Pensacola Area RN Pay/Benefits

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Specializes in Women's Health Services.

Hi all!! I am getting close to relocating to this area and would like to know about the nursing environment in that area. I have 16 years of Nursing experience in Women's Health (OB/GYN and Mother Baby) with 10 years as Asst Nurse Manager. I also have my MSN degree in Nursing Leadership & Management. What's the average pay in that area and how are the benefits at local hospitals. I am moving from San Diego, CA so I know the pay is way less...But I know the cost of living is less. Thanks for any information!! Also, are there nurse unions in this area and staffing ratios?

Thanks!

Pamela

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Hey Pamela!

I'm a new grad from a local nursing school in Pensacola who also happens to be from San Diego. I know I haven't started my nursing career yet, but I figured not a lot of Pensacola nurses are on here to answer questions (trust me, I've searched). I just accepted an offer to work on a cardiovascular PCU at Sacred Heart, so I'll try my best to give you an idea of the market.

As a new grad, I'm starting at $22.91 base for day shift. Shift differential is typically $4-5 dollars for nights/weekends. Seasoned nurses I believe are averaging in in the low to mid $30's/hour, and most likely more for your level of education, specialty, and amount of experience. West Florida (HCA) and Baptist (private) tend to pay a higher base pay. As a full-time employee, I'm receiving full medical benefits, dental/vision as well for associates and their dependents through the Ascension network. Sacred also offers a 403(b) with matching contributions up to 6%. Benefits are offered to both FT and PT employees. PTO is also based upon number of years accrued with Ascension, with the option to cash out 90% of unused time. Less than 1 year would be 96 hours.

WFH, BH, and SHH all have mother/baby units, though I would say Sacred is more focused on OB/GYN, followed by Baptist. Sacred has completely moved to couplet care, so all of the rooms are mother-baby.

Unfortunately, unlike California, Florida is non-unionized and there are no laws for patient ratios. Each facility determines their own staffing ratios for each floor/unit, and I can't really recall the ratios I saw a few semesters ago in any MBU.

Communication of benefits are not my strength, but I hope this helps!

1
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Specializes in Women's Health Services.

Thank you so much for that information! Do you like the area? We are flying down there the last weekend of the month and looking around. Are the health benefits expensive? Any areas to stay clear of? I really appreciate your help!

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HDHP is 2000/10 (2000 deductible, 10% copay) while PPO is 750/15. Deductible is double for family. I don't want to put up the whole thing here, but an example of premiums for up to $35000 coverage would be:

PPO: Assoc ($38); +Spouse ($97); Family ($133) bi-weekly

HDHP: Assoc ($24); +spouse ($64); family ($86) bi-weekly

Annual pay bands range from: up to $35k; 35-109k; 109-141k; 141+

Like San Diego, it has good and bad areas. The southern portion of Pensacola is beach town/navy base (like SD), central areas north and west of downtown town are older, more low-income neighborhoods. The further north you go, it becomes more southern/country-esque, lost of trees, open fields. It's a lot slower than even San Diego, but there are definitely a lot of areas to explore around the panhandle and the Southern AL/NW Florida areas.

Currently live in Brent, which is a fairly quiet neighborhood, centrally located. I'm looking around for a new place as well. Rent for a 3br/2bath runs between $1000-$1500/month.

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Specializes in Women's Health Services.

Thank you so much for the information!! ?

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Specializes in New grad.
On 5/3/2020 at 10:05 PM, YT6219 said:

Hey Pamela!

I'm a new grad from a local nursing school in Pensacola who also happens to be from San Diego. I know I haven't started my nursing career yet, but I figured not a lot of Pensacola nurses are on here to answer questions (trust me, I've searched). I just accepted an offer to work on a cardiovascular PCU at Sacred Heart, so I'll try my best to give you an idea of the market.

As a new grad, I'm starting at $22.91 base for day shift. Shift differential is typically $4-5 dollars for nights/weekends. Seasoned nurses I believe are averaging in in the low to mid $30's/hour, and most likely more for your level of education, specialty, and amount of experience. West Florida (HCA) and Baptist (private) tend to pay a higher base pay. As a full-time employee, I'm receiving full medical benefits, dental/vision as well for associates and their dependents through the Ascension network. Sacred also offers a 403(b) with matching contributions up to 6%. Benefits are offered to both FT and PT employees. PTO is also based upon number of years accrued with Ascension, with the option to cash out 90% of unused time. Less than 1 year would be 96 hours.

WFH, BH, and SHH all have mother/baby units, though I would say Sacred is more focused on OB/GYN, followed by Baptist. Sacred has completely moved to couplet care, so all of the rooms are mother-baby.

Unfortunately, unlike California, Florida is non-unionized and there are no laws for patient ratios. Each facility determines their own staffing ratios for each floor/unit, and I can't really recall the ratios I saw a few semesters ago in any MBU.

Communication of benefits are not my strength, but I hope this helps!

Hi YT6219,

How are you liking the CV PCU unit as a new grad? I will be doing the Residency progam pretty soon and interested in PCU. What is your day like and hows the culture in the unit? Thankss!! 

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Specializes in CRNA.

I was thinking of moving to pensacola myself as I have family in the area

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Specializes in BS, RHIT. Pre nursing student..
On 5/3/2020 at 10:05 PM, YT6219 said:

Hey Pamela!

I'm a new grad from a local nursing school in Pensacola who also happens to be from San Diego. I know I haven't started my nursing career yet, but I figured not a lot of Pensacola nurses are on here to answer questions (trust me, I've searched). I just accepted an offer to work on a cardiovascular PCU at Sacred Heart, so I'll try my best to give you an idea of the market.

As a new grad, I'm starting at $22.91 base for day shift. Shift differential is typically $4-5 dollars for nights/weekends. Seasoned nurses I believe are averaging in in the low to mid $30's/hour, and most likely more for your level of education, specialty, and amount of experience. West Florida (HCA) and Baptist (private) tend to pay a higher base pay. As a full-time employee, I'm receiving full medical benefits, dental/vision as well for associates and their dependents through the Ascension network. Sacred also offers a 403(b) with matching contributions up to 6%. Benefits are offered to both FT and PT employees. PTO is also based upon number of years accrued with Ascension, with the option to cash out 90% of unused time. Less than 1 year would be 96 hours.

WFH, BH, and SHH all have mother/baby units, though I would say Sacred is more focused on OB/GYN, followed by Baptist. Sacred has completely moved to couplet care, so all of the rooms are mother-baby.

Unfortunately, unlike California, Florida is non-unionized and there are no laws for patient ratios. Each facility determines their own staffing ratios for each floor/unit, and I can't really recall the ratios I saw a few semesters ago in any MBU.

Communication of benefits are not my strength, but I hope this helps!

Congrats! Did you have to sign a contract as a new grad? I thought I read theirs requires one but I also saw they have a travel program so I was curious if switching to the travel program after the first year is an option to fulfill the contract. How are you liking things there? Is it competitive to get in? 

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