[iel21]

hi everyone! i'm a newly licensed RN. i've applied online at these 3 hospitals.. wuesthoff, health-first, & parrish. tom i have an interview at wuesthoff. but i didn't get any respond yet from parrish & health-first. what if i get hired at wuesthoff?? should i accept it immediately or is it okay if i wait for the response of the 2 other hospitals?? i really want to have an option if which one is better.

can anyone please give me a feedback on working in these hospitals??? i've heard lots of postive feedback at parrish. and they say that cape canaveral is a great place to. but at wuesthoff, a lot of people don't like it there. i wonder why. thanks in advance! hope to get a feedback from you guys. tnx!

[nurz2be]

I will tell you the order I have been told from nurses who have worked and work at several of these facilities. I live in Melbourne, BTW.

In order of best to least favorite by reason of salary and work environment. (Health First is several hospitals so I will put them in order)

Parrish
Holmes Regional (Health First)
Cape Canaveral (Health First)
Wuesthoff Rockledge
Palm Bay Community Hospital (Health First)
Wuesthoff Melbourne

Mind you I know people at each of these that are happy with where they work. Holmes Regional just had a "house cleaning" and removed a lot of managers whose departments were suffering greatly. I hear that things are smoothing out in some aspects there.

I think it also depends on what department you are going to work in and what kind of attitude you have. I know some nurses who are miserable wherever they are and some that are happy anywhere they can work. So, it can truly depend on how easily you adapt and get along with folks. I know when I graduate this is going to be one decision I will not look forward to making either. I think as a new grad I will take a position where I can get one and get my feet wet as a nurse before I make too many decisions about what place is better than the other.

GOOD LUCK

[iel21]

you're definitely right! i should just get the expereince first anywhere i can get. I'll probably taking Wuesthoff Rockledge. Med/Surg floor. Thanks for the input! Goodluck to you!

[nurz2be]

Originally Posted by iel21

you're definitely right! i should just get the expereince first anywhere i can get. I'll probably taking Wuesthoff Rockledge. Med/Surg floor. Thanks for the input! Goodluck to you!

You are very welcome. A few of my friends work at Rockledge Wuesthoff as Nurse techs, as we are still in school, one is CCU, one is in ER, one is a floater, and I am not sure what floor the other is on, LOL. Too many to keep up with. They like it there and the nurses have been very helpful to them. GOOD LUCK. Maybe I will see you as a student, we do clinicals there, Keiser Melbourne...

[iel21]

thanks nurz2be!!! got another interview at Orlando Florida Hospital. but i might not go for it. their program for international nursing graduates will start on monday. everything's in a rush. & Orlando is an hour away from my place..the travel will be an add on stress.

[nurz2be]

You are very welcome. I am sure that making this decision is really stressful. I hope that you have one of those light bulb moments and it just makes sense. I am looking forward to but dreading that moment for myself as well. Keep us posted where ya go and how you like it. Remember to give yourself time to adjust and don't be too hard on yourself. You are walking into a new world, but an exciting one.


GOOD LUCK

[markas214]

I'm looking into moving with my family to this area. Can anyone give me a ballpark for salary? I have 13 years experience including two or more years in the following, med/surg, cardiac tele, ortho, ER, and many years as charge nurse in these departments. I plan on working 12 hour nights and would do all weekends if there is a weekend program that pays a premium. I need full benefits also. What are the co-pays for medical, dental and vision for a family?

So what can I expect to make an hour doing nights with my experience? I was planning on asking for a base of at leat $30. I could live in a little less if the differentials are high enough. Please help. If you aren't comfortable posting wages publicly could you PM me?

[JewelsRN]

Originally Posted by markas214

I'm looking into moving with my family to this area. Can anyone give me a ballpark for salary? I have 13 years experience including two or more years in the following, med/surg, cardiac tele, ortho, ER, and many years as charge nurse in these departments. I plan on working 12 hour nights and would do all weekends if there is a weekend program that pays a premium. I need full benefits also. What are the co-pays for medical, dental and vision for a family?

So what can I expect to make an hour doing nights with my experience? I was planning on asking for a base of at leat $30. I could live in a little less if the differentials are high enough. Please help. If you aren't comfortable posting wages publicly could you PM me?

One option would be to start as a travel nurse, then you would be guaranteed a better salary with benefits and tax free stipend for living expenses. They could even set you up with housing and a rental car while you get situated. Otherwise, there are nursing agencies that also pay more and offer benefits. I have 5 years experience in critical care / ER nursing and was just offered $33 /hr. base salary for per diem (with no benefits or guarantee of full-time hours). Even working for the hospitals directly, you could expect to make $30-$35/hour depending on what area you work in~ that's including night & weekend differentials. Health First does have a "baylor program" (weekend exclusive). Everything is negotiable.

[JewelsRN]

I started as a GN at Wuesthoff. They offered me $6000 sign on bonus for 2 years. I had an excellent preceptor and it was a great place to start and learn. However, the staffing was very poor at the time and the nurse to pt ratios were not good, especially during "season" (now). Sometimes they had required overtime. Ask to talk to the people that work on the particular floors you're applying for. Every one is different. Nurse recruiters will tell you what they think you want to hear. Find out from the source.