Jobs at Sarasota Memorial in Florida

[J&B-RN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

hello!

my husband and I are both experienced critical care nurses (3 years in an ICU at a level 1 trauma facility). We are thinking about moving to Florida to soak up some sun on the beach for a few years. I am very interested in the ICU's at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. I was wondering if anyone has worked there/is working there that can give me some words of advice. Like: how is the hiring market there? Will it be easy for my husband and I to get jobs? What kinds of ICU's do they have there? I'm hoping they have a trauma ICU since that's my passion! How is the staff there, friendly, fun, happy, passionat about their jobs? Would you recommend working at this hospital and in the ICU's? Also just a side question, how is living in the sarasota area in general?

Thanks in advance for any info!

[FloridaBeagle]

They just became a trauma 2 center about a month or so ago, so they're going through a bumpy transition to trauma. Now's the time to get hired in their ICU because trauma's bringing in lots of patients for them. Pay is pretty low for FL, Tampa/areas north of Tampa pay better. Must have a BSN or get one, they're magnet.

Personally, I hate Sarasota. Too crowded (and getting more crowded all the time), too hot, too humid, and and too sprawled-out for me.

[Clovery]

I lived in Sarasota for a couple of years and I didn't like it much either. Unless you live out on one of the islands, it kinda feels like a New Jersey suburb (strip malls, traffic, and crowds) and not much like a beach town. The population is very transient with lots of older people who go there for the winter. They have a major problem with fire ants. Like... don't stand outside in the grass in one spot without constantly checking to make sure you are not being swarmed by vicious ants. There was a lot to do with Tampa being just an hour's drive and lots of state parks, museums, and nature. It was a pain to go to the beach because it's a long winding drive out and around to the barrier islands. I believe you have to be rather rich to live anywhere close to the beach. I wasn't a nurse when I lived there so I can't speak for the hospitals or the job market.

I just had to check out of curiosity... Lower Keys Medical Center (Key West, FL) has some ICU positions posted. There is also Fisherman's Hospital in Marathon (half way down the keys). I used to live in the keys and would go back there in a heartbeat if I didn't have family obligations up north. Especially if you are just looking to be in FL for a few years and rent a home, the keys are awesome. And medically you'd probably see some pretty interesting things like marine life and scuba diving injuries. Although I imagine they have problems with drug seekers and psych patients because there is a large homeless/drifter population there.