Published
Pensacola and the tri-cities area (Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach) are the lowest paid areas in the state of Florida. It is not uncommon for new grad RNs to make less than $20/hr. Because it is a tourist area, the cost of living is pretty high while the rate of pay remains poor. The market is over saturated as there are several nursing schools in the area. Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville is usually pretty new grad friendly. I haven't heard much lately about North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, so I can't be of any help there, and hiring at Sacred Heart in Pensacola is pretty competitive. I'm considering moving back to Atlanta after my LPN to RN bridge program because the job market here is so bad.
I live in destin. Ive worked at several hospitals in the area with exception to north okaloosa medical ctr and twin cities hospital (Just put in an application for a per diem agency position at twin cities though 😠) Im not sure how it is for new grads as I've been in nursing for 7 years now, but when i worked at sacred heart in destin with 5 years experience (including charge nurse experience) + acls, bls, and chemo certification, i made $20.50/hr base pay IN THE FLOAT POOL! I worked nights, so i had a shift dif of $5/hr, but that's still entirely too low for float pool and definitely too low for this area. It's expensive to live here. I only stayed at that job for 6 months because i just couldn't afford it any longer. I heard that they raised the base pay by $5/hr for float pool, but idk. I still wouldn't go back. I now work per diem through an agency and commute to gulf coast medical center in panama city 2 shifts a week. Hour and a half drive, but my pay is literally twice what my base was in destin.
I live in destin. Ive worked at several hospitals in the area with exception to north okaloosa medical ctr and twin cities hospital (Just put in an application for a per diem agency position at twin cities though í ½í¸ ) Im not sure how it is for new grads as I've been in nursing for 7 years now, but when i worked at sacred heart in destin with 5 years experience (including charge nurse experience) + acls, bls, and chemo certification, i made $20.50/hr base pay IN THE FLOAT POOL! I worked nights, so i had a shift dif of $5/hr, but that's still entirely too low for float pool and definitely too low for this area. It's expensive to live here. I only stayed at that job for 6 months because i just couldn't afford it any longer. I heard that they raised the base pay by $5/hr for float pool, but idk. I still wouldn't go back. I now work per diem through an agency and commute to gulf coast medical center in panama city 2 shifts a week. Hour and a half drive, but my pay is literally twice what my base was in destin.
Are you still around?
danny0114
5 Posts
Im moving up to Crestview from south Florida later this year. I finish my nursing program in April and would like to see if I could get any insight into the hospitals in the area and if possible, what the starting salary is like up there.