Hospital Systems in Jacksonville, Florida

[TnRN43]

Hi. I am about to take my first travel nursing position in Jacksonville Florida. I have one agency looking for something at Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, and another with positions in Baptist Hospital downtown. Looking for any input on these 2 hospital systems as well as any others. Also companies that tend to have the most positions there. I am working with Aya and Talemed currently. Any info would be so much appreciated. Also Ive been quoted a bring home pay of $1300/week for a tele position at Baptist and am wondering if this is a good rate-from what I've seen elsewhere it seems to be. Thanks!

[NedRN]

If they are looking, that is probably not good news. You have already given them an application? The rule is that first agency to submit you to a hospital "owns" you and that sounds like what has already happened.

Ideally, shop agencies and get real compensation before filling out an application and letting them submit you. Then you will get a feel for what you are worth, and what you can get. Along with those numerous conversations, you can get an idea of what recruiters you can trust and would actually like to work with. If you get several agencies on boarded (recommended for best results) after filtering them down to just a few, make sure they all understand you are not to be submitted without your express permission. Then you have better control and make sure your favorite (or maybe best paying) agency is the one who submits you. After a recruiter relationship of a year or so, you may have enough trust for them to submit you to a fast moving job without your permission because you trust them, and they already know that that location is on your bucket list.

Anyhoo, the damage may already be done for this assignment. Don't worry about it too much, enjoy and get that all important first successful assignment on your work history. Then you will be much more competitive with experienced travelers, and will also gain important knowledge that will help you do even better next time.

I wouldn't worry about which one is a great place to work. I'm sure that both have very happy employees, and you can seldom tell from other travelers experiences what yours will be like, even if you can find someone with similar personality, same specialty, same experience, and (hardest of all), worked on the same unit as you will be. Culture varies from floor to floor in most hospitals.

Finally, about agencies. You can google "agency name" reviews or even on AllNurses search box (Aya, formerly Access will not come out well) but it matters little except for the really really bad ones. Because a good recruiter (which you find with all those conversations, not just the first two you talk to) with a bad agency is far better than a bad recruiter with a well reviewed agency. Yes, agency culture matters, but recruiters matter more.

Good luck! Hope you are getting out of snow for the winter.

[8-ball, BSN]

I had a friend that used to work at memorial 5 years ago we lost touch now but I believe she liked it at the time. Shands healthcare in that area is the one that most people like though...thats where I used to work and I really liked it there. There is a great sushi restaurant down by the "landing" I dont remember its name but it used to be the only one.