Best time to apply to Florida hospitals

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Specializes in ER, PACU.

I'm thinking of moving to Florida and I see a few postings that I am interested in, but I'm not looking to move until Sept or Oct.

It is mandatory that I give 4 weeks notice to my current job or else I will lose accrued vacation and sick time that I will get paid out for which I can't afford to lose. At some point I will need to go look for an apartment, but I can make a trip down there for a few days to look. What I don't want to do is move in lets say on a Friday and have to start work on a Monday. I would like at least a week to get everything set up.

Is it unrealistic to apply in lets say August 1st and start in lets say mid September or by October 1st? What are the typical months that the winter seasonal contracts start? I'm not looking for seasonal, but I would like to get an application in before the seasonal people start applying. What are the typical months that snowbirds come? October, November? After the holidays?

I have been looking at Miami and the Space Coast, but I'm leaning more towards Miami since I am interested in the grad programs there as well as higher pay.

Thank you everyone in advance!

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Did you end up moving to FL? I live in Orlando, have worked here 3 years and I actually want to move to NYC. I really liked your post on another thread and tried to reply to your comment but it wouldn't let me. This is what I posted:

Hi NYCRN16,

I found your post very helpful! $10,000 is the number I had in my had for savings prior to moving up there. You seem like you know the NYC job market and overall living experience very well...would you be able to answer a few questions for me? Like the person that originally started this thread, it is my dream to move to NYC. I'm originally from LI, have family in the city and have always wanted to move back (we moved to FL when I was 6). NY is in my blood!

I have 2 years experience on a surgical oncology unit (mastectomies, lots of head and neck patients so have exp with larys and trachs, whipples, colorectal surgeries, etc) and started a job in pediatric hem/onc in January. I knew I wanted chemo experience prior to moving, and have been getting a lot of that at my current job. I know I want to stay in oncology, just figuring out if I def wanna say in peds. Of course my ultimate dream is to work at MSKCC! Don't even know where to start regarding getting in there, though.

Anyway, I would like to move to NYC around Feb of next year (if I have enough money) but I'm deciding if I should get up there via travel nursing or try to find a permanent job. I'm a little wary of the travel nursing thing, and I know that NYC is where I want to be permanently. What is your opinion on this? Also, about housing...I have bad credit as a result of bad decisions I made back in college, but I have a perfect rental history. What are the chances a landlord will accept me? Feel free to email me [email protected] or reply here. I would really appreciate any advice/insight! Thank you so much.

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Specializes in medsurge.

I just moved from NYC to Florida. First off if you don't have a BSN you probably will not get hired, hospitals in New York won't wire you if you are in school for your BSN neither. Secondly the market is saturated in the city, I'm not saying its impossible to find a job but try to be open to other areas outside of the city if you can. Another thing to know is that the nurse to patient ratio in New York is much higher than here, the average being 7-8 in non-critical care settings. Regarding housing NYC is expensive renting an apartment is an OK Neighborhood can cost more than 1,600 a month not including utilities; as for the credit part I'm not sure how that will go it all depends on the landlord. Hope this helped a bit.

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Specializes in ER, PACU.
Did you end up moving to FL? I live in Orlando, have worked here 3 years and I actually want to move to NYC. I really liked your post on another thread and tried to reply to your comment but it wouldn't let me. This is what I posted:

Hi NYCRN16,

I found your post very helpful! $10,000 is the number I had in my had for savings prior to moving up there. You seem like you know the NYC job market and overall living experience very well...would you be able to answer a few questions for me? Like the person that originally started this thread, it is my dream to move to NYC. I'm originally from LI, have family in the city and have always wanted to move back (we moved to FL when I was 6). NY is in my blood!

I have 2 years experience on a surgical oncology unit (mastectomies, lots of head and neck patients so have exp with larys and trachs, whipples, colorectal surgeries, etc) and started a job in pediatric hem/onc in January. I knew I wanted chemo experience prior to moving, and have been getting a lot of that at my current job. I know I want to stay in oncology, just figuring out if I def wanna say in peds. Of course my ultimate dream is to work at MSKCC! Don't even know where to start regarding getting in there, though.

Anyway, I would like to move to NYC around Feb of next year (if I have enough money) but I'm deciding if I should get up there via travel nursing or try to find a permanent job. I'm a little wary of the travel nursing thing, and I know that NYC is where I want to be permanently. What is your opinion on this? Also, about housing...I have bad credit as a result of bad decisions I made back in college, but I have a perfect rental history. What are the chances a landlord will accept me? Feel free to email me [email protected] or reply here. I would really appreciate any advice/insight! Thank you so much.

Landlords are pretty strict because there are strong laws that protect the tenant, and there are professional "non-payers" of rent that move from place to place and it can take months or years to get them out. However, if you can show a letter from your current landlord that you have never been late, show a letter from your new employer that states your salary (which will be MINIMUM) 40x the monthly rent, AND have a ton of cash to pay several months rent in advance, I bet there will be a landlord willing to make an exception.

Traveling is very inconsistant there lately, there will be a ton of jobs one minute, and then they will dry up. Also, depending on where you work, some places will dump on the travelers. I couldnt' even tell you where that would be because that is dependant on each individual unit/floor. If I were you, I would just apply to Sloan directly, I bet they will hire you with your experience, I know there are many people that come from out of state to work there. If you really want Sloan that bad, I would apply to any open positions that interest you, even if there are no peds available. Who's to say that in a year or so of working there that you can't transfer into that department, just get your foot in the door.

I am in the Tampa area now, like the area, don't love the nursing culture here. I am unsure if I want to stay at my current hospital or even in this area at all. I am starting an online masters program that I can't attend while I am in NY, so I will just have to stay here until that is finished. I havent even started yet so I still have at least 2 years to go.

Good luck with everything, feel free to PM me anytime!

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thank you so much for the info! i will definitely be in touch :)

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Luckily I have my BSN. I can't believe that ratio! That's scary. I'm used to 3-4. Thanks for the info!

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If you go to Miami. First try to get in with Baptist healthcare. Memorial is not to bad.

What is your specialty?

Also I would start applying now

Hope this helps

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