Florida Nursing Jobs & Traveling Nursing

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

California nurses don't fair well in Florida. It's hard to adjust to the low pay and higher ratios. Good luck!

nsFAMU · Mar 16, 2007

It would be a great idea for you to take a travel assignment first. We don't have any ratio laws and med-surg floors usually have a 6 or 7:1 ratio and some nights its more than that! To give you a general idea north fl start around 17.50$ base pay and in central/south fl 21-22$ base pay. Of course you make more based on your experience and there are always sign on and relocation bonuses. Good Luck!

pkapple · Mar 16, 2007

Like FAMU and Tweety said, its culture shock!

I moved back to FL from WA, cut my pay exactly in half!!!!

My car payments, loans and creditcards didn't change, groceries are a bit cheaper, gas is ever changing and utilities where I am now are actually higher. Housing is cheaper some places, We rented in WA for 1200/month and bought here with 2k mortgage/month(with taxes/insurance).

Travel job will get you an apartment, and a decent FL wage, while allowing you to experience non union nursing.

Me?? I wouldn't live anywhere else :heartbeat :heartbeat :heartbeat

Lacie, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2007

I've lived and worked in other states but overall I wont leave Florida again this time around. Yes my pay is substantially less than I made up North but the standard of living and the weather pay off much more for me than the $ in the pocket. I just do my best not to overextend myself and also put as much as possible in savings/retirement. I couldnt imagine living anywhere else again.

MsMorningGlory · Mar 17, 2007

I want to say:jester: Thanks to Tweety, FAMU, Pkapple, & Lacie for answering my post. I greatly appreciate all of you taking the time & energy to do so, with all of our busy, overworked lives! LOL! :idea: What are the best Facilities, Hospitals to work in Florida, & what city has the most opportunities? All replies most welcome, as well as greatly appreciated! Thanks Again!

NurseguyFL · Mar 18, 2007

Tweety hit the nail on the head with this one. If you're coming from California, the lower pay and higher ratios in Florida will take some getting used to. But, nursing in FL is different from nursing in CA in more ways than just the pay and the ratios.

I've done some travel in California but have always been reluctant to give up my Florida residency. There are times when I really hate Florida and can't wait to leave, but as soon as I leave I begin to miss it and can't wait to come back. Whats really important is being where you feel the most comfortable because every place has its advantages and disadvantages.

b-girl · Mar 18, 2007

It would be a great idea for you to take a travel assignment first. We don't have any ratio laws and med-surg floors usually have a 6 or 7:1 ratio and some nights its more than that! To give you a general idea north fl start around 17.50$ base pay and in central/south fl 21-22$ base pay. Of course you make more based on your experience and there are always sign on and relocation bonuses. Good Luck!

so true about the ratio laws!

i'm not sure about north fl pay.. but i know that central fl, specifically orlando starts a lot lower than $21/22, more like $18/19..

south florida, specifically miami is higher, it was $23 a few years ago so i'm sure it's gone up.. currently in southwest fl it starts at about $21/22..

good luck!

what specialty are you interested in or did i miss that?

Harleyhead · Mar 18, 2007

Hello!
I am new to this forum. I am an RN living in San Diego, CA. I have been here in San Diego since 1991. I am getting tired of the High Cost of living, as well as having to work 2 jobs in order to survive. I want to buy a new home, and Florida is the state that I have chosen. So, if anyone out there is from Florida, or has lived & worked in Florida's nursing community, Please feel free to respond. I have been to Florida on numerous occasions, and will be taking a vacation to Orlando next month. I am considering taking a Traveling Nurse position next year to try it out and see if i like it. What is the Rate Of Pay in Florida for an RN? Also, where are the best places to work, and what should I avoid? Your replies would be most appreciated, as well as confidential. Thanks!

The pay is lower than Ca but I do alright. The ratios suck unless you do some specialty nursing. The tampa bay area is good which is the west coast ie,sunsets. The east coast is good for sun rise I dont no anything about their pay. Property insurance and taxes have sky rocketed so many people are leaving. Orlando is moe expensive than Tampa bay and Miami is probably the most crime. Good luck. HH

jansailsea · Mar 21, 2007

Sarasota - Bradenton is a lovely area for the beaches & weather...

Average pt age is 68 to 96

Lots of obese, diabetic, & many, many, many dementia pts (did I emphasize dementia enough?)

Bedridden or unable to walk without assistance- oh, my aching back!

And all of them try to get up to use the bathroom, not the bedpan or bedside commode, or go home, sending you racing into the room to catch them before they fall

Pt ratio Dec thru April is 6/7/8 to 1, with only 1 aide on the floor practically every night

Pay is lower than in St. Pete & Tampa, which is lower than Miami

EXPENSIVE to live here as affordable homes start at 235k

Good luck

Critterpuss · Mar 22, 2007

Stear clear of Naples Community Hospital as well as North Collier Hospital if you are a traveler. This past week they cancelled all of their travelers without much notice. Many had only been there for three weeks or so. Just left them in a lurch, no real explanation.

Most of the travel companies forced the hospital to work them a few weeks more, afterall the nurses would have to give some notice if THEY were to just walk out on the contract.

The travelers who this affected are NOT ever going to take a chance on returning there.

The nurses who are left there are now understaffed for the patient load. The hospital just opened up a huge new state of the art tower, but rooms lay empty due to no nurses to care for patients.

With the sky high cost of living in Collier county the chances of an influx of qualified nurses is rather low.

LadyNASDAQ · Apr 4, 2007

You are crazy to leave Cali! I mean crazy!!! Fl. is such a bad place to work and you are soooo protected. Find a roommate and split costs. We have so many things to contend with along with bad weather and low pay. Housing has rocketed. You have to look at what you're going to lose. Why not check out the high pay in N Cali. Come on.... the costs are like Fl with crazy high pay. You will do so much better and have that mandate protecting you!