New Grad looking to start RN career in Gainesville Florida

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Hello,

I am graduating from my Bachelor of Science Program in April 2010, however I currently reside in Toronto Ontario and am looking for a job in the Gainesville area. Can someone let me know the names of the major hospitals and any info on them hiring new grads? I would also like some info on the political climate on Florida nurses. ie) wages, portability of license... THanks alot:)

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.

Shands at UF and North Florida Regional Hospital are the two big hospitals in Gainesville. Shands is the UF teaching hospital system and encompasses the main hospital, a cancer hospital, pediatrics, Level I Trauma, and all surgical specialties including neuro, cardiac, and general. Shands also includes Shands Vista, the psych facility - community medicine - Shands Starke, Shands Jacksonville, Shands Lake City ... it's a big system. Their website is http://www.shands.org .

North Florida Regional is affiliated with HCA hospitals, and is a for-profit private hospital. They are slightly smaller. They are a primary cardiac center and a stroke certified hospital. I don't know as much about them, but they also have a website available at http://www.nfrmc.com/ .

Licensure info can be found at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_applicant.html .

Hope this helps. Good luck and you'll love G-ville - I do.

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Specializes in Emergency Department/Trauma.

Everything I have ever heard about Shands has been very positive. I would check it out if interested in that area.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Malcom Randall VA Medical Center is the other hospital in Gainesville. Their website is:

http://www.northflorida.va.gov/

They take new grads into their residency program (selection process already complete), but I don't know if they take them otherwise. The nurse recruiter's information should be pretty easy to find on the website. Starting pay is $21.75/hr for new BSN grads.

I think NFRMC is about $19-20/hr for new grads and I think Shands is similar. Pretty sure they both accept new grads. Applications for both should be on the websites.

With the University of Florida's nursing programs and local community college programs finishing around the same time, there is probably more competition for new grad jobs in this area than in other parts of Florida, so you may want to widen your search radius if working in Gainesville is not a necessity.

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Also try Jacksonville, just two hours away.

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I am a new Grad and just interviewed for the Shands Jax new nurse fellowship program. The starting pay is MUCH higher than the $19 listed here. I would contact the Nurse Recruitment office for information. They are fantastic and very informative.

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I am a new Grad and just interviewed for the Shands Jax new nurse fellowship program. The starting pay is MUCH higher than the $19 listed here. I would contact the Nurse Recruitment office for information. They are fantastic and very informative.

Hi Annaruns4Nachos! I graduated in May 2010 with my BSN and still haven't found a job. I was wondering how you went about applying for the Shands Jax new nurse fellowship. I found some information on the Shands Jax website, but found no information about program start dates or how to apply. I also did not see any posting for new grad positions. Did you get the job?

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shands posted the job on the shands career website jan 14-16, they phone screened the first 60 (approx) applicants and then made interviews from there. there were 6 positions available to outside shands graduates (i.e. non shands care techs/lpn etc). i did not get the fellowship as my license was obtained a week after the deadline (2/10), but i did get a position in the operating rooms (perioperative rn). i got that job due to experience as a student nurse extern in the or's at a level 1 trauma center (very similar to care techs-nurse assistant, we could pass meds up until last summer) and i had already taken the perioperative 101 class as an elective during my bsn program.

honestly, this area was very shocking to me. this is not an issue in indiana. everyone i graduated with (140 students) had a job prior to or within 2 weeks after graduating, majority went to icu's. nicu, neuro icu, cardio icu etc. the hospitals in indianapolis are very welcoming to new grads and the icu's want you before you "pick up bad habits" on med-surg floors. there are 3 level 1 trauma hospitals within a 5 mile radius of each other, 1 being a pediatric hospital and all of the hospitals treat new grads like a valuable commodity instead of an embarrassing rash. after being told by baptist that i should go work at a nursing home to get experience i almost packed up and moved back to the midwest given that i turned down 2 jobs there prior to even graduating due to relocation. so just know that this is an area problem and not a nation-wide problem.

my advice to you is to look at the websites for shands, mayo, memorial, specialty, and baptist every day. apply everyday. track down email addresses to the hr reps and make contact with them. volunteer for the school systems and clinics in the meantime to get connections and experience. apply for everything.

i really wish you the best of luck. if i can help you in any way just let me know.

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I just got hired at Shands in Gainesville in mid December 2010. I am a new ADN grad (Aug. 2009), in my 2nd semester BSN, with no prior experience. Shands in Gainesville is one of the few hospitals that will hire new grads, you just have to be really persistent. Most hospitals in the NE FL area won't even look at you without experience, or at least a BSN. Good luck!!

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