Hi Everyone

I am currently a Nursing Student (AAS) in NYC, scheduled to graduate in 2015. I plan on moving to Florida as soon as I am done and complete my BSN down there. I was wondering if there were any Nurses with the same/similar situation, and even RN from Florida who had any advice on the best hospitals to apply to in South Florida. So far I am praying on getting into Baptist Health and/or Holy Cross.

I am aware that Florida nurses get paid less than NYC, but it's a choice I am willing to deal as I am really tired of NYC. After all, I believe that it sums up to almost the same as cost of living in Florida is CHEAPER than NY and you pay way less taxes. Also, it's my happiness. I visit Florida every month, and I love it down there. Only reason I haven't moved yet it because of school.

I am open to any positive advice on my decision. If you believe there are cons to my decision, please provide facts.

Thank you.

Well Baptist is like a fortress to get into with no experience. They recently hired for a new grad residency but it was only open to BSNs. That's actually where I just got hired. Good luck with the move and finishing school.

Also, the cost of living in South Florida is not all that low. The public transportation system here is nowhere near as good as NY and most likely you will need a car, depending on where you go to school and get hired. Plus, even with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing), BLS, ACLS, PALS and an EKG course I struggled to find a job here as a new grad. The best bet is a residency program, but I'm pretty sure the market here is saturated with new grads that already have BSNs. A lot of my friends had better luck in Broward and even better luck in north FL. Maybe look into Florida Hospital in Orlando.... Idk how they are with hiring associate degree nurses, but my friend from nursing school got a job there in the ICU through a new grad residency less than 6 months after graduation. Also, just so you know I pay 1400 for a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath near Baptist Hospital in Kendall. Good luck with everything.... you can message me with anything else you wanna know :)

Also, the cost of living in South Florida is not all that low. The public transportation system here is nowhere near as good as NY and most likely you will need a car, depending on where you go to school and get hired. Plus, even with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing), BLS, ACLS, PALS and an EKG course I struggled to find a job here as a new grad. The best bet is a residency program, but I'm pretty sure the market here is saturated with new grads that already have BSNs. A lot of my friends had better luck in Broward and even better luck in north FL. Maybe look into Florida Hospital in Orlando.... Idk how they are with hiring associate degree nurses, but my friend from nursing school got a job there in the ICU through a new grad residency less than 6 months after graduation. Also, just so you know I pay 1400 for a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath near Baptist Hospital in Kendall. Good luck with everything.... you can message me with anything else you wanna know :)

A 2 bed in the city of Boston or NYC is 2500-4k all day. That's a base price. In nice areas, upper end neighborhoods, if you have to ask the price you shouldn't be looking there. Those prices make 4k look like chump change. Not kidding. Avalon in Cambridge being built is going start price at 4700 for a one bed 700sqft unit. Some 2 bed units top 9k. I live 20 mins outside the city limits, and my rent tops 1850 for a 1 bed. That's not a bad price for Massachusetts, and that's an hour commute to the city in the AM.

I was about to relocate to Florida, the cost of living is exponentially less, I assure you. It's all artificially inflated prices due to absurd tax policy. Regardless, MA is no picnic, NYC is worse. The rest of the country has no idea how good they have it

You're talking only about apartment prices.... I'm talking cost of living in general. And if you wanna live Downtown or in Brickell I assure you rent can reach and even exceed those prices as well. Also an associate degree RN with no experience is gonna have an extremely difficult time finding a job in South FL and if they do it most likely will be at a nursing home making $19 an hr (because I applied for those jobs as well). Add that to the horrible traffic here and the fact that not speaking Spanish is an HUGE disadvantage and it's not all as luxurious as it sounds. I've lived in South Fl my whole life and I understand places like NYC are a lot more expensive to live but you also get paid more. The avg starting salary of a new grad BSN in South Fl is $53k and in NY it's $68k. Big difference.

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=New+York

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=South+florida

You're talking only about apartment prices.... I'm talking cost of living in general. And if you wanna live Downtown or in Brickell I assure you rent can reach and even exceed those prices as well. Also an associate degree RN with no experience is gonna have an extremely difficult time finding a job in South FL and if they do it most likely will be at a nursing home making $19 an hr (because I applied for those jobs as well). Add that to the horrible traffic here and the fact that not speaking Spanish is an HUGE disadvantage and it's not all as luxurious as it sounds. I've lived in South Fl my whole life and I understand places like NYC are a lot more expensive to live but you also get paid more. The avg starting salary of a new grad BSN in South Fl is $53k and in NY it's $68k. Big difference.

