Is FL nursing really all that bad?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

When I started here as a nurse, the stats truly scared me. I'd read that nurses in FL were treated the worst in the nation and that salaries were bad as well.

But as I read here on the board about other states' nursing situations, I find that I disagree.

I have a reasonable patient load -- usually I have 5 or 6 patients with a tech for evening shift -- and the acuity is not too labor-intensive.

We have an admissions nurse most of the time, so we don't have to fill out lengthy admit paperwork. There is always more work with a Direct Admit though, because those include stat drugs and IVs, but that's everywhere you go anyhow, and we also have extra floating staff to help. We have a very good Rapid Response Team. We all pitch in and help one another get things done and cover for one another on break.

We have both students and longtime nurses on our tele/med-surg unit.

The pay isn't bad, and the benefits are OK too. I usually get some form of a break every day that I work.

So why has FL got such a bad rep for nursing? Is it really deserved today?

How does your state compare, in your opinion?

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Specializes in er/icu/neuro/trauma/pacu.

Angie- you must be working for pretty good hospital. I have worked in many FL hopitals and tho I usually work ICU or ER, the floors regularly carry a heavier load than you are now. Tele or step-downs do quite often have the 5-6 pt load, but oooh those poor med-surg floors. Granted a tele pt is supposedly less stable, but we all know docs who put pts there just for the difference in staffing levels (which equals better care)

The pay is a whole 'nother issue. I am up in the panhandle and pay is terrible. I now make exactly half what I made in WA (state) 3 yrs ago, and am still 2.00 below my wage in Orlando in 2000. I think FL wages are improving in the South and Central regions, but it will be quite awhile before everyone catches up. And NO cost of living is not cheaper where I am now, historically it may have been, but not these days.

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

The only comparison I can make is with North Carolina and the ratios, pay and working conditions were pretty similar. I did take a slight pay cut when I moved to Florida.

I think it varies as to where to work. I've heard some of the HCA hospitals in this area have less rescources and poor staffing compared to where I work, but that's only heresay. I hear Sarasota has much more resources and better pay and staffing than here in St. Pete.

I have watched my salary more than double the last 15 years. But the last few years with high insurance rates and property taxes (both personal and the fact that busiensses have to pass this expense on to the consumers) have eroded a lot of gains and I agree the cost of living here in Florida is not that good anymore.

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The comment about property tax shows why a progressive income tax is better for the middle class.

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Short answer to the OP: yes, its pretty bad.

But a lot depends on what part of the state you are working in and who owns the hospital that you are working for. As far as the salaries go, I think the hospitals down here in South Florida could do better. The south Florida RN salaries have gotten a little better, but if you consider how ridiculous the cost of living here has gotten you will see that it still doesnt quite pan out. If you are an RN working in the Tri County area of south Florida, and you are earning the average salary of $45,000, you may very well find yourself having a rough time coming up with 20% to put down on a $400,000 "starter home", not to mention the outrageous property taxes and insurance costs. Many nurses have moved away to other states where homes are cheaper and the cost of living is a bit less outrageous.

As for the ratios, yes they are terrible. Its not so much the number of patients but the type of patients. I have worked in other states and YES, there is a difference. For one thing, many of the patients down here are much, much older, and a lot sicker, and require far more nursing interventions. I also do not see much of the teamwork and support you described in many of the area hospitals. On the contrary, I see nurses running around with little support and sometimes no help. On one tele floor where I recently did a per diem shift, the manager fired all the monitor techs and PCAs and told the nurses that they would now have to do their own strips and patient care. And, it used to be that six was the average ratio on tele, but I am seeing a trend in some hospitals where the ratio is creeping up to seven and eight---and I have done a few tele shifts where I had more than eight! I know the hospitals all talk about patient safety as their main priority, but that's often nothing more than lip service. Most of the area hospitals are cutting back in every way imaginable, but it seems to me that every penny they save somehow negatively impacts overall safety and quality of care.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Wow $400,00 for a starter home??? Gee whiz...I want to personally invite all you Florida nurses to central IL - a very nice starter home will run you $150,00! And...our new grads make about $35,000 so with experience, $45,000 is easily reachable and most make much more than that....

