job in altamonte springs--Florida Hospital

BAndersonRN · Feb 17, 2005

Hey Travrn...

I just recently moved down to FL from Maryland this past summer and started working for Florida Hospital Orlando. Im currently Working at the main campus (FL Hospital Orlando) in the Neuroscience unit with a pt. to nurse ratio of 4:1. Not sure exactly what the ratio on the Oncology units are but from what I think I remember hearing is something like 5:1 give or take...Just a little info on the Florida Hosp. System...They are a very large system here in central Florida (8 hospitals in the Orlando Metro area and several more scattered throught the region..including Florida Hospital Altamonte which is a suburb just north of Orlando). I'll be honest up front, the pay (and this goes for the state of Florida) is one of the lowest in the country for RNs. On the otherhand with that being said, the cost of living isn't all that expensive and there is no state income tax, so in the end i guess the $ difference balances out. The hospital system itself is a great one to work for as they offer plenty of opportunities for it's nurses to continue education and specialize in critical care areas (Cardiac, Neuro, Multisystem, PCU, etc.) The city of Orlando is growing quite rapidly and offers plenty of things to do from the arts, museums, dining/nightlife, parks (especially Lake Eola downtown), various festivals throughout the year, tons of shopping, and of course just south of Orlando you have all of your big theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and Disney... I'm sure you've allready found the website, but if not here it is www.floridahospital.org (will give you all the details on the various hospitals/ centra care centers as well as other links).. Hope that helps you out a little, If you have any other specific questions re: FL Hospital or Orlando/Central FL let me know..

Take care..

BETSRN · Feb 17, 2005

Hey Travrn...
I just recently moved down to FL from Maryland this past summer and started working for Florida Hospital Orlando. Im currently Working at the main campus (FL Hospital Orlando) in the Neuroscience unit with a pt. to nurse ratio of 4:1. Not sure exactly what the ratio on the Oncology units are but from what I think I remember hearing is something like 5:1 give or take...Just a little info on the Florida Hosp. System...They are a very large system here in central Florida (8 hospitals in the Orlando Metro area and several more scattered throught the region..including Florida Hospital Altamonte which is a suburb just north of Orlando). I'll be honest up front, the pay (and this goes for the state of Florida) is one of the lowest in the country for RNs. On the otherhand with that being said, the cost of living isn't all that expensive and there is no state income tax, so in the end i guess the $ difference balances out. The hospital system itself is a great one to work for as they offer plenty of opportunities for it's nurses to continue education and specialize in critical care areas (Cardiac, Neuro, Multisystem, PCU, etc.) The city of Orlando is growing quite rapidly and offers plenty of things to do from the arts, museums, dining/nightlife, parks (especially Lake Eola downtown), various festivals throughout the year, tons of shopping, and of course just south of Orlando you have all of your big theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and Disney... I'm sure you've allready found the website, but if not here it is www.floridahospital.org (will give you all the details on the various hospitals/ centra care centers as well as other links).. Hope that helps you out a little, If you have any other specific questions re: FL Hospital or Orlando/Central FL let me know..
Take care..

Having lived in Winter Park for years as a child, I still love the greater Orlando area. I was down in Orlando in October and have to say that I was horrified with the general growth all over. I was right there at Lake Eola (my school was where a huge office building is now). In many ways, I was disappointed with how things have grown and changed, although I thought Orlando was beautiful!

I am in Connecticut. You came from Maryland. Weren't you appalled at the differences in salary (or hourly rates)? My colleagues from here who moved to Deland took almost a $10/hour pay cut. I know housing is cheaper but daily living expenses are not. I knew pay rates were lower but I am sort of hoping they are notr as bad as they seem.

Do you find (from experience or talking with others) that the pay for specialties is any better? I am in L&D. My colleague says that where she is, the obstetrical practices are VERY antiquated and the thinking very old-fashioned and outmoded. I am hoping that her experience is not the norm.

In general, are you glad you moved down and do you intend to stay? Did you buy a house or are you planning to? There is such a glut of housing and building going on. I don't know where people work or get the money to support those palatial 3 car garage homes in the gated communities that you see all along I-4, for instance.

I have considered moving back when my youngest graduates but in all honesty with the poor pay and all, I am seriously considering changing my mind, although my heart has always been in going back someday. Now that I will have the freedom to do so, I am not so sure.

