Florida nursing salaries - seriously????

[centralflorida]

I'm considering switching careers to nursing. The two things I'm taking into consideration, of equal importance, are: Would I like this job most of the time? And what is the salary?

Now, someone I know who is about to graduate from a Central Florida private nursing school with her RN told me that Lakeland Regional Medical Center was hiring at about $30 an hour, which I thought sounded great.

But then I look at fairly recent posts on this board and they seem to indicate new nurses in Florida can expect about $21, $22 an hour, depending on where they start.

Seriously????

I mean, I currently make $17 an hour, so $22 is certainly better, and there's always the opportunity to make overtime, make a little more per hour by working nights and weekends...but still! Is this true? If it is, I'm kinda disapointed.

Is there at least hope of working my way up the salary ladder if I continue my education and get certifications? Would it be unreasonable to think I could get up to $30 an hour in Florida, or would I have to leave the state?

[MB37]

CF - you pretty much have to do similar prereqs everywhere, even if they're "included" in the cost or even in the nursing program. I go to USF, and the entire accelerated BSN will cost me about $12,000 tuition, including a year of prereqs. I have a previous degree too, but I took the bare minimum science courses. Also, most of their prereqs are available online. That's how I took both semesters of A&P, and I know that micro and nutrition at least are also available that way. You may have to go to campus every few weeks for proctored exams, but that's it. I don't know as much about HCC's program, except that it's cheaper than mine and that my coworker who attends takes most of her classes online around her 2 jobs and 2 kids. Even if you just do prereqs at a public school they'll transfer anywhere and cost you a lot less. If you decide to do LPN, you can take the RN prereqs online while you're working and then bridge over in a couple years. I agree that nursing school is a good investment, but since the Tampa area doesn't do wait lists, I don't know why anyone would pay so much more to go to a private school. But hey, whatever gets you to your goal and works for your family is a good choice.

[pkapple]

but look at all the free beaches, and all the golf courses, and the lower cost of living you have there.

The cheaper coa used to be true, but it keeps getting repeated ad nauseum and keeps the wages low! Don't know any bank that reduces your car payment, credit cards or mortgage rate cause you're in sunnyFL!!

And speaking of mortgages.....houses are not cheap here, apartments are getting outrageous and insurance is going thru the roof, if you can get it!

And hey--CA and TX have some beaches and golf courses, too, oh and wages are well um quite a bit higher.

[centralflorida]

MM37, is it very competitive to get into the nursing program at USF once you have finished your prereq's? That is my big problem here - that you can finish all those prereq's and then still have to wait years to get into a program because there are hundreds of well-qualified applicants applying for a few spots. That's why I am looking at the obscenely expensive schools like Keiser and Galen - you get in a lot faster.

I will definitely check USF out, however, it couldn't hurt.

[MB37]

CF - USF is very competitive, but what I was trying to explain is that you don't need to ever wait for admission. They get 11 applicants for every seat - problem is that the vast majority of those applicants never had a chance of getting in. They may meet the minimum requirements for consideration, but they either didn't bother to attend an info session or they just figured they'd try anyways and see what happens. USF only looks at cumulative GPA when making admission decisions. There is no weight given to prereqs or science courses, and if you had a bad year in 1992 it counts as much as your 4.0 last year. If you already have a degree, you can apply to the accelerated program. For my class, you had to have at least a 3.5. The upper division cutoff is higher, since those students generally have taken fewer high-level college courses, and fewer total courses - more like 3.7. Be honest with yourself - if you do well in your prereqs, will your GPA be at least this high? If not, don't waste your time and money dealing with USF. They may go down to 3.46 next year, but if you're only going to have a 3.1, it might not be worth the effort. Because they don't look at any subjective criteria, it's really easy to know what your chances are. I had a 3.8, so I knew I was going to get in. (still a relief to get that e-mail though)

If you have some crappy grades from a long time ago, look into HCC or other CC programs. I believe HCC only looks at your prereq GPA, so you don't have to worry about classes from way back when. There may be other schools closer to you or in Orlando that do the same. Find out how each school selects its students, and then see how you measure up.

You've probably spent too much time listening to people in other parts of the country - maybe reading posts on these boards? In a lot of places, CCs put people on a list in the order that they applied with requirements met and the are accepted in that order. Other places do lotteries. Still other places actually have more applicants with 4.0s than there are slots - it's not like that here. Some schools have "point" systems where GPA, standardized testing, health care experience, and other factors are all given a certain weight. There may be some of these in FL, but I don't know where. Just do your research, find out what each school in a commutable distance wants, and see if you can meet those criteria. If some seem like too far of a reach, cross them off. I knew I wanted to start ASAP and that my GPA was great, so I applied to a school that only looked at that and would take me the next semester. I didn't want to have to get a CNA license first, or earn "points" by volunteering at a hospital. For people with a little lower grades, those programs offer them a way to beef up their applications. I think I'm starting to ramble, so I'll shut up now. Hope that clarified some things though! Good luck! You can always PM me with any USF-specific questions too.

