Advice on nursing in Jacksonville FL

[Vjohnson]

Hi everyone! I am a nurse an emergency department nurse in New Jersey. I have 3 years experience as a nurse, all being ER, 2 years at a local ER and then 1 year at a level 2 trauma center. I am relocating to Jacksonville Florida. I am having a hard time finding a job. I’m open to other floors besides ER like ICU or cath lab. 
 

if anyone has any advice on which hospitals are the best, patient ratios, pay, which floors they like ( I am open to trying something new) I would really appreciate!! Any advice is helpful! I’ve been applying for 3 months with no calls. Thank you so much

[Cjt]

Hey, have you applied at Memorial Hospital? I worked in their ED for 2 years and they’re always hiring.

This is not me suggesting you work there, necessarily. They have a very high turnover rate and are often short, mainly due to some of their corporate policies that don’t quite take care of their employees, but the people that work there are great. It’s a great team environment.

When I was there their ratios were 4:1, with you “flexing” to 5:1 fairly often, if not daily. It was a lot, but you were never asked or forced to go above 5 patients.

They have medics that can do IV’s/bloodwork etc. but they are often being used at the front desk checking in patients and not available to help out.

I started as a new grad and was paid around $24/hr starting. They have night and weekend shift diff as well. Speaking with other nurses in the area, Memorial paid competitively for the area

[momoneypls, RN]

This looks like a golden opportunity to try travel nursing. You can use your NJ address to make additional $$ as a traveler, get a contract in Jacksonville or nearby, and have a chance to "sample" your hospital before committing. Once you have found a place you like, leave your agency and apply, making sure of course that your institution is willing to hire you in. 

Also, a lot of hospitals don't start hiring until first or second quarter; by this time (4th quarter) they are usually over budget. This is why they hire travelers; they don't have to supply benefits and it comes out of a different budget kitty.

Good luck!

[pineappleupsidedowncake, BSN, RN]

I worked at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville... maybe the lowest paying hospital in Jacksonville but I do think it is a bit easier to get a job there compared to hospitals like Mayo Clinic. I didn't love it, but I wasn't in the ER. The Beaches campus is supposed to be a great place to work, and it is right on the beach so that is a plus! 

I do hear pretty good things from nurses who work at Mayo Clinic and the pay is pretty good.