Relocating to Florida

TRINI_RN · May 4, 2008

I'm planning on relocating to the Tampa, Clearwater, St Pete area in the Fall (Oct/Nov) and needed recommendations on good places to work. I'm a LPN currently working in an urgent care. If anyone has relocated and can give any advice regarding their experience and how far in advance should you start actively sending resumes and applying for jobs prior to the move.
Also, I would appreciate if anyone knows of nice, clean, respectable places to live.
Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi! You might try posting this on the Florida nurses board, you'll get lots of responses there. Good Luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 4, 2008

I'll move this to the FL board.

Are you interested in LTC where jobs are high paid and abundant for LPNs or for hospital work, which are harder to find and lower paid, or do you want to remain in urgent care?

Good luck!

Makingadiff · May 4, 2008

Thanks for moving it for me. I didn't realize there was forums specific to states. I'm still learning things about allnurses.com.

I like the urgent care or outpatient settings but willing to try anything if it is a good place to work.

Thanks!!

woody62, RN · May 4, 2008

Unfortunately, hospital and urgent care positions, for LPN's, are not widely available here in Florida. And those positions that are available pay between $10 to $14 per hour. There are numerous positions open in long term care and assisted living facilities. And the pay is higher. As for where to live, I can give you specifics. The area you are moving to has two local universities, as well as two local vot techs, and two community colleges. And Tampa has MacDill Air Force base which is also the center for the Southern Command Operations Center. Tampa is also a major port. And there are numerous areas of light industry and white collar jobs. Rents for a one bedroom apartment begin at $1200 a month. While there is public transportation, you will need a car to drive to work and to shop. And I will not go into the bills that we are still paying for hurricane damage done in 2004.

We do not have a state income tax. Our state renvue comes from sales tax mostly, plus property tax. We are cutting back on Medicaid, school, highway, emergency and police funding from both the state and each county. We are also one of several states that is suffering from the housing/foreclosure crisis. If you want to buy a ho,me here, you will need 30% of the purchase price to put down.

Woody

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 5, 2008

In the area that you're looking, you shouldn't have any trouble getting into a nursing home or other long term care facility. That's where the money is for LPNs around.

I don't know about urgent care positions, but imagine they are hard to come by. Hospital jobs are also hard to get for LPNs and most require experience.

Good luck.