i just wanna know if there is someone here who is from melbourne florida. my husband and i will be moving there soon. i'll be working at holmes regional medical center and it'll be a BIG help if someone can give me a brief (or a detailed one would be much better ) "orientation" about melbourne and this hospital where i will be working. i have checked the internet but hearing it from someone else also matters..
Welcome to Melbourne. I work at HRMC on the Cardiac floor and boy is the hospital changing. In September we will be opening our new 8 floor north wing of our hospital and many of the old units will be moving over, then it will be to renovate the older area. Holmes is a fantastic hospital to work at and there are two other hospital in the immedicate area that are part of the Health First organization so you can try out different areas if you want to. We are undergoing a lot change and need outsiders to help make suggestions. quote]
Hello! I live in Port St. John & was recently accepted into BCC's ADN program (starting in August 2006 ). I am currently a CNA/HHA working for HF Private Duty. When I graduate (in 2 years) I would like to work either at HRMC or CCH. I would love to work in the M/B Unit. Do you happen to know if there are different nurses in the M/B/ Unit specializing in the delivery process, PP, and in the nursery? Are they all on the same unit/floor? Is it harder to get hired on this unit than others? Do they hire new grads on this unit? I would prefer PP or the nursery, or maybe the NICU. I guess I will find my niche at clinicals, but any info. you could give me now would be appreciated. (I know you said that you work on the Cardiac floor & may be unfamiliar w/ the M/B Unit, but I thought maybe you could give me a little insight ...)
I am a 40 year old nursing student to be (taking prereq's and such) and moved to Palm Bay, Florida about 3 years ago. If there is any way I can help, just reply; I have been through the "new to the area" thing and can give you my opinion.
My father had quintuple bypass surgury at HRMS in 2003. The hospital has magnificant cardiac care and is the leader in the area. The staff was top notch. They are well respected in the community.
Some Florida observations from a guy who has lived in 4 states, spread across the country:
1. I have lived here 3 years and have never seen an alligator or a poisonous snake; although, some day I might. There are poisonous spiders, I hear, but they only give you a severe reaction. I haven't seen those.
2. Florida drivers are among the worst in the country, and I've seen some pretty wierd stuff living in other states. Be prepared for this because it will shock you. Doing the speed limit will really annoy other drivers (they want to go fast). Police rarely enforce driving laws. There is a NASCAR mentality (look it up) in this part of the south. Takes some getting used to.
3. Hurricanes? You know after living through them, they were not so bad. Majorly inconveinient, but we all survived. This should not be a major factor in your happiness in Brevard County.
4. Beaches? Wonderful! About 10-15 minutes from HRMC, probably more from home by the rent estimates you have already read. The Melbourne area beaches are fairly quiet compared to other beaches in Florida.
5. Crime; much worse than other areas I've lived in. This includes: Boston area, Anchorage Alaska, Lawton Oklahoma and rural Maine. I lived in Boston for 30 years. Crime is a definate problem in Brevard County. You should know this.
These are outstanding observations, on my part, and you may get a different opinion from someone else. Perception is reality. Good luck in your move!
hey newjack13! wow, that was quite a loadful of info. thanks a lot! this'll come in so handy, im sure. we are not just moving to a different place but a whole new culture out there. not that we know nothing about america (there's MTV and the movies...:wink2: ), its just different if you start a new life in a new country. i have been to the US once a couple of years back and again, as a tourist, you get to see a different perspective as compared to really living in america.
first of all, its good to hear positive reviews about HRMC. that really helps a lot. you know you're in good hands.
secondly, crocodiles and spiders and snakes are scary, as well as all other creepy crawling creatures... i freak out everytime i see em! and hearing about the recent croc attacks in florida is not helping at all...thats why i made sure to ask if melbourne has its share of croc stories.
third, driving...yeah, driving. well, you can ask a filipino or anyone who knows a filipino how driving is done in our country. we are the worst drivers in the world! they say that if you can drive in the philippines then you can drive anywhere else in the world. its not the NASCAR-esque kind of driving we have here but the reckless-i-dont-care-what-happens-to-me-or-my-passengers kind of driving (with no seatbelts!!!). hehe...really, its THAT bad. i have relatives who have lived in the states for years and everytime they come over to visit they still complain about the way filipinos drive.
