I am looking at what the pay would be for Orlando hospitals. I am an RN with 15+ years exp. in ICU/ER. Can anyone tell me what I should expect in pay. I am moving from the west coast and have had some offers, so I want to make sure that this is normal.

I can't answer for an RN with that much experience, but I can tell you Florida Hospital's new grad pay rate. For a BSN new grad, they pay $22.75 an hour and then there is a 35% shift differential for night shift.

Generally much lower than the West coast. I know nurses with 16 yrs experience being offered 26-28/hr plus differential for fulltime with benefits in some of the hospitals in central FL, but it should be a bit more in Orlando.

Thank you for your reply! I am just shocked at how low Florida pay is!!!

I am a native Floridian but live up north for that reason. Add in poor to extremely poor ratios, the seasonality of work (frequent low census/floating off season, and working your fingers off during the "Season". That and many of the issues that occur with an older population.

The saying goes, "You get paid in sunshine". Well, Visa and the electric company won't accept "sunshine" as payment, so why should we?

I have to agree with caroladybelle. I moved here from New York 13 yrs ago for the children and while the move has been wonderful for them, I have been miserable as a nurse here. The ratios should be criminal: 3:1 ICU, 6:1 PCU and 8:1 MS at least at the hospital I currently work for. There's nothing worse then floating to a floor with those ratios when your used to the lower ratios in a CC unit. The pay is dismal as is the treatment of nurses in general. It's been my experience that the doctors here are still in the dark ages in their interactions with nurses. Although the hospital I work for is actively making strides to change that. Miracle of miracles, we can now write-up docs for their bad behaviour.

I'm not sure what is motivating your move to Florida but I would rethink it if I were you. Now that the children are grown, we are all actively looking to leave the state for good. The pay is horrible all around and even the kids are making dismal salaries. My daughter is nearly finish with her Masters degree and then we are gone.

As to your question, I was making $21/hr as an ICU nurse in Orlando for the longest. I was lucky enough to increase my salary by working for a hospital an hours drive from home. The commute sucks but a pay increase of nearly 30% was worth it but that pay increase is for my CVICU unit which they require experience for. The pay for the ICU is much lower and wouldn't be worth the commute at all. There are two major hospital systems in the area: Florida Hospital (a level 2 hospital) and Orlando Health (a level 1 hospital. They both pay about the same.

I'm sorry to sound so down on the state but it's only redeeming quality is it's weather. I wish you the best of luck on whatever decision you decide to make.

Thanks guys!