I will look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks a bunch!

travrn04 · Feb 17, 2005

Hey Travrn...
I just recently moved down to FL from Maryland this past summer and started working for Florida Hospital Orlando. Im currently Working at the main campus (FL Hospital Orlando) in the Neuroscience unit with a pt. to nurse ratio of 4:1. Not sure exactly what the ratio on the Oncology units are but from what I think I remember hearing is something like 5:1 give or take...Just a little info on the Florida Hosp. System...They are a very large system here in central Florida (8 hospitals in the Orlando Metro area and several more scattered throught the region..including Florida Hospital Altamonte which is a suburb just north of Orlando). I'll be honest up front, the pay (and this goes for the state of Florida) is one of the lowest in the country for RNs. On the otherhand with that being said, the cost of living isn't all that expensive and there is no state income tax, so in the end i guess the $ difference balances out. The hospital system itself is a great one to work for as they offer plenty of opportunities for it's nurses to continue education and specialize in critical care areas (Cardiac, Neuro, Multisystem, PCU, etc.) The city of Orlando is growing quite rapidly and offers plenty of things to do from the arts, museums, dining/nightlife, parks (especially Lake Eola downtown), various festivals throughout the year, tons of shopping, and of course just south of Orlando you have all of your big theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and Disney... I'm sure you've allready found the website, but if not here it is www.floridahospital.org (will give you all the details on the various hospitals/ centra care centers as well as other links).. Hope that helps you out a little, If you have any other specific questions re: FL Hospital or Orlando/Central FL let me know..
Take care..

Thanks for the reply!! its really help me decide to go ahead and say yes!!! it would be a change but thats what's fun about being a traveler... I will keep you posted on how the job goes! The only thing is that long drive :bugeyes:

i cant wait to see where they put me!!!

FuturenurseCA&O · Mar 10, 2005

HI~

I will be graduating in about a year, and we plan on moving to the Orlando area. I'm interested in Florida Hospital as they offer internship to our school.

Wondering if Florida Hospital has a Nurses Union? If so, is it strong, and what are the dues??

Does anyone know?

~D

BETSRN · Mar 10, 2005

HI~
I will be graduating in about a year, and we plan on moving to the Orlando area. I'm interested in Florida Hospital as they offer internship to our school.
Wondering if Florida Hospital has a Nurses Union? If so, is it strong, and what are the dues??
Does anyone know?
~D

It would seem to me if you contact the hospital DIRECTLY, you will get good, accurate information.

BAndersonRN · Mar 11, 2005

The internship programs they offer are pretty good. Primarily builds on nursing theory relevant to the unit/area you plan on working in. I recently completed the CCNIP (Critical Care Nurse Internship Program) and found it to enhance and encourage critical thinking skills used in the critical care environment as well as introduce concepts such as invasive hemodynamic monitoring, ventilators, and vasoactive gtts.

As far as having a nurse's union, Florida Hospital does not have one (they are a non-profit organization).

Good luck in finishing nursing school! Hope you find nursing to be an exciting, challenging, and rewarding career as I have!!!

Let me know if you have any other ?'s regarding the hospital and the internship programs (i'll try to answer them as best I can.. )

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

Altamonte is a nice city. My friend works there on the oncology unit. They start grad nurses around $17.50 or so. She's only been there a couple of months but so far enjoys it. Patient ratio is usually 1:6 at night, sometimes 1:5 or less depending on the census. She didn't have to take any classes (as opposed to the critical care program), they started her with a preceptor for 8 weeks & now she is on her own.

Florida Hospital is not unionized, but it is a great organization to work for. I work at different Florida Hospital location.

RRT/RN · Apr 11, 2005

Altamonte is a nice city. My friend works there on the oncology unit. They start grad nurses around $17.50 or so. She's only been there a couple of months but so far enjoys it. Patient ratio is usually 1:6 at night, sometimes 1:5 or less depending on the census. She didn't have to take any classes (as opposed to the critical care program), they started her with a preceptor for 8 weeks & now she is on her own.
Florida Hospital is not unionized, but it is a great organization to work for. I work at different Florida Hospital location.

I am an RN at FL Hosp Altamonte and have worked there since January. I work on the same floor as the oncology unit (I work med surg), just down the hall. Starting pay for new grads is $17.81. I actually started at more than that because I have another license. I'm not sure exactly what pt/rn ratio is, but our unit is 1:6 which is pretty much the norm in the hospital.

Journey_On, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2009

Bringing this old thread back up......

- Does anyone want to share their opinions or anything else they know about FL Hospital Altamonte?

- Does anyone know what their LDR and postpartum areas are like? I did some reading on other discussion forums, and people seem to speak positively about those areas and wanted to hear it from a nurse's perspective. The video at the website was really nice, too.

There was a med-surg opening for GNs, and I applied for it. Although my heart is in working with pregnant women, I figured that I would go ahead and apply for a med-surg position because I have tried many places and there aren't any GN positions for L&D or Mother/Baby that I have seen (yet). A gynecology/women's med-surg floor would be the best, but I haven't seen any gyn specific med-surg positions open (except for the one I know that is not hiring new grads right now).

Lastly, does anyone know if they are hiring new grads onto the oncology unit at FL Hospital Altamonte?

bezany · Mar 26, 2009

There is not a nursing union in Florida. In fact if you go to work for Florida Hospital, you will sign a statement saying that union activity, organizing, etc. is prohibited and grounds for termination. Florida Hospital is owned by the Seventh Day Adventists and is part of the Adventists Health Care System. It is an excellent hospital system with 7 campuses in Central Florida. They have quite competetive salaries and benefits for the area. Nurses from the west and up north may be shocked at the wages in Florida, but that is in general what they pay nurses here.