Moving to FL (Melbourne). Good hospital to apply to?

Hello,

I am most likely moving to Melbourne in September (depending on a job offer). I have read a lot about the area's hospitals from the 2006-2011 posts. I am hoping that someone can give a more recent description of Health First's hospitals and the Wuesthoff hospitals. I am in a 200-hour preceptorship at a Maternity unit that I love and am also interested in Med/Surg. I am hoping to find out which hospitals have the best reputation concerning patient and nurse satisfaction. Thanks so much.

[Graduation2016]

Health First all the way. Been here for about 4 years, started as a CNA, now an OB Scrub Tech and I plan on staying here once I graduate NS in 2015. Awesome company to work for. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice. I am applying for their Nurse Residency program once I pass the NCLEX (hopefully in June). Do you know if there are going to be any openings in the OB unit? I know that it can be hard to start in a specialty right away, but I am hoping that my 200-hour Preceptorship experience will help.

Do you know if they typically post their Graduate Nurse Residency program several times a year? I see one now that's for May 2013, however, I won't be licensed until most likely July.

Hi,

They have the program monthly (up month and a half early I heard from a recruiter). What unit are you interested in? Also, are you from the Melbourne area?

I am not from the Melbourne area but I've lived in the South Florida area at other times. I'm thinking about moving that way again soon. I'm interested in Med/Surg & Stroke/Cardiac care but I could possibly see L&D one day in the future.

I hope that I see you next fall then. Please let me know if you hear anything else about the program.

Hello fellow soon to be nurses! I graduate this August and am also looking in this region. I wonder if either of the hospitals offer an informal tour of the facilities. I'd be interested in that. Good luck in your search and interviews. :)

Hello! I have spoken with a recruiter from Health First, and she said that they do not do this, but I would also be very interested to go if you got word that we could. What specialty are you interested in?

[Graduation2016]

The only people I have seen touring a unit is when they're being interviewed and just a basic tour of the specific unit interviewing for. For example, I work in L&D so we're very exclusive as to who comes in our Birth Suites.

Thank you for your reply. Are the L&D and PP units separate at Health First? My Preceptorship site had a combined unit, so I got to work in a variety of situations. Also, are all of the shifts 12 hours? In MA, those nurses tend to work three days a week. Is that the same in FL?

[Graduation2016]

Out of the 4 Health First hospitals that we have. 2 of them do not have OB. The other two that do have them and cape Canaveral does have a combined unit, LDRP rooms and from what I know they all have 12 hours shifts, nurses, OB scrub techs, huc's, etc. the one I work at, L&D and M/B are not combined in that sense but they are next to each other secluded away in the Birth Suites. Everyone in L&D has 12 hour shifts. In M/B only the nurses do 12 hours. Huc's and CNA's do 8 hour shifts.

[Graduation2016]

Oh, and having 12 hours shifts if you're FT you would do 3 days a week, PT you would do 2 days and PD can be 1-3 depending on units needs.

Thanks so much, I am going to apply for the September Nurse residency program for MB/PP in both hospitals. Wish me luck! Do you know if there will be any openings in the fall?

[Graduation2016]

Thanks so much' date=' I am going to apply for the September Nurse residency program for MB/PP in both hospitals. Wish me luck! Do you know if there will be any openings in the fall?[/quote']

I'm not sure how often they post these but I can let you know if/when I see something. Do you have the website?

Thanks. I have been looking online, but I know that some positions are posted on the floors before they are put online. I was just trying to get a feel for my chances at becoming hired for one of the Maternity units. Please let me know if you have any advice.

Hey all, I am new to this forum and need some advice. I moved to Melbourne in August and have been attempting to get an RN or NP job since moving. I have applied to a total of 7 position with HealthFirst as an RN (several at Holmes Regional and several at Palm Bay) and in the last three months I have only gotten one e-mail which was a rejection e-mail from one of those seven positions. I am an experienced RN with several years of ER experience as well as four years of experience in a Level I trauma center as an NP and one year of out patient cardiology. I have also taught undergraduate RN students for several semesters on med/surg and cardiac floors. The positions for which I have applied are all ER or ICU (I do not have ICU experience). I am feeling frustrated and starting to think Health First is the type of place that only hires people they know and not those with appropriate experience. Can someone help me? How do you navigate their system better? Also, does anyone know the current starting rates for experienced RNs at Holmes and Palm Bay? Thanks so much!