Help! Trauma ICU nurse moving to Miami

Published

Specializes in Trauma ICU.

I'm moving to the Miami area this fall and have been speaking to several travel agencies about seasonal contracts at the level I and II hospitals in the area. I am planing to live in the North Miami area (Davie or Weston possibly) so I am wondering how the drive times might been to each hospital. I have been told that public transportation is pretty good from Northern areas into Miami?

One agency keeps steering me towards Aventura hospital even though it is not a trauma hospital the recruiter says its a state of the art fantastic hospital?? I see they have a neuro icu and I might not mind that for a 13 week contract.

I have worked for HCA so Kendall sounds good in the fact that I know meditech already so that would be one less thing to learn. I speak almost no Spanish but I'm working on that. Can I survive with only English?

The other hospitals I have questions about are Jackson Memorial and Memorial Regional. Jackson sounds like a great learning opportunity since I have only worked at level II up to this point. Memorial would be closer to where I think I will be living.

One agency told me that both Jackson Memorial and Memorial Regional pay less than the HCA hospitals pertaining to seasonal contracts but I have not been able to compare them yet.

So, if anyone can fill me in on ratios, scheduling, work environment, drive times, etc I would be so grateful. I know 13 weeks is a short commitment but this will also be my first travel contract. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Not sure if this is much help but I just moved here and will be working close to the beach, I am coming from the west end and the traffic was horrific today going there (towards the beach)... I think driving into miami (beach/downtown -jackson health etc) from the north, west or south is bad during rush hour.. what is normally a 30 min drive was 1 hr and about 15 mins this morning.

I will be working nights thankfully so hopefully wont be that bad.

I can update you on that commute once I start.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma ICU.

Thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Quality, Cardiac Stepdown, MICU.

I went to UMiami and it would take you several years to drive to Kendall from Davie. Davie is practically Broward County (in fact..is it?). Is the travel agency not putting you up near the hospital where you would be working? Or are you staying with friends/family in that area?

Do not rely on public transportation, not when you're a nurse and have to be there.

If you haven't already, post this on the Florida board, you'll get more info there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Memorial hospital would be your best bet. Trust me. Aventura is not a trauma hospital. Jackson would be up your alley with TICU however the traffic sucks. I worked there for 1 1/2 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Memorial has plenty of campuses in the south broward area. Davie is in Broward. Not Miami.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion