Living in Tampa

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

I am applying to a graduate program at the University of South Florida and I'd love to know from a younger and/or open-minded nurse where the best place(s) to live is for a younger (early 30's) gay guy to live. How much is a studio and one-bedroom is this/these neighborhood(s)? I earn, with less than one-year as a nurse in orthopaedics, $21.55 base/$22.55 nights. I'm not sure that I want to keep a car if I relocate to Tampa. Possible? THANKS!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Definately keep your car. Good luck with your move.

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

Thanks, Tweety! Any recommendations on neighborhoods? Info on rents? I'm willing to settle for a studio apartment as long as I can walk to a lot of conveniences. Tampa general has good ortho offerings, right?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Transplant.

I'm relocating to Tampa too and after several trips to the area to check it out, I decided to live in Hyde Park. I researched the area a ton regarding apartments and most are expensive but if you want a cheaper studio it is possible. I picked the area because it is 2 miles from Tampa General and there are tons of trendy restaurants, bars and good shopping within walking distance. Good luck with your search and grad school :)

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

Jbeachgrl, THANKS! I'll check out Hyde Park. I have a friend who attended USF. So, I'll be picking his brain too.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Transplant.

You're welcome :) Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions!!

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I went to USF a few years ago, and there are plenty of apartment complexes around the area. If you have a bike and plan on living close to USF, then you can get by without a car. However, if you want to go out on the town at night, go to clubs, etc, then having a car is pretty much needed. Also, not sure if you are use to hot and humid weather with lots of rain during the summer and early fall, but having a car (a/c) is a nice thing. I'm gay, but never really got in the scene there, so I can't tell you too much about it. I just graduated nursing school and will start a job in a few weeks, but when I get at least 1 year experience in the ICU, I want to move back to FL again (I grew up in Miami).

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Thanks, Tweety! Any recommendations on neighborhoods? Info on rents? I'm willing to settle for a studio apartment as long as I can walk to a lot of conveniences. Tampa general has good ortho offerings, right?

Tampa General is a Level I trauma center, so undoubtedly has lots of good ortho offerings.

Unfortunately I'm not familiar with living in Tampa, as I live across the water. I do hear Hyde Park is a nice place, and quite gay/gay friendly, but not sure about the rents. South Tampa seems to be the place to be.

There is a business guild that might be of help: http://www.tbbg.org/guide.php

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Hyde Park area is a good choice and a nice place to live (and it is also gay friendly). You would be close enough that you could walk or ride a bike if TGH is the hospital you choose to work for. TGH is a Level 1 trauma center and we have an excellent ortho program. We are also the main teaching facility for USF College of Medicine and Nursing, so you would have the opportunity to do your clinical time and research there (not bad considering the gas prices). If you go to the TGH website (www.tgh.org) you can look at our annual report for 2007 and it gives you a lot of information on the programs we offer (ortho is one of them). Feel free to pm me for more info. Good Luck!!!!! :D

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

First off, thank you ALL for the additional information!

So, my primary reason for relocating to Tampa is graduate school. The job is secondary. What are the tuition benefits like at TGH? My plan would be to use them until I'm a Florida resident and then take advantage of the cheeeeeeeap tuition. : ) I checked out apartments in Hyde Park on Craiglist and it seems like a decent one-bedroom is about $800+. Considering I pay $200+ less for an average two-bedroom in Pittsburgh, what's the pay like in Tampa? I prefer nights and I don't mind working weekends. If the pay is comparable, then it's just not worth it.

Again, GRACIAS!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Transplant.

TGH has tuition payment of up to $4,000 a year. The FL base salaries are way less than I am used too, but the night shift diff. is 19%. If you sign on to work straight weekend nights it works out to be almost time and a half. Call a nurse recruiter there and they can give you much more information.

I decided to get a roommate so that I could afford a nicer place in Hyde Park but if you want a really cheap one bedroom, I know Camben Baysides start at $590 a month. The apartments themselves are decent, they have a nice pool and it is about a ten minute drive to TGH. The only downfall is that it is not right downtown and to get anywhere you have to drive. Hope that helps :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Rents have skyrocketed the past five years, but pay hasn't. Mostly because of an increase in hurricaine insurance costs.

$800 to $1000 per month for a one-bedroom does seem about right.

You should make a similar salary here, in the low 20's plus a differential. I have a friend making a killer differential working every weekend 12-hour nights plus one during the week. I think it's called "weekend plus one plan" or something like that.

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