[Momto3andNurse2B]

I'm sorry if I offend anyone who is under this illusion, but I am sick to death of people telling me the cost of living is low in Florida! Thank goodness my husband and I bought our house 15 years ago, so our property taxes haven't gone up much, but just consider this information before you talk about the "low" cost of living here:

I bought my 3BR/2BA house in 1992 for $95,000...current price $300,000.

My property taxes $1700...for a new buyer $4000 at least.

My current yearly insurance premium...wait for it....$4800.

I will be starting my first nursing job in few weeks...base hourly rate $22.50; with differentials a weekend night shift will pay me about $30/hr. I'm not complaining about the pay, because I didn't do this for the money, but no beach in the world is worth some of the real estate inflation we've had here.

I'm in Southeast Florida, by the way.

[centralflorida]

Thanks, MMW37, that is helpful. Unfortunately my GPA from my bachelor's degree many years ago is more like a 3.1. That was back when I was young and foolish and my parents were paying for college. Recently I took Anatomy and Physiology at St. Petersburg Community College and got an A, so I know I can do this and can get good grades on all my prerequisites, but if USF strictly is considering only the GPA then I am better off looking elsewhere.

Momof3 - I know, everyone thinks Florida prices are still what they were ten years ago. I only paid $170,000 for my four bedroom house in Lakeland, BUT my property taxes are $2300 a year, which I think is outrageous. And the property insurance - fuggedaboutit! About $2000 a year, with a hurricane deductible of $7500!

[PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN]

Thanks, MMW37, that is helpful. Unfortunately my GPA from my bachelor's degree many years ago is more like a 3.1. That was back when I was young and foolish and my parents were paying for college. Recently I took Anatomy and Physiology at St. Petersburg Community College and got an A, so I know I can do this and can get good grades on all my prerequisites, but if USF strictly is considering only the GPA then I am better off looking elsewhere.

Momof3 - I know, everyone thinks Florida prices are still what they were ten years ago. I only paid $170,000 for my four bedroom house in Lakeland, BUT my property taxes are $2300 a year, which I think is outrageous. And the property insurance - fuggedaboutit! About $2000 a year, with a hurricane deductible of $7500!

If you have a 3.1 cumulative GPA and completed all the pre-reqs apply to USF's Accelerated BSN program. I know someone with less than that who got in. Maybe the entrance GPA's have gone up, but you should apply anyway. The worst that can happen is that you dont get in, but if you never bother applying you definitely wont get in. Just my 2 cents.

[Careerchange07]

Hello All,

I am new to this site. I am a 45 year old male who has been studying Naturopathic/Holistic Medicine for the last 3 years on my own. I have taught myself a lot and found a vast amount of natural cures for various health problems. I have even found a cure for CVD with a us patten on it. I have been able to give people information on different problems which has given them great relief. My goals are to attend a good school to get an RN degree. Once I have the degree, I will work in the field and continue my education to get Naturopathic Doctor degree to open a Wellness Clinic. I want to have both the standard RN education and experience along with the holistic medical edication. I have not been in formal school in many years therefore I am kind of worried about going back to school. I will be coming from the telecommunication world. I am looking possibly to attend Galen School of Nursing. I was wondering if anyone has any info on the school or if there is anyone who has attended the school. I have found that Galen is not yet regional accredited. They have applied for it. How will this hurt me getting a job as an RN? Thanks in advance for any help on this matter.

Excite about being a nurse!!!

[walk6miles]

Absolutely possible to earn good money in Florida.. experience, Baylor, shift dif as well as certs and ACLS all add up.....

Don't be discouraged!!

[anc33]

Maybe there is some good money in FL but it is not in N Central FL. Nurses here top out at around $32 (Shands just raised their cap).

[ckb123]

Wow, this is a depressing discussion. I live in the Northwest, have been an RN for 10yrs and have never made less than $30/hr. Have been considering moving to Fl at least part time d/t family considerations but hearing these posts gives me pause. How about agency or travel assignments? Anyone have any thoughts?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Wow, this is a depressing discussion. I live in the Northwest, have been an RN for 10yrs and have never made less than $30/hr. Have been considering moving to Fl at least part time d/t family considerations but hearing these posts gives me pause. How about agency or travel assignments? Anyone have any thoughts?

The travel assignment pay rate is also low in Florida. Unless you are able to take the housing stipend, many facilities still pay less than $30/hr, though a few pay more.

Agency is iffy but getting better. The problem with going straight agency year- round in Florida, is that you will be worked to death for 5 monthes out of the year, and then face frequent low census during 4-7 monthes.

The line that you will get is that you get paid "in sunshine". Unfortunately, even Florida utility companies do not accept "sunshine" for payment.

Many facilities in Florida are forprofit, thus want to pay staff as little as possible and have as few staff as possible. Another issue is that the vast majority of healthcare payment will be medicare/medicaid, which rarely pays enough to cover the bills. And as the population is significantly older, there are multiple comorbidities that complicate care and make it more expensive. And as they bounce back in too soon, often medicare will not pay. They may need skilled nursing but often refuse to go into skilled nursing, returning every few weeks for problems related to inability to care for themselves.