New Grad Moving to Florida

[rwright15]

I will be a new grad in 17 days!!! I am moving from TN to Florida. Here is what I can't decide. I am wondering if it would be better to work up here and get some experience before I come down there, or just come on? Many of the positions I have looked at down there do not specify experience required. I am wondering how easy it would be for a new grad to get a job down there, and what kind of wages to expect in the Bay County area? My plan was to work here for 2 yrs b/c of a scholarship contract, get the experience and save some money, then move down there. Here is the thing... With the current job market, there are 0 full time positions at the hospital where my contract is, and for the 1st time ever, they are having to look at possibly letting me out of it if they can't find me a position. They offered me a flex position on a unit where I have absolutely no experience nor interest. The starting pay for a new grad after the NCLEX is around $18.50, more for flex, but no guaranteed hours. This hospital has implemented a salary freeze for an unspecified amt of time.... Not much to look forward to. I am thinking I may just come on down!

[KateRN1]

I'm not sure about the rest of the state, but the situation is not much better in Jacksonville. Seasoned nurses are having a hard time finding a job, let alone new grads. They pay isn't any better, either.

[lpnflorida]

Before moving you can apply for positions in the area of Florida you are interested in. Then either drive or fly down for your interviews then wait to see if you get any concrete job offers before actually moving out of state.

This is absolutely the wrong time of year to be looking for a job in Florida. It is the end of season when our hospital census drops it will pick up again around Nov.

[nurz2be]

The five local hospitals from Orlando to Melbourne are on "grad" hiring freezes. Between this month and July there will be 400 + graduate nurses descending on the area hospitals and you can bet that the local students will most likely get spots over new arrivals. There are basically little to no positions for new grads all over Florida. I am curious if you did your research and how in the world you found positions here that would take new grads. Florida Hospital has internships but the classes are filled til Jan 2010. There are students who graduated Magna from UCF bachelors program and STILL can't find jobs...so....

I am not trying to freak you out, but this is the reality of this area. The class that just graduated from my school, there are 24, only 1 has found a job. ONLY 1, the rest are having to find jobs in other areas, or out of state. You should have a locked in position before moving here, the cost of living in most places is very steep to boot.

GOOD LUCK