now about hurricanes...how strong are they really? we do have storms and typhoons here and maybe they're just the same. it just gets exaggerated on the news, maybe? (not talking about katrina though, that was different) how about insurance? how does it work there? if you live in an apartment, can you still get that insured even if you're just renting?
next would be the beaches...we also have beautiful beaches..lots of em. and im proud of it. so i guess it would feel almost like home. plus with the weather of course..
but the crime??? that, i dont like. is it true really? i checked out the crime stats at melbourne city's website and i cant really figure it out...can you give me specific examples of the most common ones?
i wish you luck with your studies. in a few year's time, you can join the club!
but the crime??? that, i dont like. is it true really? i checked out the crime stats at melbourne city's website and i cant really figure it out...can you give me specific examples of the most common ones?
Hello! I moved to FL from Pennsylvania 2.5 years ago & haven't found the crime to be too bad here. (I live about 30 minutes north of Melbourne, in Port St. John.) Everywhere in the US has some crime. The low frequency of crime in Port. St. John is actually one of my favorite things about living here- I feel safe leaving my windows open at night while I sleep. It may be worse in Melbourne, but it I don't think it's horrible down there either...(compared to Orlando or other large citites)...
I'd like to welcome you to the Melbourne area also! I've been here for 4 years, but had visited my Aunt and Grandmother for another 15 years. I live beachside and love it here. It's quiet and safe.
There is crime here, but I disagree with newjack13 that it is as serious as he thinks. There is crime everywhere in the world and you just have to be smart about locking your doors and staying away from areas that are crime ridden.
Melbourne has changed in the last 20 years and is still changing. Walmart now stays open 24 hours and some of the larger ones have supermarkets. There are also some 24 hour drug stores and supermarkets.
Don't worry so much about the hurricanes - it's a fact of life here. 2 years ago we had four in a row, and while there was destruction and devastation, we all recovered. I don't evacuate, I either stay home, go to work, or go to my brother's who lives inland. I'm sure that you've been through the same type of weather with your typhoons. You can get home owners insurance for renters.
I hope that your agent has found you a nice location for your apartment - you didn't say what neighborhood it's in.
I work for Wuesthoff in Melbourne and I like my hospital a lot. I did the bulk of my clinicals at Holmes and was impressed by the hospital, but I chose Wuesthoff because I wanted a small hospital. I also did clinicals at Cape Canaveral Hospital (part of Health First) and liked the smallness of that hospital.
hello! i moved to fl from pennsylvania 2.5 years ago & haven't found the crime to be too bad here. (i live about 30 minutes north of [color=#ee6600]melbourne, in port st. john.) everywhere in the us has some crime. the low frequency of crime in port. st. john is actually one of my favorite things about living here- i feel safe leaving my windows open at night while i sleep. it may be worse in [color=#ee6600]melbourne, but it i don't think it's horrible down there either...(compared to orlando or other large citites)...
i agree with you. crime is everywhere. you just have to be extra careful about it. it can happen to anyone and everyone...i was just expecting melbourne to have lesser crime considering its a "quiet city" of some sorts..but, oh well, anything goes.
who knows, maybe it is even worse where i am from.
Melbourne has changed in the last 20 years and is still changing. Walmart now stays open 24 hours and some of the larger ones have supermarkets. There are also some 24 hour drug stores and supermarkets.
Don't worry so much about the hurricanes - it's a fact of life here. 2 years ago we had four in a row, and while there was destruction and devastation, we all recovered. I don't evacuate, I either stay home, go to work, or go to my brother's who lives inland. I'm sure that you've been through the same type of weather with your typhoons. You can get home owners insurance for renters.
I hope that your agent has found you a nice location for your apartment - you didn't say what neighborhood it's in.
I work for Wuesthoff in Melbourne and I like my hospital a lot. I did the bulk of my clinicals at Holmes and was impressed by the hospital, but I chose Wuesthoff because I wanted a small hospital. I also did clinicals at Cape Canaveral Hospital (part of Health First) and liked the smallness of that hospital.
hi there! thanks for the warm welcome. my husband and i still feel ambivalent about this whole migrating thing. its great that i found this site because it has helped me a lot. at least, in preparing ourselves mentally and maybe culturally for the change.
i love to shop. are there any factory outlets nearby? eheheh.. i know, its a bad habit. someone here (sorry i forgot the name) mentioned that most stores in melbourne area close at night. its good that walmart and some stores are now open 24 hours.
you are right about crime. it is everywhere. some areas have higher rates while some have lower. by the way, i will let you know later where our apartment is located. im guessing its near holmes regional coz we dont have a car yet so they will be locating us to a place near work. just my guess..
