Lee Memorial or Gulfcoast/Southwest??????

brannach · Apr 15, 2005

Hi there,I am afraid I do not know the answer to your question about hospitals in SW area as I am looking for the same answers.The hospital in Port Charlotte is pretty nice but i really have not checked them out fully.Cape hospital is a community hospital and Lee is much bigger.Good luck with your investigations.I am hoping to relocate in June to the area,cant wait!!:chuckle

Hairstylingnurse · Apr 17, 2005

:) hi again, congrats on moving down here you'll love it. port charlotte is one of the hard hit areas from the hurricanes. we were also in that horrible category. i'm very suprised there are no responces in this post, there are alot of nurses from this area that are members here. i guess they haven't worked at these hospitals.have you already got a job waiting for you here? i unfortunelately don't know anything about the area your moving to, but would love to hear about it, seeing as i'm only 1 county away from it.

brannach · Apr 18, 2005

Thanks for your reply,I thought that a lot of people moved here in the past few years and was hoping some insight into the hospitals here.What department do you work in?My husband is trying to establish his own business in the area and I am in the process of renting out our home here in New York before the big move.I have not applied any where yet as I would prefer some feedback about the hospitals first.I have been in psych a long time and would love a change to a different field.It is hard to switch to another field after being in psych unless you want to do bedside med/surg.Do you like living and working in your area?Thanks for your info I will keep trying.

:) Hi again, Congrats on moving down here you'll love it. Port Charlotte is one of the hard hit areas from the hurricanes. We were also in that horrible category. I'm very suprised there are no responces in this post, there are alot of nurses from this area that are members here. I guess they haven't worked at these hospitals.Have you already got a job waiting for you here? I unfortunelately don't know anything about the area your moving to, but would love to hear about it, seeing as I'm only 1 county away from it.

gwlillith · Apr 28, 2005

Hi there, sorry didn't see your message til today...I work prn in the icu's at all three Lee Hospitals. Lee Mem, Cape Coral and Health Park.

Lee Memorial is huge and severely outdated, Cape Coral has a little bit more up to date equipment and Health Park is over the top. They are expanding and will be opening several new critical care units in the next few months. They have just about all the new conveniences.

As for the whole employee/hospital relationship The prn rate is pretty good with seasonal salary options, altho I don't get benefits. The management is lax in their communication and retention resources for nurses. They do not offer shift diff's for certifications, or sign on bonus'. They don't "believe" in it! lol :angryfire As a matter of fact their delusion in thinking they can achieve Magnet Status is beyond my comprehension, as I have worked for a magnet hospital before and there is no comparison.

Alright, so there it is. I'm not exactly happy there, but the money's ok and I like most of the people that work there.

I also heard southwest isn't really any better, as a matter of fact they are laying off people, ancillary personnel as well as nurses...go figure!

Hope this helps some....

brannach · Apr 28, 2005

A Big Hello To You and thank you for all the great info.I have been trying to find some inside info on the hospitals and your info has been a great help.I like Cape Coral hospital and will check out Health Park(afraid i dont know too much about there)Thanks again

Hi there, sorry didn't see your message til today...I work prn in the icu's at all three Lee Hospitals. Lee Mem, Cape Coral and Health Park.
Lee Memorial is huge and severely outdated, Cape Coral has a little bit more up to date equipment and Health Park is over the top. They are expanding and will be opening several new critical care units in the next few months. They have just about all the new conveniences.
As for the whole employee/hospital relationship The prn rate is pretty good with seasonal salary options, altho I don't get benefits. The management is lax in their communication and retention resources for nurses. They do not offer shift diff's for certifications, or sign on bonus'. They don't "believe" in it! lol :angryfire As a matter of fact their delusion in thinking they can achieve Magnet Status is beyond my comprehension, as I have worked for a magnet hospital before and there is no comparison.
Alright, so there it is. I'm not exactly happy there, but the money's ok and I like most of the people that work there.
I also heard southwest isn't really any better, as a matter of fact they are laying off people, ancillary personnel as well as nurses...go figure!
Hope this helps some....

Mandylpn · Apr 28, 2005

Hi Florida nurses, particularily Ft Myers & Cape Coral nurses, or any nurse that has worked at either hosp. I am curious which hosp. you think is better to work for. When I was working HH I went to all the hosp( for intake and pt. visits) in this area and Cape Coral looked much more modern. Even thier computers were very new looking. Gulfcoast/Southwest was on the old computers(the program is medi-tech which I've used in Nashville TN.)and everything about Gulfcoast seemed outdated. But then again I have read quiet a few posts here stating that Lee mem. is the outdated one. Which one is an better employee? Is their payscale similar? Hope to hear from some of you soon, what your experiences were like with these hospitals. C-YA:) .

