Re: Florida's 1st prize in the "Salary Hall of Shame"

[CLLRN]

For those that didn't see it before it closed, after over 60 responses, Florida came in 1st place in the "Salary Hall of Shame" thread on the general discussion board.

This is really a reply to Eagleriver's suggestion in the aformentioned thread (that is now locked) about sending the compiled responses to the FL legislature. I have a better idea of where to forward the information (and outrage) from this thread--the Florida media outlets! There is so much in the media now about nursing shortages, maybe they should do a story about the real reasons why, especially in FL. Let the public know how poorly FL nurses are compensated r/t the rest of the country. Many nurses stay away from FL due to high licensure costs/requirements and the very low pay (compared to other states). I would work elsewhere too, if I didn't miss it so much and didn't still have my family there ( I grew up in and lived in FL for 21yrs, before becoming a nurse). I went to nursing school in Illinois and have worked only here (SW Chicago burbs) as a nurse, but will be moving back to FL at the end of this year. After calling a few hospitals in Jacksonville,FL today, I realized that I will have to take almost a $10/hr cut in pay to move there--much bigger difference than the 3% state income tax (80cents/hr) that I will save by moving to FL. The cost of living used to be much lower in FL than up here, I was amazed by that difference when I first moved up here (9yrs ago). It is not that way anymore. My parents still live in FL and I know what their utilities, food, etc. cost; and the housing market has increased dramatically--I was recently there home shopping. The hospitals in FL can't keep using these reasons/excuses for why they pay so little. I will make the move, but ONLY b/c being near my family again is so important to me (and the warm weather doesn't hurt). Most nurses from other areas of the country will go elsewhere, where they are paid better, unless they have a strong personal reason to move to FL. This is not good news for FL, who has a nursing shortage worse than most states. And the answer isn't recruiting nurses from other countries that are willing to work cheaply, which I have been reading more about lately. Nurses in FL deserve better. None of us (or few of us) went into nursing for the money, but why should FL nurses be treated/paid so much more poorly than those in other states? No wonder the shortage is so bad in FL. I can help people and care for the sick (why I really went into nursing) here in IL and still make a decent wage--why can't the same be said for FL? Instead my family will suffer financial hardship so I can care for the sick in FL instead. I know I have made that choice, but my point is, it shouldn't be that way.

[tenexe]

Sjoe hit the nail on the head. I also wanted to return to florida from philly after finishing nursing school. What I found is the cost of living is comparable and in some areas more expensive in florida and the salary and work conditions are horrendous. (I did a travel assignement at the great cleveland clinic in weston) What a dump. Anyway the nurses in florida get pain low wages and work under horrible conditions because they allow it. If all the nurses walked off the job what do you think they would do. if all the nurses banded together they could force the florida legislation to pass a mandatory staffing ratio similar to cali. Anyway you only get the repect and work conditions that you allow. Physicians are still making high six figures and CEO's are still making millions in salary and bonuses. Nurses aren't treated with respect and professionalism because they don't demand it. And demanding respect isn't telling a doctor off or setting limits. Demanding respect is saying If I'm working with critically ill patients and responsible for their lives I want to make 40+ an hour. I want no more than 1-2-3 patient load depending on the acuity (i work in ed). And I want ancillary staff. If we demanded this we would get it, but only if we banded together. Unfortunately too many nurses function like the short end of a dysfunctional relationship and buy into the ******** of We can't walk out because who would take care of the patients, or Your supposed to be nursing because your a caring person. The patient's, fellow nurses, hospitals, and the field as a whole would benefit more from organized, professional, well compensated and non overburdened nurses. i'm not sure when the rest of the nurses in florida are going to wake up, but i'll be waiting.

[KateRN1]

I am planning on moving to Florida this summer. If I were to make $10/hr less then I do here in Missouri, I'll be working for free Honestly after what I have read here, checking into Florida fees and checking other jobs in Florida I doubt I'll be working in nursing there. I will maintain my Missouri license since I do spend time working in Haiti as a nurse there. It doesn't matter what state my license is from so long as it is current for the work I do in Haiti. I will miss nursing and may some day return to nursing in Florida, but I do not think that is what I'll be doing right away in Florida.

Hi, Dee:

I moved from MO (with three years in Istanbul, Turkiye in between) and the pay here for BSN RNs is *less* than what it was when I left MO 4 years ago. It's ridiculous. I've seriously considered putting in an app at the Smoothie Place in the mall. Pay is less, but so is responsibility and liability, no malpractice insurance to maintain, and so much less hassle.