New Grad Comparing Hospitals in Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, and DeSoto Counties

[ShaneAinsworth]

Shane here! I am a new grad that will be sitting for the NCLEX very soon and was wondering if anyone on here has any information on the hospitals in Southwest Florida, specifically, starting pay for a new grad, length of orientation program, and a general feel about each hospital for those that work there and feel comfortable with sharing.

Thanks in advance for any advice or information!

Shane

[QTBabyNurse, BSN, RN]

First of all, I really liked working for Lee Memorial Health Systems. I worked for them over a couple years and the pay and the benefits were very good I thought. The nursing staff was very friendly to each other also.

I've also done some PRN work for a few different hospitals through the years. Sarasota Memorial was one of them and honestly I didn't care for them too much. They are a magnet hospital and maybe that is why but some of the staff there seemed to be on a power trip and liked to feel they could micromanage other RN's. Being on different magnet councils was one of the methods the employees can choose to participate in to be able to advance and some seem to think they were better than others because of being on said "councils". Too much drama/politics for me.

On to Fawcett Memorial and Peace River (now Bayfront Port Charlotte). I did PRN work for both of these facilities. Fawcett was very nice with good benefits and the nursing staff was friendly. Peace River was horrid and I would stay clear of them at all costs. Now, that being said, they have recently been taken over by CHS (they were HMA). Maybe that'll change things but I doubt it. They have been horrible for quite some time.

Lastly, DeSoto Memorial is my favorite of any of the hospitals named. The staff is friendly, the patients (many of whom are migrants) are grateful and you really feel like you're making a difference in their lives. The downside is that the hospital has been in financial difficulty for many years and when census is down, you will be required to take your turn in being called off and having to use your PTO's to subsidize your hours. You will learn to do more with less. Your unit won't necessarily have the "latest and greatest" equipment but everyone you work with will have the patients' best interest at heart and that's something money cannot buy.