Outrage at low pay in FL

Jules A, MSN · Jul 10, 2015

If people refused to work for such low wages they would have to pay more. I know this isn't easy but someone must make a stand. I'd become active in your local nursing organizations. Nurse Practitioners in particular need to get together and lobby for better autonomy and wages in Florida. Good luck.

Marshall1 · Jul 11, 2015

I use to live/work in Florida and the pay in Florida is what the pay is in the South overall..MANY nurses from the West Coast or the North are shocked at the difference..there are no unions except for the federal jobs like the VA so the standards are set based on experience, degree, specialty, etc. The job market is also tough (like everywhere) so right now at least it seems to be an employers market. Often times you will hear "well there is no state tax" - trust me - they get it anyway.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Don't ya love getting paid in sunshine though? ðŸ˜ At least travel nursing pays better than staff positions there, most times.

elkpark · Jul 11, 2015

It's simple supply and demand. Lots of people want to live in FL (don't ask me why, I was born and raised there and couldn't wait to leave), so there is always a large supply of candidates/applicants for jobs, and employers don't have to pay much.

FloridaBeagle · Jul 12, 2015

I worked here because (unbelievably) the pay is higher than in the two other states I was offered jobs in: NC and TN. But now that I've got some experience under my belt, I applied for a job in a unionized, blue-state, northern hospital and will be paid $10 an hour more and have better benefits, one of which is a safe patient ratio. Yeah, I'll have to pay a state tax now, but I highly doubt it'll take most of my $10 raise, so I'm happy to pay it.

In my experience, southerners are sheep. They're not big on standing up for themselves, so they take lousy pay and working conditions. They can have it, I'm outta here.

lindarn · Jul 12, 2015

We have no state income tax in Washington State, and we have no toll roads or toll bridge. We have decent salaries here, and we have unions. What else can I say?

I have NO idea why people in NYC, "escape", the crowds, crime, etc, and move to Florida and New Jersey. The West Coast is a much better choice.

Try to get a union organizing plan with the NNOC. They can help.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

I have NO idea why people in NYC, "escape", the crowds, crime, etc, and move to Florida and New Jersey. The West Coast is a much better choice.

Simple answer, NYC people (me: born and raised here I might add) move to Florida to escape the brutal winters and enjoy "supposed" cheaper cost of living. When I moved from NYC to Florida I was a bit appalled to find that every other person was originally from NYC (OMG, you're from NYC, I am from Brooklyn! ME: *groan* ... I came here to get away from you people lol). But the weather is a big selling point for them, vacation in FL once or twice and you're basically enamored with making it your year-round home. Granted, many flock back to NYC once reality kicks in around year 3 lol. The incomes in FL definitely dont climb in tune with the costs at all.

WHY they flock to NJ however, I dont have an answer for that, I am stumped by that myself!!

Having been to California however, I do agree with you that it is a much better choice :)

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jul 19, 2015

"Don't ya love getting paid in sunshine though?" Sorry, the quote button wouldn't work right now, but I absolutely HATE when an employer tries to use this line for the crappy pay...um, you didn't give me the sunshine, it's just here...and costing me an outrageously high electric bill to keep the a/c comfortable in my home:sniff:

lindarn · Jul 19, 2015

People flock to New Jersey, as the next logical place to escape the crime, social problems, of NYC. First it was Nassau County, then it was Suffolk County, some went upstate, now it is New Jersey. Some go to Pennsylvania, like my cousin did.

i agree, wild horses could not make me move to NJ, even though a goodly number of my cousins have. My brother told me the mess to get from Long Island to New Jersey, bridges turnpikes, toll roads, after toll roads and toll bridges, etc. Takes about 4-5 hours from Suffolk County. A drive of less than 120 miles. I can drive from Eastern Washington to Seattle (300 miles), in less than 6 hours, 4.5-6 is the usual.

I told him that we have NO state income tax in Washington State, NO toll roads, NO toll bridges, we fund regular brick and mortar public schools, and also a FREE ONLINE, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL, THAT PROVIDES LAP TOPS AND TEXTBOOKS FOR ALL STUDENTS. It is taught by licensed Washington State Teachers, and has ALL the certifications, and accreditations , that regular public schools have.

They cannot envision life without tax upon tax, upon tax, roads and bridges that you pay for twice-state taxes, gas taxes, and then tolls on all roads and bridges. They think that everyone lives like this.

His rationale- the price you pay for living in the big apple, or Long Island. My rationale for not going back- the Big Apple is rotting to the core.

There isn't enough money to make me go back.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Now also, I am officially old and over the hill- turned 60 years old yesterday, 7/18

How did I get that old? I remember when i turned 25, thinking to my self, "Linda, you are a quarter of a century old"!! Now my daughter turned 25 last month!

enigma2441 · Jul 23, 2015

I so despise that phrase, "but you get paid in sunshine." I don't know but the last time I checked sunshine doesn't pay the bills. It really and truly is a disgrace. I guess if I am ever forced to leave my current position I'll do travel nursing.

I have no plans on moving back to NY. Yeah, I could be making over 90K as a RN in some areas but that doesn't go very far these days.

Hoping things will improve here in FL in terms of payscale equating with cost of living.

enigma2441 · Jul 23, 2015

Hoping for the best and better times in florida