Florida nursing relocating

[Dino]

I may be relocating to the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area of Florida once I graduate in 2011. I am from up north and have sailed boats as a hobby my whole life. Can a nurse afford to live in this area of Florida and if so what type of accomodations are we talking? Nursing is a 2nd career for me and I anticipate I will be pursuing NP soon after as well. Was also wondering if any had input on any other areas of Florida to live in which I can afford as it relates to my interests of sailing, nice beaches, nature. Unfortunately, I used to make alot more money in my past occupation in the pharmaceutical sales industry but I am tired of working in that field. I am not aware of how well I can fair in Florida on a nursing salary. Any help on Florida, locations, etc... would be appreciated. It seems from what I read, Florida is not a good place to practice, what about NP? Appreciate the input on all of the above mentioned.

[itsmejuli]

I live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Here are some things to consider about Florida right now.

Florida's unemployment rate is amongst the highest in the country, somewhere around 12%.

New grad nurses are having a difficult time finding jobs in my area as well as most areas of the state. I will be prepared to leave the state to find a good new grad position when I graduate in 2011.

Florida is also in the top tier of the number of home foreclosure rates in the country. This has sweeping affects across the Florida economy, including local government budget cuts that affect just about every service from police departments to parks and recreation. The entire public school system from kindergarten to colleges have been hit by massive budget cuts.

The state is also notoriously known for low pay with high cost of living. Expect to pay close to $850 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment. Get a quote on your car insurance to see what it will be down here.

Sure you can sail year round and the weather is great, but its not all paradise here.

Lots of people are leaving the state, for the first time in decades Florida posted a net loss of population in 08/09.

I've lived here for 15 years and have never seen this area to be in such a mess as it is now.

Ok...the positives....lots of water, sun, nature and warm winters. I'm hoping the weather is lousy enough up north this winter that the robins will make it here for a visit. They rarely appear this far south.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Agree with the above.

As a long time native Floridian, with a home down there, I relocated to Maryland. Reasons include: lousy pay, very poor working conditions, poor ratios, rude/unintelligible MDs and the serious rise in property taxes/housing insurance, etc without improved pay in Florida. And I worked in one of the few union hospitals. There is also the annual summer staple, "Let's see how many times we can low census you before you use up all of your PTO?: bit to contend with.

The HR office staple comment for the last two decades has been, "It's Florida, you get paid in sunshine."

I have yet to convince TECO, comcast, publix, or Visa that "sunshine" is acceptable currency.

You also have heat, humidity, mosquitos, bad tourist/elderly drivers, hurricanes to deal with.

Is it better for NPs..... not as far as I have seen.

[BChapp3182]

It's NOT any better for NPs. I'm a new grad and can't find a full time job. My spanish speaking friend (almost a requirement here) just got a job yesterday with Minute Clinic in the Kendall/south Dade area paying $41/hr. My good friend I graduated with moved home to Dallas, TX and is working with Minute Clinic at $46/hr with low cost of living. Florida has always been a terrible state for nursing at any level. I've been an LPN and RN here as well and it was the same situation, low low pay, bad conditions. If I was young, single, a renter, I'd never pick FL as my home.