Anyone from SARASOTA?

sjoe · Dec 27, 2003

I would suggest you do a google search on that city.

Its Chamber of Commerce will have a site, as will other agencies.

You can then check out the web sites of hospitals mentioned therein.

There is also a current thread here regarding Florida salaries.

CarolineRn · Jan 3, 2004

I live in Bradenton, Sarasota's *sister city.* Sarasota is a very nice area, lots of arts, theaters, etc.. beautiful waterfront, gorgeous beaches, and from Nov-May, TONS and TONS of traffic. It is a very Up-scale community, with the average home price about 220,000 in a semi-decent neighborhood.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a HUGE facility, and one of the area's largest employers. You can visit their website at: www.smh.com

The hospital is in a bit of financial trouble right now, and they were on a hiring freeze most of the summer, but their website shows job openings coming back up. My friends who work ther say that they are using NO temps or agency RNs right now, due to financial constraints. This all happened just months after they recieved magnet status. Now all the employees are peeved as their workloads have all increased. Hopefully they will recover soon. It's a great hospital overall. SMH's starting wage for a new grad is 18.79/hr.

Sarasota also has Doctor's Hospital. Here's a link to their website:

Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota

I did some clinicals here. Smaller, newer hospital. Rumor has it it was built by a group of Dr's and investors who wanted to compete with SMH. Just in case the hospital didnt work out, it was designed in such a way that it could easily be converted to a hotel. Walking into the front doors, it's easy to see that. The rooms are ALL private and very spacious! (Can you imagine that?? Actually having ROOM to turn around w/o knocking someone's IV pole over? ) Nicely decorated, and staffed by great Doc's and Nurses, this is the rich Sarasotian's alternative to Memorial. (memorial's a county hospital--they have to take indigent cases) I thoroughly enjoyed my clincials here, as the RN's were all very supportive and seemed to work well together.

You can move a little North, to my area--Manatee County. Ten minute drive by the interstate from Dr's Hospital to Manatee Memorial. Here's a link to their website: Manatee Memorial

Manatee memorial is a friendly, older county hospital. Keep in mind, there are a great deal of elderly people in the entire state, and all our hospitals are built to accomodate. This is where I did my preceptorship, on their cardiac step-down floor.

I hear they have great benes, but I absolutely HATED the fact that there were three pts to an already tiny room, and the nurses are expected to do everyone's job. Maybe I am spoiled, but I have never worked in a hospital where transport just brings a bed and the Nurses have to do all the moving, and they return a pt and just leave them in the hall for a nurse to put back in bed, while they sit down, wait and watch!!! I've got a lot of other gripes, like ants in the pt's bathrooms, but the staff, for the most part, were good people.

Head closer to the Manatee County beaches and you'll find MY hospital,

Blake Medical Center

Much nicer than Manatee from a pt's standpoint, and if your in the ICU, the nurses standpoint, Blake is an HCA hospital. (come to think of it, so is Doctor's) I enjoy working there very much, and their starting salaries are competitive with everyone elses, if not better. When someone in my family needs medical attention, this is where we go. Any Dr who works in Manatee County, works at either Blake or MMH. We have the best surgeons and cardiac docs around. Many of them also work out of SMH and Doctors as well. Starting in an ICU, a new grad can expect around 22.00/hr.

As if these arent enough, the population in the Sarasota/Bradenton area is growing so quickly, we are building yet ANOTHER hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical

This was supposed to open May 2003, but has been pushed back again and again. Owned by the same people who brought you Manatee Memorial, LWR is probably already fully staffed by the RN's looking to get the heck outta MMH.

Of course, if you were to head SOUTH of Sarasota, there's Bon Secours of Venice I dont know much about it, but know that COL is a little less expensive than in Manatee/Sarasota area.

Further south, in areas like North Port or Naples, the area is just starting to be developed, and homes and land can still be bought relatively cheap. Each area has or will have its own hospitals soon. North Port is especially cheap, and very, very nice. Great alternative to Sarasota, but a farther commute from Manatee County. (Bradenton)

That's Sarasota in a nutshell. Each hospital I linked to is within 40 minutes of the other. So when you think Sarasota, dont be limited by high home prices. Ther are lots of places to work, and areas that are inexpensive, if you do a little homework first.

Good Luck!

SERENITYTOME · Jan 11, 2004

was wondering as well if anyone could provide me with information to get the thica/legal aspects of nursing ceu that is required in florida.would appreciate any help....thanks...d

CarolineRn · Jan 13, 2004

Here's a link to the Florida board of nursing:

Fla Board of Nursing

You should find the information you're looking for under current licensees. :)

ER Tigger Girl · Jan 16, 2004

As the previous nurse said there are a lot of hospitals in the area. I have to respond to the other post- I personally work at MMH and love it- I actually have worked at 2 other hospitals that were mentioned also and commute to MMH-

[

looking to get the heck outta MMH

and no, I don't want out to go to Lakewood Ranch, even though it is closer- I enjoy the people and teamwork at MMH. I have personally never seen anyone just sit on there butt there in the 8 years I have worked there, there is no time as it is a very busy place.

As far as the population you have equal people that want to go to MMH also,

much nice from a pt's standpoint

and we have been voted #1 hospital (people's choice) in Manatee County for several years running now.

bloviate · Nov 23, 2005

As far as the population you have equal people that want to go to MMH also, and we have been voted #1 hospital (people's choice) in Manatee County for several years running now.

Oh my God. You gotta be kidding me. Does that include the alcoholics that the MCSD and BPD brings in for that lovely Marchmant Act. All the wrestiling and fighting with those guys was not entertaining and really left me tired and sore after a shift.

I don't know about LRMC but the downtown facility is aged and kind of dirty. As for the docs. I've seen good and bad. Certainly nothing "stands out" at MMH. Then there is the cost of living in this part of the state. I certainly wouldn't want to be establishing myself here now.

Nothing personal. I don't think much of MMH or for that matter SMH. As for that other company in town (no names mentioned) I wouldn't take my dog there to be cared for. The staffing ratios are abysmal. If you bother to look up this stuff on the net you'll find that other company leads the way in the fewest Hours Per Patient Day among all the competitors.

I just don't think South Florida is THE place to consider moving to at this time. Pretty enough area and I like it real well. I moved here in last decade and got in while real estate was still affordable. If I was considering coming here now I just wouldn't come.

michelle95 · Nov 28, 2005

I certainly wouldn't want to be establishing myself here now.

Exactly why hubby and I are moving back to Pensacola as soon as our lease is up next spring. There is no way in heck we are going to be able to afford a house here in Bradenton with the average home costing about 350K. :rolleyes: I didn't get THAT much of a pay raise moving here. :uhoh3:

That's fine...I wanted to go home, anyway. :)

I may be working at that "other company"....

michelle95 · Nov 28, 2005

Bloviate, you wouldn't be a certain former news journalist's fan, would you? :rotfl:

asherman · Feb 12, 2006

Any updates as to the current hospital/nursing situation there in Sarasota?