Have you traveled to Florida?

NedRN · Feb 16, 2013

What to expect from South Florida are perhaps the worst working conditions in the country. You will find incredibly hostile administrations and doctors. Staff can be either the same or supportive. Pay tends to low twenties, also among the worst in the country. You can find exceptions, but just letting you know that your odds are not good going in. If you do work there successfully, you should have a nice upgrade on your ability to get along with jerks, and efficiency at doing high workloads. Very multicultural and you will be working with people from a lot of different countries. If you don't like the beach, or water sports, it might not be the best choice. If you do...

yukka99 · Feb 16, 2013

How recently did you work in Florida, Ned?

yukka99 · Feb 16, 2013

So far I found that Florida ranked 5th best paying state with an average hourly rate of just over $30/hr. Also FL ranked 2nd for projected job growth for RNs in the next 10 years. These are statistics from 2012 from credible sources like US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Nursinglink.com.

CP2013 · Feb 16, 2013

Working as a tech in Florida, I saw travelers comedy and out. We had a few Floridians who traveled a few hundred miles to the job. The locals, we accepted. And if they were young.

I noticed the nursing staff was short with the travelers. They needed overtime and their OT pay rate was still less than what travelers were getting. There were travelers who couldn't keep up or who were relying on the staff to help them remember codes to rooms or how to access the system. No one wanted to help. It fell on the techs most often. I can attest to the fact that I only helped those travelers who were nice to me. I played dumb the test of the time.

From what I understand, this hostile environment is pretty common here in Florida. Doing my clinicals now in nursing school- I still notice that staff isn't pleased to hear the word "traveler" even mentioned.

CP2013 · Feb 16, 2013

Also staff pay is usually mid to low 20's so I don't know how that translates to travelers.

The beaches are great and the sunshine is plentiful. Staff nurses seem to get paid in sunshine! Too bad that doesn't translate to travelers too.

NedRN · Feb 16, 2013

Those labor statistics are for staff nurses, not travelers. We are also talking about South Florida as well, not the Florida average. I have worked in South Florida for over 30 as a traveler but I know well that that was exceptional pay.

AWanderingMinstral · Feb 16, 2013

The pay in Florida is horrible (whether you're a full-time employee or a traveler). I am currently working as a seasonal employee at a hospital in SW Florida and I couldn't be happier. I'm earning nearly $45 an hour, but I pay for my own housing. If you're interested in travel nursing, find a seasonal position and/or skip Florida.

While some full-time employees make snide comments regarding how much I earn, I find that a sweet treat once a week quickly ingratiates you to the staff. Of course, I'm a very assertive male nurse and, when I feel that a nursing assistant is behaving like CP2013, I will address the issue. If that fails, I go to the manager.

CP2013 · Feb 16, 2013

While some full-time employees make snide comments regarding how much I earn, I find that a sweet treat once a week quickly ingratiates you to the staff. Of course, I'm a very assertive male nurse and, when I feel that a nursing assistant is behaving like CP2013, I will address the issue. If that fails, I go to the manager.

I never sacrifice the patients care, but when a traveler refuses to answer my questions regarding whether they would like me to document vitals and I/O and tells me that they don't "trust" me to do these things.........then asks me to give them the code for the break room for the 4th time that shift.....I'm going to turn around and say "you're going to be here for 6-12 weeks, maybe try writing it down?"

By the way. Have had many travelers take issue with the paper charting system we used and called us barbaric and all other snide remarks. The road goes both ways. I came to work for my patients and my boss, not to tell you the access code for the break room. That's all I'm saying.

As long as the nurses were competent and respectful, I did more for them than I did my staff nurses at times because I know they were unfamiliar with the environment.

yukka99 · Feb 17, 2013

Thanks for the input everyone! I am set on going to Florida sometime soon, just have to continue doing my research in order to avoid putting me into a less than desirable

yukka99 · Feb 17, 2013

Thanks for the input everyone! I am set on going to Florida sometime soon, just have to continue doing my research in order to avoid putting me into a less than desirable job situation

AWanderingMinstral · Feb 17, 2013

Thanks for the input everyone! I am set on going to Florida sometime soon, just have to continue doing my research in order to avoid putting me into a less than desirable job situation

Again, I suggest you wait until next fall/winter and take a seasonal contract with a facility. The money is better and they often offer incentives for you to return the following season. Many of the facilities in Florida are operated by HCA and, as a result, they all offer the same/similar pay, etc. Good luck!