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=New+York

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=South+florida

Whilst I understand that the cost of living in Florida seems to be expensive, believe me when I tell you it's NOTHING compared to NY. Our cost of living is double what youll pay. And whilst you compare the pay rate for nurses in both states, there are times that nurses in Florida will take home more money than those in NY...we pay at least four different set of taxes. You guys pay one. A one bedroom is now no cheaper than 1300. If you get it cheaper, it's in the hood!

Moving to Florida is a risk that I am willing to take. I am tired of the city life. It is too expensive. Also, my boyfriend is from Florida, so I have that as an advantage. Even though I didn't have him, I'd make it work. It's all according to God's guidance.

But thank you for your info. Baptist Health, Cleveland Clinic, Memorial and Holy Cross are at the top of my list for when the time comes to seek employment.

With no risks, there are no rewards.

A 2 bed in the city of Boston or NYC is 2500-4k all day. That's a base price. In nice areas, upper end neighborhoods, if you have to ask the price you shouldn't be looking there. Those prices make 4k look like chump change. Not kidding. Avalon in Cambridge being built is going start price at 4700 for a one bed 700sqft unit. Some 2 bed units top 9k. I live 20 mins outside the city limits, and my rent tops 1850 for a 1 bed. That's not a bad price for Massachusetts, and that's an hour commute to the city in the AM.

I was about to relocate to Florida, the cost of living is exponentially less, I assure you. It's all artificially inflated prices due to absurd tax policy. Regardless, MA is no picnic, NYC is worse. The rest of the country has no idea how good they have it

You're absolutely correct Michael. The city life aint no bag of gold and they dont know!

I'm not telling you NOT to move to South Fl... I'm just telling you to do your research and not be disillusioned so there aren't any big shocks when you get here. Visiting a place and living there are very different. And I definitely recommend starting your BSN as soon as possible when you get here.... My bf is doing his Associates in Nursing now and I tell him the exact same thing. I really worry about him finding a job after graduation... And it's a very real concern. I think the hospitals you're looking at are good.... But there are also plenty more you can look into. Jackson Memorial Hospital is very new grad friendly, and Tenet owns a lot of Hospitals here in Fl. Definitely look there. There are also Mercy and Kendall Regional in Miami but idk how new grad friendly they are.

I'm not telling you NOT to move to South Fl... I'm just telling you to do your research and not be disillusioned so there aren't any big shocks when you get here. Visiting a place and living there are very different. And I definitely recommend starting your BSN as soon as possible when you get here.... My bf is doing his Associates in Nursing now and I tell him the exact same thing. I really worry about him finding a job after graduation... And it's a very real concern. I think the hospitals you're looking at are good.... But there are also plenty more you can look into. Jackson Memorial Hospital is very new grad friendly, and Tenet owns a lot of Hospitals here in Fl. Definitely look there. There are also Mercy and Kendall Regional in Miami but idk how new grad friendly they are.

It will not be a shock for me as I am in Florida every month.

Thanks for the extra hospitals.

Your boyfriend WILL get something. Getting a job as a new grad nurse is just like any other profession and any other new grad. You're never guaranteed to get a job as soon as you graduate. For some it may takes more months than other but with persistance, determination. patience and ambition....the jobs come through. He just need people to encourage him so he doesnt feel like he's wasting his time. New grads in NY go more than six months without getting jobs...and I have that info straight from the horse's mouth. So it's not just in one state.

I have spoken to several associate degree nurses who have gone waaaaay longer than 6 months. As for myself, I went almost 10. And I think I'm pretty well educated with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing). I also have additional certifications that I did on my time and $$. I was so naive thinking that nursing was a super in demand profession.... My instructors would tell me how they had jobs lined up even before graduating!!! South FL is so saturated with new grads.... But I know a lot of other places are like that too.

I have spoken to several associate degree nurses who have gone waaaaay longer than 6 months. As for myself, I went almost 10. And I think I'm pretty well educated with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing). I also have additional certifications that I did on my time and $$. I was so naive thinking that nursing was a super in demand profession.... My instructors would tell me how they had jobs lined up even before graduating!!! South FL is so saturated with new grads.... But I know a lot of other places are like that too.

The best part of all of this is not giving up and staying positive.

I am also interested in moving to florida from Chicago. I had a phone interview with baptist health a few weeks ago and will be in Miami next week and hoping to get that in person interview. I have almost 1 year experience in a hospital setting prior to that was home health because it was really hard to get a job here as well as a new grad. Anyways I just want to know your thoughts on Baptist and what should I expect if I do interview with them.