Sorry for the recruiting - lol.

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I'm a student nurse and just interviewed at St Joe's in Tampa for a PCT job. It sounded pretty good to me. Oncology floor, days 2-3 pcts for 30 beds, twelve hour shifts. Pay sounded reasonable and benefits sound great to me

but I am one of those who don't know what they don't know yet.

Is that a good ratio for PCT's.

Does anyone have any comments about St Joe's?

I also have an interview for nurse intern at Lakeland Regional tomorrow? any advice regarding that hospital?

Thanks

Margaret

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Specializes in ICU.
I'm a student nurse and just interviewed at St Joe's in Tampa for a PCT job. It sounded pretty good to me. Oncology floor, days 2-3 pcts for 30 beds, twelve hour shifts. Pay sounded reasonable and benefits sound great to me

but I am one of those who don't know what they don't know yet.

Is that a good ratio for PCT's.

Does anyone have any comments about St Joe's?

I also have an interview for nurse intern at Lakeland Regional tomorrow? any advice regarding that hospital?

Thanks

Margaret

I am just wondering how long it took for St. Joe's to contact you once you filled out an online application (if you did)? The reason I ask--I applied for a PCT position for nursing students, but I have yet to hear anything and I am definitely qualified for this position!!

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I am just wondering how long it took for St. Joe's to contact you once you filled out an online application (if you did)? The reason I ask--I applied for a PCT position for nursing students, but I have yet to hear anything and I am definitely qualified for this position!!

I applied online a few weeks ago, but I also filled out an interest card they distributed at our student nurses day career fair, and I believe that is where the call originated from. I would suggest calling their team (human) resources dept and requesting a follow up. I spoke with Debbie, her number is 554 8177. Good luck. They seemed to have quite a few positions open. Where else have you applied?

Margaret

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Wow , sounds like you work in a good place. I have a load of 5 or more in an ER, even if we have coding pt, consious sedation etc. we still have the same load. We transport pt's to the floor, xray etc. We clean many of our own beds and rooms. We also care for hall way pt's as needed. Sometimes I think I'm just getting too old to do ER anymore.(and sick of it as well) Our hospital has about the same ratio on the floors. Maybe I shoud change. I don't need to be at the center of the action at this point in my career. Sometimes it seems the Dr's have less high opinion of floor nurses, but I'm old and Bit#@ enough now to let them know what I think. I have no problem letting the little interns know what side their bread is buttered on. A good nurse on the floor can make an interns night He@@ or heaven.

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Specializes in ICU.
I applied online a few weeks ago, but I also filled out an interest card they distributed at our student nurses day career fair, and I believe that is where the call originated from. I would suggest calling their team (human) resources dept and requesting a follow up. I spoke with Debbie, her number is 554 8177. Good luck. They seemed to have quite a few positions open. Where else have you applied?

Margaret

I have applied everywhere--morton plant (where I do my clinicals--you'd think they would want me??), TGH, St. Joes as mentioned, UCH, Moffitt...I don't get why I never get a call. I am more than qualified--I am about to complete my second semester at the University in the area that has a pretty competitive nursing program, I have one year med-surg experience, etc etc.

And the thing that kind of annoys me is that I REALLY don't NEED the job because I get money every month from the VA, but I WANT the job. I think that would make me an even better employee because I actually want to go to work and learn. Hmph. Thanks for the phone number.

-End rant-

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
I'm a student nurse and just interviewed at St Joe's in Tampa for a PCT job. It sounded pretty good to me. Oncology floor, days 2-3 pcts for 30 beds, twelve hour shifts. Pay sounded reasonable and benefits sound great to me

but I am one of those who don't know what they don't know yet.

Is that a good ratio for PCT's.

Does anyone have any comments about St Joe's?

I also have an interview for nurse intern at Lakeland Regional tomorrow? any advice regarding that hospital?

Thanks

Margaret

I hear very good things about St. Joe's. Good patient ratios, among other things. (Oh, and isn't SJ's a Magnet Hospital?)

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