Nursing Salaries in SW Florida

allamericangirl · Jan 5, 2005

Hi...
I am currently residing in New Jersey and I am very interested in relocating to the Port Charlotte area in Florida. I just have a few questions and concerns:
1)I am a nurse with 25 years experience working in the ER and Trauma units. I would like to know the current salary range for someone with my experience to see if it would be beneficial for me to move to Florida.
2)Do the hospitals offer 12 hour shifts and Baylor positions?
3)Are the nurses expected to be physicians hand maidens? Are nurses considered respected professionals and treated with the same accord? I only ask this because at my current position the nurses are encouraged to use their critical thinking skills and work as a team member with the physician.
I'm looking forward to your input in regards to these issues as I just got back from a Florida vacation and would really enjoy living down there. :)

Hello? Hello? Anyone out there?

I really wish someone would answer this post. :sniff: I will be moving to Fort Myers area ... or let's say I will be moving somewhere between North Port and North Naples in 27 months. I will have a brand new grandbaby there waiting for me! :) I am currently beginning my second career starting as a CNA and will be then going for my LPN. I would love to have an idea as to whether I need to be planning to live in a trailer home, a tent on the beach, or if I will be able to afford to buy a little house somewhere there, and still be able to eat. Would love some realistic input on hospital pay and benefits. Pretty please?

SarasotaRN2b · Jan 5, 2005

Hi TraumaNurse411,

I live in the Bradenton/Sarasota area (just a little north of Port Charlotte). It is important for you to be aware that because of the hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Charley, Port Charlotte was hit really bad. According to friends who have traveled down there, it is very depressing.

Up in this area, we were quite lucky. There are quite a few hospitals around here. Salaries are lower than NJ and I believe that for the minimum it is $17.90 for an ADN and $18.90 for a BSN at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Of course, this doesn't include the shift and weekend differentials. SMH is a real good hospital (one I hope to work in one of these days) and is a Magnet hospital. I know that they are constantly looking for good nurses and as an experienced nurse, you may be able to a higher salary. Check out the website http://www.smh.com and you'll see that at this time they are looking for RNs for the ER.

Good luck!

Kris

SarasotaRN2b · Jan 5, 2005

Hi allamericangirl,

I'm not that far south, but I know that any nurses that come down this way will have a good opportunity to get a job. I can't really give you too much information about housing. The only thing I can tell you is that just like the rest of the country, real estate has gone up in value quite a bit. The trailers are nice but risky due to hurricane season (of course, I'm only going by this past hurricane season).

I would suggest that you do some web searches. The only hospital that I know of down there is Fawcett Memorial and I don't know too much about them. If you decide to come further north towards Sarasota, I can help with more information.

Kris

Hello? Hello? Anyone out there?

I really wish someone would answer this post. I will be moving to Fort Myers area ... or let's say I will be moving somewhere between North Port and North Naples in 27 months. I will have a brand new grandbaby there waiting for me! :) I am currently beginning my second career starting as a CNA and will be then going for my LPN. I would love to have an idea as to whether I need to be planning to live in a trailer home, a tent on the beach, or if I will be able to afford to buy a little house somewhere there, and still be able to eat. Would love some realistic input on hospital pay and benefits. Pretty please?

BETSRN · Jan 5, 2005

From all the salary discussions these last many months, I have concluded that the pay is not nearly as good as here in the Northeast. I am in Connecticut. One of my colleagues moved to Florida from my hospital and took a $10/hour paycut and this was in a specialty. If you look at the salary websites, you will also find that the Northeast is pretty far out in front (with maybe California) as far as wages are concerned.

I,too, have contemplated moving to Florida in a few years, but the salary range is pretty dismal.

SarasotaRN2b · Jan 5, 2005

Yes, it is true that the salaries are a lot higher in the NE versus Florida, but so is the cost of living. I was just visiting family in New York (LI to be specific) and while the starting salaries are at ~$58,000 plus diff, it was impossible to find any rentals for less than $1,000 (and that is for one-bedroom apartments). Buying a house is even more out of reach with houses on Eastern Long Island at $350,000 plus. If one needs 2.5 times their annual salary for a mortgage, there is no way that only one salary at the $58,000 rate would suffice. Don't even think about living in the city...it is much more expensive, although you won't need a car!

Yes, salaries in Florida are lower, but renting a two-bedroom apartment is still possible to get for less than $800 and then you have the weather:) ... Temp today is 78 degrees, with no change over the next week with no rain!

It's all a personal decision, of course. One may be happy working up north to pay for their rent or mortgage, while another may be happy living in a better climate.

Kris

From all the salary discussions these last many months, I have concluded that the pay is not nearly as good as here in the Northeast. I am in Connecticut. One of my colleagues moved to Florida from my hospital and took a $10/hour paycut and this was in a specialty. If you look at the salary websites, you will also find that the Northeast is pretty far out in front (with maybe California) as far as wages are concerned.
I,too, have contemplated moving to Florida in a few years, but the salary range is pretty dismal.

