whitneyraeRN

Starting pay in Pensacola is barely $22/hr.. couple years experience and you might make $24-25? This is for full time with benefits. If you can do without benefits, you can get closer to $30/hr. There are 3 hospitals, and they are always hiring! I lived in SW FL (Fort Myers) before moving to Pensacola, and I LOVE Pensacola! To me, it's the true south!

They are great! Lots of nurses I know like them!

I've been in Pensacola since 2005, and this is the only place I've been a nurse. Your main three hospitals are Baptist, Sacred Heart, and West Florida. There are also smaller hospitals, but depending on what you want to do, they don't have all the services the main three have. There is no pediatrics at Baptist. Don't expect to make $27/hr, at least not at Baptist. Starting pay is closer to $23/hr. As a new grad, you have to sign a contract at W Florida and Baptist. I only know staffing ratios for Baptist.. 1:4 in the ER (unless you have the trauma rooms or Behavioral Med area) and 1:6 on the floor. I've worked inpatient psych, med-surge, and now ER. You'll love pensacola!!

The first time you hang blood, someone should be with you.. The first time you do anything, someone should be with you! I had a new nurse have to do a zassi the other day. We talked through it, I opened a kit and we talked through it (with numerous nurses), then she did the task with her preceptor. Even with 4+ years experience, I've learned when it's best to ask for help. I carry 6 pts on a medical floor. If I have to put a foley in a female, I take someone with me the first time so it's done on the first try, or you're wasting time. I am also always more than willing to help other nurses... Whether it be a foley, IV, changing, bathing, etc. Two are quicker than one, then you can return the favor. If you're sitting does during a shift, ask others what you can help with. If your fellow nurses don't do this, look for a new position...

I work at baptist and wouldn't leave it to work at the other 2 hospitals in Pensacola. West Florida is run by HCA and Sacred by Ascension.. Neither local. I love my ghetto baptist.. Never a dull moment!

Panhandle is the lowest in Florida from what I've seen.. I moved from fort Myers, where you made close to $30/hr to start.. In Pensacola in 2013 I started at $21.64/hr, but I think it's closer to $23/hr now. Charge nurses should make more.. But still less than $30/hr here! Where are you working that you have 3-4 patients? I carry 6 almost all the time..

Not 100% sure, but pay is low down here. I know baptist in pensacola starts between $22-23/hr.

Here's what I've heard.... Can't guarantee it's true. Sacred and West Florida start NEW grads around $18-19. Baptist starts around $21. (Sacred might be higher now as they've recently increased pay) As far as experienced... I've heard of RNs leaving baptist because they are around $25/hr and haven't had raises in awhile. These are RNs with a couple years experience. Charge nurses make more. Night shift makes more. I've heard (again, might be rumor) that Select Specialty pays more like $31-32/hr for experienced RNs. Keep in mind cost of living. Gas is $2.77 right now. You can buy a pool home with land for $200,000. Everything in pensacola is no more than 20 minutes away. There are events almost every weekend, somewhere, for something. Beautiful beaches with easy access. My husband and I love it here! Nice, mild seasons. If y'all have any questions I'm open to try to answer them! Just let me know!

I work at Baptist, and pay in this area is horrible! I did hear sacred just increased their pay, but before that I heard starting was around $18-19. Beautiful city, tons to do, horrid pay!

Anyone have any good apps that will not only test med compatibility, but med/fluid compatibility?

Quick question.. Can you piggyback meds off ANY primary fluid that is running? I know the primary fluid will stop while the piggyback is running, but there is still fluid from the primary in the line when the piggyback starts. I know I can piggyback off NS, but what if a pt has D5 1/2NS with 20 k+? Or just D5? Do I need to check each med if they are running anything besides NS? Thanks!

So I graduated and started my nursing career in February 2013 at an acute inpatient psych facility. I did well and was promoted to charge nurse by November. I usually had 8 patients and we rarely had a tech. I always got all my work done with no problem. I've decided I really want medical experience, so I'm transferring to a med-surg floor where I will eventually have 6 patients. They do provide 6 weeks of orientation before you're on your own. I'm pretty good with time management, but I feel like I'm going to embarrass myself with my lack of hands on skills and medical management since nursing school. I've reviewed everything I can... Any advice to not look incompetent??

I am working at a hospital - and it took me about 3 months to get a job after I started looking. There are plenty of positions at all 3 major hospitals, if you have experience. I feel lucky I got the position I did as a new grad about a year ago. I'm now a charge nurse and learning so much! Pay is low for the area, but I'm happy where I am!

Don't show fear, even if you are scared in the beginning. There are always other staff members around (at least in my inpatient acute unit) who will come to help. A minute may seem like an hour, but you should always have support. I've been in inpatient acute women's for a year. I now know my 'frequent flyers' and what sets them off an how to deescalte them... It's never a dull moment - enjoy it!!

After almost 10 years of sitting in a cubicle and being bored... I knew I wanted a career where I never have to stop learning! A career where I have so many options that I never have to leave the profession to find something new!

I don't know about LTC. I know I applied to every open position in LTC and never got a single call.

I'd suggest, besides talking to your instructor, to talk to classmates that are doing well. What did they study? Some instructors in my program would choose questions from a certain text or area - use your classmates to your advantage! Good luck and don't get discouraged!

Mine was a lot of select all as well - and tons of meds! I had 75 questions and finished in under 30 min - I've always taken tests super fast. The 'trick' didn't work for me because my results were flagged bc I tested so fast... Took a few days! Congrats to you!!!!!!!

My program started out this way too... Just keep being YOU and do what you need to do. As time passes, things will get better. All people are good at different things, and eventually everyone will learn this and help each other. My class ended up being VERY close regardless of how we started out :)

As a new grad, I know pay is around $20-21/hr plus any shift diffs. (Hospital jobs). Pay in the area is low... And I don't think the cost of living is much less than other areas. I just moved from SW florida, and its no cheaper to live here. It is beautiful, and I do love it here! It's tough to get a job as a new grad... Not sure about exp'd nurses.

I always did better on the actual tests than the practice ones. Good luck!

Have you applied to position other than the OR? I know where I live they don't hire new grads into the OR. Even for an OR training program, you had to have 2 years of clinical nurse experience. I'd consider extending your options, network, and be patient! I just got an offer after my phone not ringing for 3 months.

Hello! I interviewed for an RN position last week in a mental health unit, and I just got a call for a second interview for tomorrow! I'm a new grad, so I'm very excited and nervous The unit is 90 beds (30 men/30 women/30 kids) and has an open unit and locked unit on each of the 3 floors. I would float between the open and locked unit, and although I'd be assigned to women, I'd also float floors. Psych has always interested me, and I know I'll enjoy doing it. My question is this: My career goal has always been ED nursing. I understand, as a new grad, getting into the ED (espcially where I live) is tough, so I'm VERY open to starting in another unit to get some experience and "get my foot in the door" so to speak. Do you think I will have trouble transferring from mental health to the ED or a med floor? I'm just looking for some advice - I know it's up to me and what my heart tells me, but I like to see all sides of things when possible! Thanks!!

Thanks for the reply! I have applied within about 45 miles of Pensacola... I finally had an interview with Baptist Hospital last week and just got a call for a 2nd interview! Congrats on getting in at Sacred - I've heard it's not easy! Let me know how you like it!

Since this post is now very old - I wanted to ask if anyone in this post relocated to Pensacola?? I recently moved here and am having trouble finding a job. Any advice??