Anyone from florida - need your help

RGN1 · Nov 15, 2006

I'm off to Florida but my agency is paying $26. I also had another offer of $23 rising to $25 after 6 months - performance dependent.

Therefore, $17 sounds a rip-off to me! My feeling is don't sign!! .

Cost of living is lower in FL than some States but not that low!! In some areas housing costs have risen a lot, the Sate tax is around 6% plus there are local taxes (particularly related to housing) that are quite high. Fuel prices are up, as they are everywhere. Also insurance companies have doubled or even tripled their premiums this year. Personally I think you'd survive on $17 but only just!! Life would be unlikely to be comfortable at that wage, especially if you are the only earner in the household.

Have you tried applying directly? I know Florida Hospital (Orlando area) offer direct hire & there's a hospital in St Petersburg that does too but I've forgotten it's name. Also there's a big hospital in Miami that's recruiting directly right now. I suggest you check them out & tell the agency thanks but no thanks!

norhubez · Nov 15, 2006

I'm off to Florida but my agency is paying $26. I also had another offer of $23 rising to $25 after 6 months - performance dependent.
Therefore, $17 sounds a rip-off to me! My feeling is don't sign!! .
Cost of living is lower in FL than some States but not that low!! In some areas housing costs have risen a lot, the Sate tax is around 6% plus there are local taxes (particularly related to housing) that are quite high. Fuel prices are up, as they are everywhere. Also insurance companies have doubled or even tripled their premiums this year. Personally I think you'd survive on $17 but only just!! Life would be unlikely to be comfortable at that wage, especially if you are the only earner in the household.
Have you tried applying directly? I know Florida Hospital (Orlando area) offer direct hire & there's a hospital in St Petersburg that does too but I've forgotten it's name. Also there's a big hospital in Miami that's recruiting directly right now. I suggest you check them out & tell the agency thanks but no thanks!

thanks so much, i really need this kind of info. im really interested in applying directly with a hospital, thing is i dont know how. we only depend here with these agencies, we dont have any close relative or friend living in florida now, i only have my cg and ielts now, im still planning to take nclex next year, i even havent made up my mind yet which state to choose. please tell me where can i get more info about hospitals offering direct hiring? thanks so much, hope to hear from you guys again

RGN1 · Nov 15, 2006

Most Direct Hire hospitals, as far as I know, will not consider you until you have passed N-CLEX. I think you should decide which State you'd most like to work in & then check out the various hospital website in that State to find out which are willing to Direct Hire, if you find somewhere suitable apply for N-CLEX in that State. However, make sure that you don't need CGFNS exam as well because that's extra cost & time - go elsewhere.MOst hospitals that regularly participate in direct hire will most likely have a link on their site for foreign nurses - I know Florida Hospital did when I checked them out last year. Also there are others on this website who may be willing to help once you have narrowed things down a bit.

Bear in mind that you can endorse your license from one State to another so if things don't work out for you in the State of your choice then that won't be a major disaster. The most common States, just from what I've seen on here, that have plenty of direct hire choices seem to be Arizona, California, Florida & Texas. However, I'm absolutely positive that this list is by no means complete.

Sunqueen · Nov 15, 2006

it depends where in Florida. South Florida is no longer the cheap place in the sun. I have seen ads for condo rentals around $1000 a month (2 bed). When we moved here 10 years ago we rented a 3 bed, 2 bath house for $1100. That same house would now be well over $2000 a month. Buying is another story. Despite rumors of the housing bubble bursting, it is still not cheap. Prices have just stopped going up, not come down!

I was under the impression that most hospitals down here pay from the mid $20's and up.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Nov 15, 2006

$17 an hour is WAY too low for agency nursing in the Tampa-St. Pete area.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

$17 an hour is WAY too low for agency nursing in the Tampa-St. Pete area.

