Ok - who are you, what do you do, where abouts in Florida do you live (or if you are not in Floirda, what part of Florida do you want to move too), what is your clinical area, you status (CNA, LPN, RN, Student, Whatever) and anything else you might want to add.
Some of you already know me, I lived in Florida for a little over 20 years. An RN, I worked and lived in Sarasota. Went to nursing school at Manatee Community College and also University of South Florida at Sarasota. Great place .... love the beaches and the area is truly a wonderful place. I generally work surgical recovery and while in Florida, I worked in post open heart step down and also worked as a nurse manager.
I am a single dad raising three children (all are now teenagers - whew is this rough!). They are really great kids and I am a very luck father to have them.
I am currently living in Minnesota. I plan on moving to the Orlando area. I have a son who lives in Orlando, and he just loves it.
However, I am a little frightened of the move. I hear there aren't many good jobs for LPNs. I have been working on my RN, through Excelsior college. I plan of finishing the program after the move. I should be able to complete it in six more months.
Does anyone have any advise for an LPN moving into the area?
What were you making in Minnesota as an LPN and in what setting? I have a pretty good idea of the salaries in various settings. Ive found there are a lot of opportunities in LTC or Assisted Living, but not so many in a hospital setting. I work in peds home health. Im working on LPN-RN as well, and should finish next December. I will probably go work in the hospital at that point. Are you interested in working for an agency or a facility?
I am in a hospital setting right now, working on a hospice/oncology unit. I make $20 an hour, I have 12 years experience as a LPN.
I am not really particular where I work, just so long as the pay is good, and the facility/agency are decent. I wonder if working for an agency, are there times they just don't have enough work for you?
I have experience in both long term, and subacute facilities. I try to stay away from LTC as it gets depressing. And in a short term or acute care, you know the crazy ones will always go back to where they came from. In long term, the crazy ones never leave. Also in LTC the nursing responsibilities are stagnet, and I like to learn new things, and be in a mix of a lot of people.
But, I am hearing hospitals don't hire LPNs often, and if they do the pay is low. But, I wonder if not paying state tax will make up for some of the difference. Also rent is significantly lower in Orlando, then what they charge up here for a hole in the wall, that don't come close to comparing with what your apartments offer.
Hi everyone my name is bensie. I am a cna but I would like to become RN. I've going to school for almost year to become a LPN I just found out that the school is not accredited. Iam very upset. i spoke to one of the administrator they tried to assure me that is just a rumor. i try looking it up on the web and thats how i found this site. what should i do.
Hi everyone my name is bensie. I am a cna but I would like to become RN. I've going to school for almost year to become a LPN I just found out that the school is not accredited. Iam very upset. i spoke to one of the administrator they tried to assure me that is just a rumor. i try looking it up on the web and thats how i found this site. what should i do.
Hi everyone my name is bensie. I am a cna but I would like to become RN. I've going to school for almost year to become a LPN I just found out that the school is not accredited. Iam very upset. i spoke to one of the administrator they tried to assure me that is just a rumor. i try looking it up on the web and thats how i found this site. what should i do.
Ok, calm down first of all Just because it isnt accredited (by NLN) doesnt mean it isnt approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. As long as it is approved by the FL board of nursing you should be fine to sit for boards and get licensed. Im pretty sure most LPN programs at tech schools arent NLN accredited but they are approved by the FL BON. The LPN programs at Community Colleges tend to be more likely to be nationally accredited. Dont worry, it wont affect you getting a job or your license or even transferring your license to another state. Go ahead and finish the program, you have come this far, u might as well finish! Get your LPN, take your RN pre reqs, and go to an LPN to RN bridge program. You are on the right track, dont allow that minor detail to sidetrack you. Everything will be fine!
