Florida FNP

[wengreen]

Just wondering if there were any new NP's out there from Florida having problems finding their new gigs. I hope to start a program in the spring at USA

[NurseFL]

Congrats on passing the boards! Hope all goes well with you. I do not know anything about Tampa. Sometimes ... you have to try it out yourself because your experience might be different :) What school did you attend and what was it like? Good luck in deciding.

[BChapp3182]

I have some figures for you all... My new grad friend in TX just got a job with one of the retail clinics starting at $47/hr, $1500 CME, full medical benefits, malpractice ins, 120hrs paid vacation time. My cousin in PA who has 8 months experience as FNP is teaching part time for $45/hr and started another job in a primary care office for $48/hr. My friend in FL who has 6mo FNP experience took a job at the same retail clinic chain in Miami for $40/hr (per diem) and another laser center job for $38/hr with benefits. Yet the cost of living in FL is 18% more than in TX and 22% more than PA!!

Part of this is due to the inability of FL NPs to rx scheduled meds, which limits our abilities and services and increases our dependence on the doctor.

[BChapp3182]

Morganvibes--

If I were you I'd take the job in AZ. That is real good salary for only 4 days a week. You could pick up a p/t job on top of that and be make another $20-30k/yr. Seems like you'd be making more for the same # hrs as the FL job. Especially if you are interested in the specialty area which will make your job enjoyable, there is value in that. Your long term growth as an NP is certainly better in AZ as well, they don't even require collaborative agreements with an MD which means if you ever wanted to open your own clinic you would not have to pay a doc for collaboration which is just another business expense.

Yeah, I'm trying to talk my husband into moving. I don't think we'd be able to sell our house for probably 1 or more years, could not afford two mortgages...

Good luck!

Oh, and be sure you google "cost of living calculators" to see what your salary is really worth in AZ. $90k AZ is like $120k FL... take it!

[Hex, LPN]

I have some figures for you all... My new grad friend in TX just got a job with one of the retail clinics starting at $47/hr, $1500 CME, full medical benefits, malpractice ins, 120hrs paid vacation time. My cousin in PA who has 8 months experience as FNP is teaching part time for $45/hr and started another job in a primary care office for $48/hr. My friend in FL who has 6mo FNP experience took a job at the same retail clinic chain in Miami for $40/hr (per diem) and another laser center job for $38/hr with benefits. Yet the cost of living in FL is 18% more than in TX and 22% more than PA!!

Part of this is due to the inability of FL NPs to rx scheduled meds, which limits our abilities and services and increases our dependence on the doctor.

Thanks for the info.

[morganvibes]

Hi, thanks for the input guys,.

Update: I went for the beach! Just couldn't bring myself to go to a small town.

Still hedging my bets a little and have some backup irons

in the fire just in case it isn't what a want.

[BChapp3182]

MorganVibes--how is the new community health clinic job in Tampa going? I have an interview with a community center in my area, wanted to get your input on if you liked the work, working conditions, benefits, salary, etc, etc..