They are not talking of agency nursing in the way that you are thinking of. The nurses above are international nurses that are being petitioned for a green card thru an agency.......That is why you find most of these posts moved to the International Forum where we understand what they are speaking of. They are essentially going to be a full-time employee for a two or three year contract.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

im about to sign up with an agency that will take me to florida to work as a nurse, my only concern is that the offer was only close to 17 dollars, they told me that cost of living in florida is quite low compare to other states and that should explain why the income was also quite low. i just need some insight from you guys, will these 17dollars/hour be enough for me, my wife a a daugther, considering im the only one working in the family? also if you can give me info about expenses such as apartment rents, taxes, etc in florida, that would really be highly appreciated?thanks guys. hoping to hear from you

That salary is too low, and is below the prevailing wage agreement that needs to be in your contract first of all. Do not sign with that.

Without having taken and passed the NCLEX exam, it seems that you are being placed in a nursing home and not a hospital........I highly recommend that you take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, or you will find it quite difficult to find an employer on your own. Also be aware that if you do not have the NCLEX done before you get to the US, you will not be paid at RN rates.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

Thread moved to International Forum where it is more appropriate, since it is dealing with foreign nurses and international contracts.

norhubez · Nov 16, 2006

thanks suzanne4 and everyone, but whats the guarantee that someone will hire me with direct employment once i passed nclex exam, considering i dont have any work experience yet? i just dont know which website to visit, or whom to contact, to gain more info about direct hiring in the us. can anyone help me? my dilemna right now, is either to work to gain exp, or to take nclex early next year, the latter thou i think is quite risky because i may not be able to find someone to hire me, since lots of agencies out here require at least a year of hospital exp. please help. help, thanks

suehp · Nov 17, 2006

thanks suzanne4 and everyone, but whats the guarantee that someone will hire me with direct employment once i passed nclex exam, considering i dont have any work experience yet? i just dont know which website to visit, or whom to contact, to gain more info about direct hiring in the us. can anyone help me? my dilemna right now, is either to work to gain exp, or to take nclex early next year, the latter thou i think is quite risky because i may not be able to find someone to hire me, since lots of agencies out here require at least a year of hospital exp. please help. help, thanks

Have you ANY nursing experience or are you a new grad? Pay is reflected on how many years experience you have...well at least at the hospitals I applied to. I am being paid equivalent to how many years i have been a nurse irrespective of whether it is hopsital experience or not and whether or not it was USA experience or UK experience.

You can find direct hire hospitals - you need to do a lot of research. As someone has already said no-one will take you seriously unti lyou have passed the NCLEX. I found this myself - no-one wanted to talk to me until I could prove I had the NCLEX under my belt....

Once you have this I dont think you will find too much difficutly in finding someone to sponsor you especially if they have done it before. My hospital has done this before and I know one of my friends in teh UK is going through the process - albeit painfully slowly!!

norhubez · Nov 17, 2006

i have no work exp, i only passed cgfn and ielts now.

so lets put it this way, if youre the employer, would you rather hire someone who has worked for a year or so or someone who has proven he had a good background in nursing theory by passing the nclex? which do you think employer in the US would care most? coz im thinking if i work i may not be able to prepare well for the exam, working while studying for nclex is really tough. so its a choice, should i work to gain exp or concentrate for the nclex exam? what do you think?

Have you ANY nursing experience or are you a new grad? Pay is reflected on how many years experience you have...well at least at the hospitals I applied to. I am being paid equivalent to how many years i have been a nurse irrespective of whether it is hopsital experience or not and whether or not it was USA experience or UK experience.
You can find direct hire hospitals - you need to do a lot of research. As someone has already said no-one will take you seriously unti lyou have passed the NCLEX. I found this myself - no-one wanted to talk to me until I could prove I had the NCLEX under my belt....
Once you have this I dont think you will find too much difficutly in finding someone to sponsor you especially if they have done it before. My hospital has done this before and I know one of my friends in teh UK is going through the process - albeit painfully slowly!!