Florida Nurses, I have questions

[dominiquejade]

I'm less than a year away from my ASN, and my plan is to move to Sw Florida after getting 6 months work experience.

Im looking for real answers as to starting pay for new grads or less than 2 year experience..

is it easy to get overtime at most hospitals?

Any other info you have for me would be much appreciated.

Also plan on working nights . Differential?

Thanks in advance!

[campercass]

[emoji23] I lived about 7 years in south florida previously. From the Tampa area down to coral gables and a few places in between. I have my sights set on a specific area on the space coast.

And yes, the few negatives Florida has well outweigh NOLA.

I lived in the Palm Bay Area for several years, then middle of the state, now Tampa area. We miss the Melbourne/Palm Bay Area horribly and hope to move back over there this year! Beautiful area!

[simbawicz]

OnONn2RN : you should know a few more things about Florida. It's true that the palm trees sway gently at times in the breeze. The sun does shine very often under azure skys. But the inviting white sand beaches are surrounded by shark infested waters.

Yes, as you may know this is the land of Bernard Madoff and a million other con-artist ne'er-do-wells that infest the state from coast to coast. If you look at the news the most heinous crimes always come out of Floida. Watch any crime show and the desperapos end up shacking up in--that's right--Florida. So while the weather is good (unless there's a hurricane coming) also know that the pay is low compared to many parts of the country, the schools are poor and there is a scarcity of decent affordable housing. Remember this is the land of the retired whose motto often is "I've scratched and clawed and done some of the most unconscionable things to my fellow man all too obtain this little patch of land I call paradise." So keep your eyes open and be the discerning nurse that you probably are once given the full picture. And you should also know what they don't tax with one hand they tax with the other.

But then again it may very well beat NOLA.

One more caveat: if you see standing water deeper than a rain puddle assume there is an alligator in it. Down here there is an alligator that can climb chain link fences. They are much faster than you might think.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

One more caveat: if you see standing water deeper than a rain puddle assume there is an alligator in it. Down here there is an alligator that can climb chain link fences. They are much faster than you might think.

Ha! We get them when the rains get bad in the NOLA metro area...

Anyone here know about the new grad pay at Wuesthoff?

[simbawicz]

While I can't tell you the starting wages, what I can tell you is that when I moved from Ohio, I took a $2 per hour pay cut, I thought. Turned out it was an equivalent, as I had been paying state and city taxes, but no state of city taxes here. I suggest you look at what you pay in city/state taxes where you live, then add to your offer. Have you considered seasonal positions?