LPN moving to Florida

kimlpn · Jan 15, 2004

Hi! I live in the Orlando area. Wages for hosp are around $13.00 but other places like nursing homes are $15-$16. I work at a pediatric home care agency that is great and my pay is $16.50--but it varies depending on the level of care the client needs (higher for vent patients and lower wages for g-tubes and trach patients only). I personally love the atmosphere and the one on one patient care. Hope this helps some. I used to live in Minnesota and know the wages are much lower there than here.

Kim

vocserlpn · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks so much for the info! I will take all the information I can get at this point. I have to admit - this is a pretty scarey move!! Does anyone know about the school systems? When we move my daughter will be in 5th grade and my son starting kidergarden. Thanks! Mickie

Prof Reed · Jan 16, 2004

Originally posted by vocserlpn
Hello Everyone! I am curently an LPN working in Iowa at a Sheltered Workshop / Vocational Services Day Program. I also am the Worker's Comp Nurse for about 150 employees. My soon to be husband & I are talking about moving to Florida after we get married. We are looking at Pasco County or Citrus County areas. If anyone has any info on jobs with working with persons with devlopmental disabilites would be wonderful. Also what the wages are. I am currently making $11.20/hr.

Thank you for any information!! Mickie

Have you checked with the Florida State Board of Nursing on getting your license here in Florida?? I know that some of the states do not meet Florida qualifications for LPN licensure. Go to the Florida Board of Nursing website (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_home.html[/url]) for more information. Here in the Gainesville area, north central florida, north on I-75 about 1.5 hrs above Pasco Co., the LPN wages are about the same as what you are making. However, remember, that Florida does not have a state income tax, so whatever state tax you are paying now, if you make the same amount (11.20/hr) you would be giving yourself an automatic raise (depending on the percentage of your current state tax ie: 6%). That was nice when I moved here from Michigan. Let me know if I can be of more assistance.:balloons: :balloons:

vocserlpn · Jan 16, 2004

Thank you for the infoProf Reed! I do think I can get a license by endorsement in Florida. I have heard it is a long process though! Thanks Mickie

MrsLePew · Jan 21, 2004

Hey Mickie, mine went surprisingly fast though I don't know if it was due to my already living here or not. School transcripts/prior BON all come into play. Just make sure U send everything certified. LOL I had my "official" license within a 5 weeks and my goodness the State of Fl does send out such nice certificates.

I have been commuting to Tampa/St Pete area and making $16.00 with Hospice (12 hour shifts), and $20.00 doing corrections, $20.00 doing nursing homes (8 hours). Around Ocala and Gainesville I make $20 in the nursing homes and corrections. Of course all these are agency gigs, but I love to pick up own schedule.

I know Gainesville has a State Institution for the DD and another in Ft. Meyers, another somewhere around Miami. As for the private sector of DD, not really using LPN's that I have found, they have the med-aides doing that under RN supervision.

vocserlpn · Jan 21, 2004

Thanks MrsLePew! You are the first reply that has mentioned jobs with the DD. Anyone know what the deal is? There has to be some group homes and sheltered workshops where adults with MR work. RIght?!?! Anyway thanks for the reply!! Mickie

cheyennessf · Jan 24, 2004

Originally posted by vocserlpn
Hello Everyone! I am curently an LPN working in Iowa at a Sheltered Workshop / Vocational Services Day Program. I also am the Worker's Comp Nurse for about 150 employees. My soon to be husband & I are talking about moving to Florida after we get married. We are looking at Pasco County or Citrus County areas. If anyone has any info on jobs with working with persons with devlopmental disabilites would be wonderful. Also what the wages are. I am currently making $11.20/hr.

Thank you for any information!! Mickie

cheyennessf · Jan 24, 2004

Hey Mickie,

You have made a good choice in relocating or wanting to in Citrus County, Fl. I am a recent LPN in Florida and have chosen to work acute care at CMH (Citrus Memorial Hosp) in Inverness, FL. Very accessible if you live in the county. LPN's with IV cert 3-11 get paid around 13.75 an hour to start with free BCBS for yourself Fam is 60.00 a paycheck for all members of the family. Citrus Co has some very good schools. If you choose public, you have Citrus Springs Elementary and Middle School which are very good schools. They are not only rated one of the top in the state but also in the nation. Crystal River is a very laid back community. We have a mall anchored by JC Penneys, Sears, Belks, and Kmart with a number of national chains and specialty stores. We are a growing community that also takes into consideration our natural beauty and waters. We're home in winter to the manatees. We have lots of waterways, natural springs, gulf, etc. Nice restaurants along with the regular chains. The schools here have alot of programs within and after school and also during the summer. We are very close to Ocala, horse country, with is a college town, easy driving distance to Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona, Clearwater etc. CMH is the community hospital located in the county seat of Inverness. Just recently they have opened a new heart wing, which , offers services that were previously not available without driving a distance. Lots of opportunities and growth for your career. If you have the experience you can work for an agency which can pay you upwards of 26.00 an hour. Nursing homes, ALF's, etc. pay more along the lines of 16.00 hrly. It really depends on what you would like to do. There are some great housing communities and houses with land, out away from everyone or on the water. Prices vary, depending of course on what you are looking for. You definitely cannot beat the weather:) Without specific questions I really don't know what else to tell you without taking up the next few screens. If you have any specific things in mind, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them. I can tell you that even though we have moved a little bit since moving back down here in 93, my son has been in the school system here his entire academic career and I cannot say I have any reservations in recommending schools, at least the ones he attended and most of the teachers he had.

vocserlpn · Jan 26, 2004

Thank you Cheyennessf! YOur information has helped so much! I looked on the map and Inverness is only about 20 miles from Homasassa (which is where I think we are going to live). I will need a good stable job for a while because we are going to buy a house. Any info on that end would be helpful also. Let me know if you have that information and then I will let you know what we are looking for. I hope I write you again with questions if needed! Thanks again! Mickie

cheyennessf · Jan 27, 2004

You asked about housing. Homosassa is a good area just a few minutes away from where we live. Something else to keep in mind is Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center. It's just up the road from Homosassa on 19 north of Crystal River. Housing varies. It depends on what you want. Mobile homes, double wides and modulars run cheaper of course than housing. It runs the spectrum. Try a search of the web based on the newspaper, Chronicle. Sunday is their day for real estate. A real estate agent you can talk to is Janice Ayers, 352-795-0487. She is very good. We got our home through her. You can also search real estate sites in Citrus County. Good Luck

vocserlpn · Jan 27, 2004

I looked up the hospitals you had mentioned. Citrus Memorial sounds very good. Great benefits. Do you think it would be better for me to get my IV cert here in Iowa or wait until we move? As far as housing goes - I have found hundreds on the internet! I also found found a ton of houses that have been forclosed and are now for sale. Do you happen to know anything about that?!?! We are looking for 3-4 bedrooms, garage, not right on top of our neighbor, 60,000 or less. Is it even possible?? Do I sound like a dreamer or what!! LOL! Thanks again for all your help Cheyennessf! Mickie