Moving to Pensacola

[Jen1228]

Hi everyone!

I am moving to Pensacola from TN at the beginning of September. I am a new RN, graduated in May 07. I have already applied for a license transfer.

I have been looking into local hospitals and wondering if anyone works at or recommends a specific one. As a new grad, I want to get into ICU or Critical Care. I also am considering the OR. Anyone know of anywhere that hires new grads in these departments? After 3 semesters of Med-Surg, I kinda want another area. I would consider working in a LTC or acute facility if there were opportunities to work with vents, IVs, etc.

Also, I have looked into Pensacola Junior College's Critical Care and Perioperative Certificates. Has anyone taken these? What are they like? Will that help a new grad get into a specialized area?

My dad was hospitalized at Baptist before he died and I really liked it there. There seemed to be alot of Nurse Practitioner students. Is there a program in Pensacola?

I know I am asking alot of questions, but I am getting so excited and nervous about the move. Any advice will be greatly apprecited!

[fakebee]

Speaking only about ICU onditions in Pensacola:Baptist is critically short ICU nurses

right now and would be your best bet to get hired on as a new graduate, Sacred Heart was not hiring new grads into the ICU as of July 07, and West Florida has a few openings on nights but would prefer experience if possible. Baptist pays the least

Sacred and West Florida are comparable but all pay poorly. With 4 nursing schools within 50 miles they can do this. Hope this helps.

[Jen1228]

Thanks so much! I was wondering if anyone from Pensacola used this site. When you say pay poorly, how low are you talking? New grads here make about $17-18/hr plus differential. I made $19.85. How much of a pay cut should I expect?

[hlfpnt, BSN, RN]

Sacred is part of Acension Health...it's the sister hospital to St. Vincents here in Jacksonville. St. Vincents has been down sizing for some time, I don't know if Sacred would be or not, but that could be something for you to consider. West Florida is part of HCA & doesn't have very reputable working conditions...my sister works at West Florida. Just some FYI.

[flpsychnurse]

I have worked at both WFH and Baptist. They both have their good and bad points as well as good and bad nurses. WFH is abit more up-to-date re: computers. Some of their management have been there way past their usefulness, and have little support for the nurse on the floor. All three hospitals are extremely short staffed, so you will be doing more and more with less and less staff. There is no such thing as any patient acuity v. staffing systems. By the numbers of warm bodies and making money. PJC has gone down hill in recent years in teaching nursing skills/courses. But you might get lucky. I have only worked with and heard from nurses who left Sacred Heart--miserable. Generally, to be a downer, nurses in Pensacola are miserable, because there are so few choices on where to work. If you are very lucky, you will have good co-workers...that's the only thing that will help you. Go to CA--they have ratios and unions. You could be a traveler.