Hi I am not a Florida nurse, I live in the North, but could you give me an idea of what the LPN pay is down there? (LTC and hospitals). We have vacationed many times in Fort Meyers and I would LOVE to move there, you are so lucky!!! catch a tan for me! :thankya:

gwlillith · Apr 28, 2005

Hi I am not a Florida nurse, I live in the North, but could you give me an idea of what the LPN pay is down there? (LTC and hospitals). We have vacationed many times in Fort Meyers and I would LOVE to move there, you are so lucky!!! catch a tan for me! :thankya:

Hey there..

Sorry but I sure don't know what the going rate for LPN's in LTC are. I know they're aren't many, if at all, LPN's in critical care. My suggestion to you is go to the websites for these hospitals or give them a call. They'll surely let you know.

The wages are much lower for staff then prn. I've been an ICU nurse for 10 years, and the starting pay for staff was around $22.00/hour. I felt that was just insulting!

So that's why I went prn. It turns out paying for my own health insurance is worth it to me to make my own schedule and not have to deal with the politics of staff nursing.

Good luck

p.s. Got a great tan goin' right now... :thankya:

Hairstylingnurse · May 3, 2005

Hi I am not a Florida nurse, I live in the North, but could you give me an idea of what the LPN pay is down there? (LTC and hospitals). We have vacationed many times in Fort Meyers and I would LOVE to move there, you are so lucky!!! catch a tan for me! :thankya:

Hi, just wanted to let you know that LTC here varies. from 15to 18 hrly(I'm a new nurse of only 4 yrs. so I'm proably quoted less than most.). That is what I've been quoted in interviews. At manorcare in ft. myers, a pretty facility it pays 17 an hour plus really excellent benefits. Plus 1000. sign on bonus. And the benefits kick in 30 days after your hire date. In hh I was on salary and it averaged 18 an hour plus .34 cents a mile. I see alot of ads for prn for 21-22 an hour. I hope this helps a little.

mitchsmom · May 11, 2005

Someone mentioned Port Charlotte, I did some clinicals at Peace River Medical Center (formerly Bon Secours/St. Joseph's)... I thought it was kind of a hole. A few people were friendly but overall I don't think I would want to work there. The group before ours apparently had a truly terrible time on another floor. At the same time, I'm just a student so who knows.

Health Park is fancy but a student friend of mine said she didn't like her experience there. I haven't heard a lot one way or another about Lee Mem., except I know some med evac flight crew members that HATE flying into Lee Mem. ER (and they fly around to tons of S. FL ER's so they can compare).

I will start a clinical at Cape Coral Hosp. tomorrow, followed by a few weeks at Health Park starting in June. I will probably be at Southwest in August (if not there, it will be Lee Mem.). When are you moving/looking for a job? If you are still around I'll post if you want. Write back & let me know if you have particular things you want me to scope out.

PS... just got done with psch rotation at Ruth Cooper Center too if you think you may still be interested in psych...

brannach · May 24, 2005

Thank you for the wonderful info,sorry it has taken me so long to reply.I will continue checking into the area,thanks again

Someone mentioned Port Charlotte, I did some clinicals at Peace River Medical Center (formerly Bon Secours/St. Joseph's)... I thought it was kind of a hole. A few people were friendly but overall I don't think I would want to work there. The group before ours apparently had a truly terrible time on another floor. At the same time, I'm just a student so who knows.
Health Park is fancy but a student friend of mine said she didn't like her experience there. I haven't heard a lot one way or another about Lee Mem., except I know some med evac flight crew members that HATE flying into Lee Mem. ER (and they fly around to tons of S. FL ER's so they can compare).
I will start a clinical at Cape Coral Hosp. tomorrow, followed by a few weeks at Health Park starting in June. I will probably be at Southwest in August (if not there, it will be Lee Mem.). When are you moving/looking for a job? If you are still around I'll post if you want. Write back & let me know if you have particular things you want me to scope out.
PS... just got done with psch rotation at Ruth Cooper Center too if you think you may still be interested in psych...

Hairstylingnurse · May 24, 2005

Hi mitchs mom, just wanted to see how it was going at lee memorial? I'm supposed to go to a job fair tomorrow. i really want to know what the pt. load is like and how friendly or not the other nurses are. If you can tell me anything it will be most appreciated.:kiss Hope to hear from u soon.

Someone mentioned Port Charlotte, I did some clinicals at Peace River Medical Center (formerly Bon Secours/St. Joseph's)... I thought it was kind of a hole. A few people were friendly but overall I don't think I would want to work there. The group before ours apparently had a truly terrible time on another floor. At the same time, I'm just a student so who knows.
Health Park is fancy but a student friend of mine said she didn't like her experience there. I haven't heard a lot one way or another about Lee Mem., except I know some med evac flight crew members that HATE flying into Lee Mem. ER (and they fly around to tons of S. FL ER's so they can compare).
I will start a clinical at Cape Coral Hosp. tomorrow, followed by a few weeks at Health Park starting in June. I will probably be at Southwest in August (if not there, it will be Lee Mem.). When are you moving/looking for a job? If you are still around I'll post if you want. Write back & let me know if you have particular things you want me to scope out.
PS... just got done with psch rotation at Ruth Cooper Center too if you think you may still be interested in psych...