Florida

jdomep · Jan 6, 2003

Okay...I am from Florida (Clearwater Beach - prettiest beach in the state) and I think we were about 2 hours from Ocala. I haven't been there in 15 years or so but as I remember it is more like the "country" part of Florida - I bought my first horse there).

My guess is probably an hour an half from Disneyworld.

I can't help on the job situation though ..Good Luck!

MaggieRN · Jan 6, 2003

Thanks for the reply-- ANY info is intersting and helpful to me. Just dreaming of living in Florida is so exciting to me. Any drawbacks to living in Florida (besides the hurricanes)? Good luck with your schooling. It is so worth it. I am a 23 year nurse and still learning!!

Maggie

BadBird, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2003

My sister locked her keys in her car in ocala, called AAA, many nice rednecks stopped to help. In my opinion it is country, redneck, and just a town that you want to drive through, nothing much to do there.

Sleepyeyes · Jan 6, 2003

There ya go!

http://www.ocalafl.org/

MaggieRN · Jan 7, 2003

:cool: Hey thanks for the info... Maybe it is not worth visiting after all.......

Maggie

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

MaggieRN,

I attended U of F in Gainesville, 30 miles north of Ocala.

While Polk county Florida (my home county) is more "redneck" than Marion (Ocala), Ocala is rather country. Lots of horse farms and open pasture in that area (wealthier "rednecks") while my area is cattle/grove/farm/mines (poorer "rednecks"). Lots of retirees in age 55+ subdivisions. Very heavy bible thumpers - when I worked for a record/video company, we were requested to keep "The Last Temptation of Christ" behind the counter, as some churches objected to seeing on the open counter, as they felt it was sacriligious. Few real bars, no strip clubs, little live music, few theatre groups, - a very family oriented, non threatening, somewhat bland place. It is probably 2-3 hours to any major beaches (on the Atlantic side, I personally prefer the Gulf myself. You can road trip to Cedar Key for great seafood, there are some real great clear water springs to enjoy close by (Silver Springs) and of course Disney/Orlando. Plenty of family style eateries and fern bars (Olive Garden, Applebees, etc.) but nothing unique. The weather rarily freezes, and is generally quite mild to hot.

Hope this helps!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

PS.

Clearwater is more like 3 or more hours to Ocala.

As the hospital population is generally elderly, and covered (undercovered !) by medicare, expect poor pay, rampant understaffing, and tons of extra hours in the winter.

MollyMo · Jan 10, 2003

I live in Kissimmee. I don't know any different about Ocala except what you've already been told. I've passed through on the turnpike and country is all I see. The lizards took a little getting used to. They usually run from you. Base pay is not the best, but some places make up for that with a good differential, or sign on bonuses,stuff like that.

moonrose2u · Jan 10, 2003

i lived in florida for 7yrs, and recently moved back to midwest.

if you are dreaming about florida, please be aware that salaries are LOW, in comparison to other states, horrible staffing conditions, lots of different cultures represented in staffing and with pts (it helps to be bilingual in another language)tons of elderly patients (if geriatrics aren't your thing, go into a specialty unit), cost of living is no cheaper, but housing is competive.

in my own personal experience, i found the medical care to be sorely lacking and sloppingly practiced, and for that reason alone returned to an area well known for their excellent medical facilities.

not to say that the whole of florida is horrible, but in my own situation, this is what i experienced..

however, i do miss the beach and the climate....

moonrose2u · Jan 10, 2003

i apolgize for the rampart spelling errors in the above post..

will spell check from now on....