Hey y'all! My name is Nancy and I lived in Sarasota County since 1995. My entire family lives in Volusia county, in DeLand. I am an LPN, halfway through my ASN. We had to leave Florida unfortunately after hurricane Charley destroyed my hospital in Charlotte County. What a heartbreaking event! I worked for 36 hrs straight along with the others who chose to be on the "Before" team. We have moved to Knoxville, TN, because of the schools and the low cost of living. My husband HATED the Florida heat! I plan to be done with my RN in May. I have kept my Florida license active, because I plan to come home to work as a traveler. Though the Autumn is just beautiful here, along with the Smokeys, I miss my beach and my friends and family. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far. Usually I work the holidays, but I tore my ACL tending to a Full Code patient who wanted to test our Code Team. Time on my hands, RN to complete. Smile everyone, it will only be worse tomorrow!:trout::trout::trout::trout:
Hey also I am currently on my way to enrolling into Excelsior after getting halfway through a University, and I know for a fact that Excelsior is an accepted form of education, and one can sit for the NCLEX in Florida and Tennessee. I have checked with these two state boards myself. If the state you wish to work in accepts your licensure, no one else matters. I can tell you that Florida is the toughest state to acquire a nursing license, so pat yourself on the back, number one. Number two, Florida accepts Excelsior as an RN educator. The only thing is that you go to Atlanta for 3 days of clinicals. Who doesn't want to do that???:monkeydance:
I am so glad to be here. My name is Sherry. I am an RN ADN in Sebring Fla. I have been gone from this forum for some time . Sebring is a great place to nurse with the small town feel and only 2 hours from Tampa, Orlando and 3 hours from Miami. I am a M/S nurse and love it . Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
Specializes in Med-Surg, Orthopaedics, Oncology, SNF.
Hey everyone! I'm a LPN and I live in Fort Myers which is on the southwest coast of Florida. I was born and raised here and I don't think I could ever leave the sand, the salt air and the palm trees. Currently I am working at a nursing home on the skilled nursing unit, but I have previously worked oncology, med-surg, and ortho at a hospital. I applied for the job that I currently have at the nursing home because of the pay difference ($4 more an hour than the hospital!!!) and I ended up loving it!! I love seeing my residents everyday. I feel like I am so much more involved with them than I was with my patients in the hospital. I hope to begin working on my RN soon, but I haven't decided if I want to go the traditional route or do the online thing. So, if anyone has any suggestions let me know! Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and say "hi". It's great to have a place for nurses to network, get information and just talk to others in the same profession! Talk to ya soon!
I am in the midst of getting the Excelsior program started after being halfway done with college. I blew out my knee at work, and could not do clinicals on a crutch! I had to take a medical leave but lost my place in the class. There is no guarantee that I will get into the next one. I could have gone back this month, but I am getting knee surgery instead! The soonest I could get back to do a "brick and mortar" college program would be at least May. Why they only start classes in January and May is beyond me. I need to be DONE in May like my original plan was. With the online LPN to RN, I can be done and I can sit for the NCLEX in FL and TN. Whether I go on after that is a possibility but not an issue. For those of us who have a family and need to work full time, having the option to do an online program is much more feasible. I also like that you can go at your own pace. If you really have something down and you are confident, you can test and move on. All my college credits count, and I have less than half the credits to complete for the Excelsior program. It just depends on your lifestyle and if you can be disciplined to do the work an your own. Florida accepts it, and since they are the ones licensing me, nothing else matters! Best of luck and keep me posted!
Sw FL area. Looking for an RN job after being out of the field for 8 years (License is Active). Seems no one is showing any interest though, which really throws me.
I have spent the last two weeks on my own, 15 hours/day going over EVERYTHING since I can't find any current Refresher Courses. Am finding that I can go over material much quick and absorb it more on my own.
Am also wondering if age (56) has anything to do with it.
Just because it isnt accredited (by NLN) doesnt mean it isnt approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. As long as it is approved by the FL board of nursing you should be fine to sit for boards and get licensed. Im pretty sure most 
luv4nursing
546 Posts
What were you making in Minnesota as an LPN and in what setting? I have a pretty good idea of the salaries in various settings. Ive found there are a lot of opportunities in LTC or Assisted Living, but not so many in a hospital setting. I work in peds home health. Im working on LPN-RN as well, and should finish next December. I will probably go work in the hospital at that point. Are you interested in working for an agency or a facility?