11:11 · Jan 5, 2005

My experience is that its better to call the HR dept of the hospitals in the area you are interested in.

For example, I just called HR at this hospital http://www.smh.com and they stated $17.60-27.00+ associated degreed nurses with $22.00/hour being the midway point (around 7-10 years experience). Their nonbenifited postitions start at $34.00/hour-37.00.

So if my wife took a benifted job I could work the higher paid program, or I could take the benifits. They also have seasonal postions that pay much higher. One could work that then take time off or work agency ect.

At first I used to apply at every hospital in the area I wanted to live in. That led to a lot of unnecessary typing and time on the phone etc. Now I just call HR first and save everyone a lot of time and trouble-

11

BTW this hospital was very forward on the phone and straight up with no "sunshine index" BS. I appreciate that and think its a plus.

BETSRN · Jan 5, 2005

While I agree that the cost of actually renting or buying may be below what we expect here in the Northeast, the actual cost of groceries, utilities, etc., (the day to day living expenses) is about comparable to up here, according to colleagues and family/friends who live in Florida.

I ahve also heard, (at least in my area of expertise, which is labor/delivery/women's health) that the south is pretty backwards as far as medicine goes. I am not so sure I want to get in to that. When I can actually hear that these southern areas are paying at least somewhat near what I am used to up here, then I will consider that move, but if things are truly as bad as they sound and the salaries are realy so low, I am not too sure it's worth the warm weather and all just to scrape by. What yo save up here in airconditioning you will spend down there( just to name one thing I can think of off the top of my head).

allamericangirl · Jan 6, 2005

Well guys... I live in Littleton, CO ... in the suburbs of Denver. I've been here over 10 years. The MEDIAN price of a single family home here is $285,000. $225,000. will definately put you low end in most areas within 35 minutes of Denver. Today it is 4 degrees and snowing. rents start at about $900. for a decent 2 bedroom apartment. We use heat or air here a minimum of 9 months. The traffic here is always like Florida in season. The avg income of LPN here is from 38 to 32K. :uhoh3:

I have been wanting to move to SW FL for at least 20 years.The price of homes in SW FL keep rising. I hope I get there while housing is still affordable. I'd come down tonight if I could, but hubby says May 2006.

I'm not sure I understand the seasonal thing. And I have never heard of wages being higher or lower with an option to take benefits. I have a lot to learn to begin to understand all of that. :imbar Thank you for your responses.

allamericangirl · Jan 6, 2005

Well guys... I live in Littleton, CO ... in the suburbs of Denver. I've been here over 10 years. The MEDIAN price of a single family home here is $285,000. $225,000. will definately put you low end in most areas within 35 minutes of Denver. Today it is 4 degrees and snowing. rents start at about $900. for a decent 2 bedroom apartment. We use heat or air here a minimum of 9 months. The traffic here is always like Florida in season. The avg income of LPN here is from 38 to 32K.
I have been wanting to move to SW FL for at least 20 years.The price of homes in SW FL keep rising. I hope I get there while housing is still affordable. I'd come down tonight if I could, but hubby says May 2006.
I'm not sure I understand the seasonal thing. And I have never heard of wages being higher or lower with an option to take benefits. I have a lot to learn to begin to understand all of that. :imbar Thank you for your responses.

OOOPS! pardon the typo:"The avg income of LPN here is from 38 to 32K." I meant to say 28 to 32K. :imbar

michelle95 · Jan 7, 2005

Thanks Kris. After being an LPN for 6 years...I am finally in RN school...7 months to go! When I get finished, hubby and I (with kids) are moving to Bradenton and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get hired on at SMH. Such a huge facility really shouts potential careers. :)

The pay may not be as great as up north but I believe the weather and the beauty make up for that. The Sarasota area is absolutely breath taking. Watching wild manatees, dolphins, the sunset...I could go on and on.

Life isn't all about money, ya know. :chuckle

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 7, 2005

Thanks Kris. After being an LPN for 6 years...I am finally in RN school...7 months to go! When I get finished, hubby and I (with kids) are moving to Bradenton and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get hired on at SMH. Such a huge facility really shouts potential careers. :)
The pay may not be as great as up north but I believe the weather and the beauty make up for that. The Sarasota area is absolutely breath taking. Watching wild manatees, dolphins, the sunset...I could go on and on.
Life isn't all about money, ya know. :chuckle

I worked at SMH for a number of years. Great hospital. It has fallen on some hard times over hte last few months to a year. CEO is resigning ..... that was sad news to hear as he was really a great CEO and really worked to the benefit of the employees. The hospital keeps expanding and they have a lot of wonderfully skilled nurses that work there. You are sure to learn a lot while you are there. You are also correct in that there are many career opportunities at SMH.

Good luck with school and your move to Sarasota.