is lower than other parts of the state. SE Florida, for instance pays better. The salaries have gone up over the years, while they are making in the low 20s now, when I started it was in the low 10s, so Florida has caught up to some other southern states, but certainly not the pay of the NE or extreme West.

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