Dont move to florida

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Just want to get the message out. My wife & I are both nurses. We moved to florida because my family lives here and it has been a big mistake. I am posting this on the new nurses thread to warn those of you who are considering moving down here. Before deciding where you want to work consider what the hospital is paying and what the cost of living is. In florida it sucks. Feel free to PM me and I will certanly elaborate.

Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

Just as an aside, are there nursing unions in Florida??

FNA-Florida Nurses Association. I used to be a member.

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I bought my house 4 years ago for 164,000 3 br 1 1/2 bath, garage, basement .5 acre - now its worth aroud 250,000 i'd guess.

the beaches and warm weather is why i want to move there. :)

I'm married so travel would be difficult plus i like going to the same place everyday.

Nursegrrl - what is the cost of housing in your area? I'm in Lakeland - you can probably get a decent 3 bedrom house for about $175,000, especially now that the housing market is crashing. Rent for one bedroom apartment, $500-600, two bedroom, $700-900.

A two bedroom house up the street from me is renting for $750.

I'm just saying, the cost of living might balance out for you. And with the amount of experience you have, if you were working on weekends I think you would be making more like in the high 20s per hour, at least from what I've seen posted on the board here. Also you could check out agencies and see if they pay more per hour.

I am also considering looking at other states for more pay once I get out of school, but I do have to consider quality of life. I just love beaches and warm weather.

I'm also thinking of doing the travel nurse thing during the summer - leaving Florida for May through September, go work somewhere that it pays better, dodge hurricane season and afternoon thunderstorms every day. Then come back and enjoy the great weather October through April.

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As soon as I graduate nursing school, I am leaving Florida. For someone younger, it doesn't feel like it has real cities. Suburbs, lack of history, 2 seasons (wet and dry), and other weird stigmas attached to it.

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Specializes in Peds; Peds Oncology.

I guess that as a Native Floridian I will try NOT to be insulted by your post.

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Hehe, I don't think I posted anything in there that could be considered insulting. I'm just fed up with west palm beach. Anyone that has grown up here feels the same way.

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Specializes in Hospice, OR, Home Health, Orthopedics.
Just want to get the message out. My wife & I are both nurses. We moved to florida because my family lives here and it has been a big mistake. I am posting this on the new nurses thread to warn those of you who are considering moving down here. Before deciding where you want to work consider what the hospital is paying and what the cost of living is. In florida it sucks. Feel free to PM me and I will certanly elaborate.

Hi there!

I've been a nurse for 31 years, and my husband is not a nurse. He's a landlocked (in GA) Floridian with big hankerings to get back to the ocean and waters for some serious scuba diving. I myself lived in Tallahassee for 4 years ('85-'89) and don't remember being deprived of that much. I do understand that prices of housing have changed. We were considering relocating back to the St Pete area. Any light you can shed on that? thanks!:uhoh3:

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
As soon as I graduate nursing school, I am leaving Florida. For someone younger, it doesn't feel like it has real cities. Suburbs, lack of history, 2 seasons (wet and dry), and other weird stigmas attached to it.

Ahem. As a fourth-generation Floridian (aka a "Cracker") whose family raised cattle and citrus, I think you should review a few history books before you make your broad statements. The main reason I left FL was that it had become OVERRUN by people from other places who wanted to live in FL, but make it as close to the big metropolises that they had moved to FL to get away from. Along with attempting to remodel the State, they also wanted to tell everyone how to live. I couldn't take it, and headed for the hills.:uhoh3:

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Hi there!

We were considering relocating back to the St Pete area. Any light you can shed on that? thanks!:uhoh3:

I've been in the Clearwater/St. Pete area for 20 years now. I can't wait to get out of here and become a "half-back". (Someone who moved to Florida from up north and then moves half-way back to the Carolinas or Georgia).) I feel personally stuck here because my 3 children are in very good school public programs and also have the promise of free college tuition from the state for good grades. Also, with the market the way it is, there's no way I would be able to sell my house. I know a few people that have taken their houses off the market after a year because they just couldn't sell. If you're looking to buy, you're in the driver's seat. Prices have come down a bit, but they are still WAY higher than a few years ago. Taxes are high and homeowners insurance will kill ya. Even utilities are high because they have to pay for the hurricanes. Groceries are also higher than up north. All in all, it's gotten very expensive to live here. True, there's no state income tax, but wages don't even come close to covering these skyrocketing expenses.

Did I mention it's also too danged hot here!!!

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Specializes in Hospice, OR, Home Health, Orthopedics.

[Did I mention it's also too danged hot here!!!

:oWell, if it's warm temperatures that are driving you out of Florida,

keep on going when you get to Georgia. In the midstate

area, the temps have been soaring into the 100's for the

second week in a row, and this is a pattern for Georgia

summers. We have 100% humidity which makes the

temps (heat index) in the 110's. Couple that with NO rain

and you have it. :angryfire

At least in Florida you do have some recreational places

(beaches, etc) and good schools.

My cousin has a home in NC just over the line from Georgia. They

have more moderate temps there, but I'm not sure about the

school systems.

Good luck!! ;)

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Specializes in CARDIO, FAMILY PRACTICE, GERIATRICS,URO.

Please Elaborate In Why Not Work In Florida! Need Info!!!! Thanks!!!

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Specializes in CARDIO, FAMILY PRACTICE, GERIATRICS,URO.

WHERE DO YOU WORK? HOSPITAL? WHICH ONE? THAT IS GREAT!!! CAN YOU GET ME MORE INFO? THANKS!! [email protected]

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Hehe, I don't think I posted anything in there that could be considered insulting. I'm just fed up with west palm beach. Anyone that has grown up here feels the same way.

I don't blame you for wanting to get out of WPB, but not every area of the state is the same.

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