Moving to Orlando from Oregon

[superdan]

HELP!!! I just need an insight about florida nursing, I already know about the ups and downs of the weather, the prices of the houses are cheap but dont know how the whole community as a whole and the population. I need to know how work is and how much I would be making as a nurse and how I am treated.

Ive been a nurse for 7 years with med surg/tele/dialysis experience and as of now working in tele night shift here in oregon. Over all im getting paid about $50-52 an hour and mostly maxing out my retirement plan. Im a guy 29 y/o

Pls give me some insight how it is there, heres what I do here

7pm-7am

5:1 patient ratio max

tele floor

all IV and blood draw done by IV nurses and phleb

we do take Vitals/meds/assessment

No smoking environment/hospital

extra certificates increase pay by 1.75/hr, night shift diff is 5.75/hr

we do have UNION

Paid education hours and benefits

traffic in oregon sucks

rainy in oregon but no flood, really hot on summer time

does not snow much

[FL_Nurse92]

It's really going to depend on the hospital of your choosing. Traffic sucks in FL too, at least it does here in Tampa! I work in the PCU at Florida Hospital Tampa I do everything you have listed except vitals, although I don't mind doing them when techs can't get to it. Our techs can also do blood draws and IV sticks! There is also a Florida Hospital in Orlando that is great!

[oahufish]

I wonder sometimes about this Forum. Does anyone actually work as a Nurse in FL or all they all just students! As a person considering a move to Fl sometime to be closer to family and friends, I'm also interested in pay, best places to work and live etc...but all I see are student and school associated topics! The post I do see asking about work related topics rarely receive a response.

[FL_Nurse92]

I'm actually not a student. There are plenty websites you can look at to determine pay and the best hospital to for your needs.

[Central BSN, RN]

I can tell you this much. Take what your making now, and cut it in half. We are a right to work state, so no unions. The differentials will vary by hospital. FL traffic is terrible, and our summer's are brutal.

People vacation here and than think its a great place to live. Than they become a Floridian and realize we don't lay out at the beach all day. Not saying thats your case just in general what I have noticed with most professions looking to move here.

[DonFL]

Beside Florida Hospital and Orlando Health (ORMC) which are both constantly growing, we have the Medical City in Lake Nona in southeast Orlando. The medical city has new hospitals including Nemours, the Veterans Hospitals, and with the University of Florida being involved along with the University of Central Florida's medical school that is now pumping out doctors, it is continuously growing area. Orlando has one of the lowest median incomes in the country thanks to the mouse and his cohorts, but also has many hi-tech incubators and specialty high paying jobs due to the universities. No personal income tax! We are also an aged population because of the retirees. Don't know what the weather is where you are but I moved here from northern Indiana 25 years ago and have been enjoying my 'retirement' (while working) the whole time. Traffic is what you make of it as I spent a lot of time in Chicago and in perspective, this is like country roads. Orlando has I-4 (which is being totally rebuilt) as its main road thru town and it can be a nightmare during rush hours. Cocoa Beach can be reached in an hour and the Gulf coast beaches in less than 2 hours. I am not familiar with the pay scale at the hospitals but I have 2 daughters that are both in administration at Florida Hospital and they love it. Hope this helps. PS, I do know a good realtor if you need one, my wife!