ERTravel Nurse FL

[JudyO]

Interested traveling to FL; mainly Miami/ Orlando area. I currently work FT in Washington, DC. I'm aware that nurses generally make more in DC but I really want to live in Florida.

This would be my first travel assignment. Can anyone recommend a good travel agency/recruiter, experiences working ER in Florida, weekly take home, did you find housing on your own, had the agency provide housing placement for you, how much did you invest in housing?

[TurannaRN]

Hi JudyO!

I'm currently on contract on Boca Raton, FL. I've had an alright experience so far. I've been at this hospital for approximately 7 weeks. I wasn't given a typical hospital orientation and the orientation period was incredibly haphazard, but I was told "Florida is very laidback compared to the northeast". I'm coming from NJ and took this contract in FL for the same reasons as you. I wanted to live in Florida year round. Unfortunately, the pay rates are drastically different from the NJ/NY/PA area, which I've been told is very similar to the DC area. My weekly take home in Florida has been $1100-1200 (even though I was promised $1350). I'm currently working with MedPro for this contract and do not recommend them. I've also worked with Accountable Healthcare, American Mobile, Nurses 24/7 (NJ-based company). I've heard good things about Cross Country though.

This is also the time of year to take a contract in Florida, or so I've been told, because it is their busy season (October-Feb) and rates are a little better. I'm seriously not sure I'm going to stay in Florida after this contract is completed. I'm having major issues reconciling doing the same work in NJ, NY, PA, Cali for the pay in Florida. Its a shame nurses aren't paid better down here. If they were, I'd stay.

I've also heard that pay rates may be a little bit more in the Miami area but that a lot of the hospitals there prefer bilingual nurses due to the population. So.. if you can speak Spanish you may be able to score a pretty good assignment in that area.

As far as housing goes, I have family in the area that I was able to stay with for this contract. If I had to find my own housing or take the housing offered I'm not sure how I would make $19/hr cover all of my bills and living while working down here honestly. The housing subsidy I'm receiving for this contract is approximately $400/week. So.. I guess if you could find housing for $800/month it may be feasible. All depends on your personal finances, I suppose.

Hope this info helps! If you end up taking a contract in the area let me know. I'm always up for making new travel buddies!