FLorida pay rate??????

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Hi! im a new rn in MA who is still lookin for a job and I was debating to start looking into Gainesville FL. I know that pay down there isnt as good as here in MA, but I dont really know the exacts and was wondering if anyone could give me some insight on how much hourly med surge new grad nurses start out at????

Also if i do decide to get my FL liscence do I have to get ceu for both states or do they count for both??????????????

THanks for the HELP!!!:p

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I was considering moving to Tampa or Orlando areas and after much research and making nursing contacts discovered that Florida is near the bottom of the totem pole for nursing wages and also has a high cost of living, including high home prices. Tampa and Orlando will start new grad RN's around $21-24. The FL nursing culture does not push for high education as much as northern states, the majority of nursing staff are LPN's and RN's with associates degrees.

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Things to consider when making the comparison.....

The PP said FL had "high home prices" - compared to whom? My parents live on LI and their house is worth "$425K" and it is one of those Levitt houses from the 1940's with about 1300 - 1500 sq ft, one car garage. My brand new home in Jax was $200K 6 mo ago, has almost 2000 sq ft, 2 car garage. My home would be better insulated. I have a heat pump...so NO winter oil to pay for! Last I heard, MA wasn't much better than LI for cost of housing. My parents pay $8K prop tax/yr, I pay $2500.

MA - aka "taxachusettes".....FL NO INCOME TAX (well except sales tax!)

A gallon of gasoline was 1.79 when I filled up this morning.

After having lived in NYC (queens) and San Jose, CA......there is NO way I would call this a "high" cost of living!

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I currently live in Gainesville and attend the University of Florida. I can tell you that as a grad nurse at the VA hospital here you can start off at $21.75. The other 2 hospital here like Shands and North Florida start you off at a little bit less, about $20.50 or so and hour. Hope this helps.

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Anyone know what a new grad in Mass starts at?

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

I am making 19.25 an hour. SUCKS I KNOW! But I do work at the lowest paying hospital in the city. My buddy started off at 22. But my pt load isn't anywhere near hers.

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Specializes in geriatrics,emergency,hospice.

I live in Ocala, near Gainesville. I just passed NCLEX last week and the week before I was laid off from the hospital. They were going to start me off at $19+/hr. I was also working in LTC and they have offered me a position at $22.50/hr and $3 more/hr for weekends. Not to bad, I think.

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