LPN pay in Florida

luv4nursing · Oct 22, 2006

I live in Orlando. You can make anywhere from 15 to 20 dollars an hour, depending on the setting. Luckily you will make the most in LTC which is what you said you are interested in. I just dont have the drive for it bc I dont feel the extra pay is worth the extra work. Im lazy and work in home care...lol. Just kidding, Im not really lazy, Ive just been taking all the pre reqs for the LPN to RN bridge and start in January. I think home care is great for students.

I work for a pediatric home health agency. You get 16-18 for home cases and I believe 20 if u work in the group homes where u would be assigned 2-3 patients. Ill be leaving when I get my RN though because they get paid the same rate of pay unless the case requires and RN and then they get $2/hr more. Im hoping to get more than a 2 dollar raise after all this hard work.

Good luck to you!

bethinct · Oct 22, 2006

Thanks so much for the info!!! How long does it take to do the lpn to rn??? I most likely would try do this too after the move.

I am in connecticut and don't know the orlando area well. I have been on vacation many times and did disney but thats about it. I would most likely want to live outside of orlando but close enough to commute to work. Good public schools would be important for my kids. I don't know where to start to get an idea of "where" to go.

Also, do you have any links to employment for orlando area nursing homes? I have been looking at the orlando sentinel but thats all I've been able to find.

I am just trying to get a feel for how much employment is out there. Are jobs plentiful? thanks!!!

FrogLPN · Oct 22, 2006

Nursing is not all that great in Florida. The pay may be good but you pay for living there. Make sure to check out the property taxes and house insurance. We were going to relocate there in the spring until the average homeowners insurance rates went up 87%. Homes are expensive and schools are not the greatest. Florida has more violence than any other state. A word of advise, paradise comes at a price, do you home work before you move. Also the traffic is horrid.

I was offered a job at Weisthoff in Rockledge on med/surg floor, FT w/ benefits at 21.00 an hour. But the cost of living is high and the schools int he area are not great. ( I know I will get complaints about this statement)!

Check out florida schools on line. They grade them there, A, B, and so on. Most high schools especially are C's due to the violence. Kids and guns are a big thing there.

Thats why we chose to stay in the Midwest. Good schools were important to us as well.

Good luck

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2006

It all depends on where you live regarding the quality of schools and the level of violence. I am originally from Florida and have lived in other states to include large cities such as Pittsburgh (heard gunfire on a nightly basis) and also Miami. I currently live in the Daytona Beach area and my son's high school ranks a high "B" with a magnet program in Aerospace/Aeronautics. If my son's grade goes down to a C in even 1 class I get a phone call. If he misses a class I get a phone call. Crime in this area is quite LOW. We have lots of activities and events so it's hard to get bored. Payscales are generally lower in the entire state comparative to others but if an LPN and your interest is in LTC then Florida may be a good choice as we have the highest population of retirees and geriatric population in the nation. We also have the highest Veterans population in regards to the clinics/VA hospital/VA Nursing homes. Please dont let one persons opinion place a poor image on the state as after living in other states/cities myself I have finally decided this time around I will stay here and not leave again. As the previous poster did say, do your homework and I think you will find there are a lot of very friendly and very safe areas of florida. I know where I live I even fail to lock my doors many days in a hurry and have yet to have a problem. It all comes down to where you choose to work and live.

bethinct · Oct 22, 2006

It all depends on where you live regarding the quality of schools and the level of violence. I am originally from Florida and have lived in other states to include large cities such as Pittsburgh (heard gunfire on a nightly basis) and also Miami. I currently live in the Daytona Beach area and my son's high school ranks a high "B" with a magnet program in Aerospace/Aeronautics. If my son's grade goes down to a C in even 1 class I get a phone call. If he misses a class I get a phone call. Crime in this area is quite LOW. We have lots of activities and events so it's hard to get bored. Payscales are generally lower in the entire state comparative to others but if an LPN and your interest is in LTC then Florida may be a good choice as we have the highest population of retirees and geriatric population in the nation. We also have the highest Veterans population in regards to the clinics/VA hospital/VA Nursing homes. Please dont let one persons opinion place a poor image on the state as after living in other states/cities myself I have finally decided this time around I will stay here and not leave again. As the previous poster did say, do your homework and I think you will find there are a lot of very friendly and very safe areas of florida. I know where I live I even fail to lock my doors many days in a hurry and have yet to have a problem. It all comes down to where you choose to work and live.