There is great shopping in Orlando! Lots of factory outlets - so you're going to have to get a car! If I'm in a shopping mood, I make the trip to Orlando, which is only about 90 minutes from here. There's also a factory outlet in Vero Beach off I-95 (about 45 minutes) and some good outlets in St. Augustine (about 2 hours).
:caduceus:
Melbourne has two malls, the newest one is in Viera - a part of Melbourne - and it has lots of good shops. Old Melbourne has a lot of boutiques that are fun to browse in as does Historic Cocoa Village.
There is great shopping in Orlando! Lots of factory outlets - so you're going to have to get a car! If I'm in a shopping mood, I make the trip to Orlando, which is only about 90 minutes from here. There's also a factory outlet in Vero Beach off I-95 (about 45 minutes) and some good outlets in St. Augustine (about 2 hours).
:caduceus:
Melbourne has two malls, the newest one is in Viera - a part of Melbourne - and it has lots of good shops. Old Melbourne has a lot of boutiques that are fun to browse in as does Historic Cocoa Village.
Would you know how much a good second hand car costs? or would you advise getting a brand new one? how about the insurance? and how soon do you think can we get a car once we start work?
shopping for me is stress relieving as watching sports is to guys. so orlando here i come! and there's the theme parks to go see as well. 90 mins drive is not that far. we're used to traveling long distance here in my country anyway. so i guess no matter how near or far a place is, if i know i can get a good bargain, then im off to do some shopping!
quaint stores and boutiques are also interesting. downtown melbourne i hear has lots of history.
Welcome to Melbourne. I work at HRMC on the Cardiac floor and boy is the hospital changing. In September we will be opening our new 8 floor north wing of our hospital and many of the old units will be moving over, then it will be to renovate the older area. Holmes is a fantastic hospital to work at and there are two other hospital in the immedicate area that are part of the Health First organization so you can try out different areas if you want to. We are undergoing a lot change and need outsiders to help make suggestions.
hi. just wanna know, since you work at HRMC, are the scrubs color coded per area/department?
We are not color coded on our floor, but have been warned that once we move to the new hospital we will be color coded. As I understand it, the Palm Bay Community Hospital is color coded. So we will wait and see.
I dont' live in the same area as you are moving but just like NewJack, I have lived in New England and here. I've been here for 4 years and although I love the "tropical-ness" (I made that word up, clearly) of Florida, I don't necessarily LOVE the weather. The summers are so hot you can't be outside, unless you're at the beach but the winters are nice because they are cool, but not freezing. I will agree with NewJack about crime in Florida. Florida is like the hotspot for every criminal and sexual predator and pervert teacher is more likely to go to. You will hear the WEIRDEST stories down here....I never locked my door when I lived in Florida or Massachusetts or Maine, but never go without locking it now. Here I fear for car accidents (I bet they beat your filipino friends) for bad driving and crime as well. You can live in a beautiful neighborhood and suddenly there are home invasions going on and just horrible things. I've not felt safe since living here...but I love nature and love being able to go to the beach whenever and playing outside with my daughter year round (but not in the front yard, those dang sexual predators will get to us). Seriously, I know I sound very paranoid but when the city channel plays pictures of sexual offenders living in the city to Christmas music you have to wonder (yes Largo does do this). I can't wait to get my RN and move back to NH or MA where at least if they want to commit crime they have to trudge through 2 feet of snow to get to me.
i freak out everytime i see em! and hearing about the recent croc attacks in florida is not helping at all...thats why i made sure to ask if melbourne has its share of croc stories. 
well, you can ask a filipino or anyone who knows a filipino how driving is done in our country. we are the worst drivers in the world! they say that if you can drive in the philippines then you can drive anywhere else in the world. its not the NASCAR-esque kind of driving we have here but the reckless-i-dont-care-what-happens-to-me-or-my-passengers kind of driving (with no seatbelts!!!). hehe...really, its THAT bad. i have relatives who have lived in the states for years and everytime they come over to visit they still complain about the way filipinos drive. 
rds007
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