Thanks for the positive comments :) We are thinking of the Orlando area or Naples (where my parents recently purchased a house) Naples is looking rather expensive. Do you have any links as to where crime levels are low/a rated schools?? I contacted several realtors awhile back and they are NOT helpful at all, they just want to sell you anything. But I really want to move to a nice, quiet area w/ good schools and just feel "safe". I probably would rent first to make sure I like where I am! And I want to make sure I am in an area where employment would not require a lot of commuting.

I know we are making the right decision. We are tired of the cold and snow up here and there isn't too much to do here in the winter.

Thanks again!!!

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2006

Here is a thread regarding the Orlando area and I think it's pretty much on target. I also choose to live further to the east on the coast. Orlando is growing very quickly and personally I chose not to live there due to crime and the schools. The area I am in I have been very happy with and schools all depend on exactly where you live. If you do searches directed to the specific area you have interest in they usually describe the schools etc. I think I included some area links when I responded in this one located here.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f141/need-info-orlando-other-florida-towns-182773.html

majaka · Oct 24, 2006

yes, Naples is expensive but there is no way I would live in Orlando area. Orlando is a zoo. I've lived in Ft. Myers/Naples area and I still miss it. You should check homes in Bonita Springs, Gateway, 33919 zip code in Ft. Myers is pretty nice. Anything of Daniels Parkway is good. Easy access to Naples. Stay out of San Carlos. Cape Coral is a family community, but rather borring. Stay out of Lehigh Acres and East Fort Myers/North Fort Myers. Crime rate down there is pretty minimal and the schools are good. Fort Myers HS got pretty good national ratings.

whitneyLOL · Oct 25, 2006

Nursing is not all that great in Florida. The pay may be good but you pay for living there. Make sure to check out the property taxes and house insurance. We were going to relocate there in the spring until the average homeowners insurance rates went up 87%. Homes are expensive and schools are not the greatest. Florida has more violence than any other state. A word of advise, paradise comes at a price, do you home work before you move. Also the traffic is horrid.
I was offered a job at Weisthoff in Rockledge on med/surg floor, FT w/ benefits at 21.00 an hour. But the cost of living is high and the schools int he area are not great. ( I know I will get complaints about this statement)!
Check out florida schools on line. They grade them there, A, B, and so on. Most high schools especially are C's due to the violence. Kids and guns are a big thing there.
Thats why we chose to stay in the Midwest. Good schools were important to us as well.
Good luck

!!!!! GEEZ! I live in Orlando right now and there are a lot of REALLY GOOD schools. Ask people that actually live here. There are places that are 'bad parts of town', just like any city. I have never even seen any crime go down here, and where I live is very safe. Anyone wanted to move to Orlando can talk to me, Ive lived here my whole life basically ( used to live in Philly, too) Im actually moving from Orlando to New Smyrna Beach in a week, not too excited about that.

Innurse78 · Oct 27, 2006

Check the info on the USA today website regarding homeowners insurance rates.

A couple in Cape Coral had their rates go from 12000 a year to 24,000 a year for insurance.

Do you home work before moving to Florida. Unless you can make mega $$$$ it will all be paid out for insurance! Paradise DOES come with a price and that price is well documented in the papers.

msjenntou · Oct 29, 2006

Hi I live in Manatee County on the border of Sarasota County and my daughters middle school was an "A" school. She is a freshman and the HS she goes to has only been open for 2 years now . I have 2 boys who went to school in NY just outside of the city and I feel my daughter is getting a better education.The teachers use a more interactive learning approach. The pay for LPN's isn't as good but that's ok. Cost of living is a little cheaper because you don't need four seasons of clothing. As for the violence well that is everywhere and as I recall the mid west has had there fair share of violence can you say Columbine?

Innurse78 · Oct 29, 2006

Yes, I can say Columbine. Can you say Columbine is NOT in the midwest.

Colorado is not midwest.