Relocating to Florida

here's some information from salary.com:

the median expected salary for a typical staff nurse - rn - obstetrics in orlando, fl, is $46,205. this basic market pricing report was prepared using our certified compensation professionals' analysis of survey data collected from thousands of hr departments at employers of all sizes, industries and geographies.

i'm sorry that i can't give you some information about licensure. good luck with your move!

Thank You very much and best wishes on getting your BSN!

:rolleyes: :rotfl:

Can anyone help?

MY husband and I are planning to relocate to the Orlando area in the near future. He is a school teacher and I have 19+years in L&D(high-risk) and Antepartum. What are the salaries like in Florida? I know I will have to take a big cut as my hourly base is around $35 now. How do I go about getting a Florida License?

My friend works at Arnold Palmer, has 17 years in as an RN, and she told me a while ago (w/ in past 6 months) she made $24.00/hr base. Her hospital is very very very BUSY. She tells me approx. 600 deliveries/month. One good thing is there is no state income tax in Florida.

My friend works at Arnold Palmer, has 17 years in as an RN, and she told me a while ago (w/ in past 6 months) she made $24.00/hr base. Her hospital is very very very BUSY. She tells me approx. 600 deliveries/month. One good thing is there is no state income tax in Florida.

My friend works at Arnold Palmer, has 17 years in as an RN, and she told me a while ago (w/ in past 6 months) she made $24.00/hr base. Her hospital is very very very BUSY. She tells me approx. 600 deliveries/month. One good thing is there is no state income tax in Florida.

$24.00 base! You have got to be kidding! What are the differentials? Does any one out ther know? I can't afford to take that kind of pay cut. How do you all make it down there?I am preceptor to a new grad that started with $20.10 just last week! Surely they must have other benefits that make up for the low pay.Does any one know?

My friend works at Arnold Palmer, has 17 years in as an RN, and she told me a while ago (w/ in past 6 months) she made $24.00/hr base. Her hospital is very very very BUSY. She tells me approx. 600 deliveries/month. One good thing is there is no state income tax in Florida.

$24.00 base! You have got to be kidding! What are the differentials? Does any one out ther know? I can't afford to take that kind of pay cut. How do you all make it down there?I am preceptor to a new grad that started with $20.10 just last week! Surely they must have other benefits that make up for the low pay.Does any one know?

$24.00 base! You have got to be kidding! What are the differentials? Does any one out ther know? I can't afford to take that kind of pay cut. How do you all make it down there?I am preceptor to a new grad that started with $20.10 just last week! Surely they must have other benefits that make up for the low pay.Does any one know?

Please use the search option and put in Florida. There must be tons of Florida threads in it. Also look at the Nursing Hall of shame thread.

No, the poster is not kidding. $24.00 is actually much more than I would have quoted for Florida. The pay is a joke down there. And no, the cost of living, lack of income tax, and sunshine does not make it worth it.

It frequently takes a long time to get licensure by endorsement.

It is also, difficult to get positions in L&D, peds, NICU in most areas (except Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and inner city Miami) and since they tend to have an overabundance of applicants, competition is fierce and pay not competitive. It is also highly advisable to have knowledge of Spanish. Also, be prepared for Adult MS overflow into peds.

$24.00 base! You have got to be kidding! What are the differentials? Does any one out ther know? I can't afford to take that kind of pay cut. How do you all make it down there?I am preceptor to a new grad that started with $20.10 just last week! Surely they must have other benefits that make up for the low pay.Does any one know?

Please use the search option and put in Florida. There must be tons of Florida threads in it. Also look at the Nursing Hall of shame thread.

No, the poster is not kidding. $24.00 is actually much more than I would have quoted for Florida. The pay is a joke down there. And no, the cost of living, lack of income tax, and sunshine does not make it worth it.

It frequently takes a long time to get licensure by endorsement.

It is also, difficult to get positions in L&D, peds, NICU in most areas (except Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and inner city Miami) and since they tend to have an overabundance of applicants, competition is fierce and pay not competitive. It is also highly advisable to have knowledge of Spanish. Also, be prepared for Adult MS overflow into peds.

Can anyone help?

MY husband and I are planning to relocate to the Orlando area in the near future. He is a school teacher and I have 19+years in L&D(high-risk) and Antepartum. What are the salaries like in Florida? I know I will have to take a big cut as my hourly base is around $35 now. How do I go about getting a Florida License?

Hi there - I am currently in Florida and the payrate you were quothed is probably on the high side actually. I have about 10yrs L&D experience and make about $3/hr less than that. My night diff though is 3.50 on weeknights and 5. on w/e. As the others have said, no state income tax and depending on where you are coming from housing is quite affordable. I have 1600 square feet, new construction for $100,000.

Getting a florida license took me 2 months - you just go to the state board of nursing site and all the info is there.

I see on medhunters.com that winter park hospital is recruiting and that is a nice area of Orlando.

Good luck

Hi there - I am currently in Florida and the payrate you were quothed is probably on the high side actually. I have about 10yrs L&D experience and make about $3/hr less than that. My night diff though is 3.50 on weeknights and 5. on w/e. As the others have said, no state income tax and depending on where you are coming from housing is quite affordable. I have 1600 square feet, new construction for $100,000.

Getting a florida license took me 2 months - you just go to the state board of nursing site and all the info is there.

I see on medhunters.com that winter park hospital is recruiting and that is a nice area of Orlando.

Good luck

Thanks for the reply Cheryl. I'm in the midwest where housing is expensive. I did not get an offer for any jobs yet. The $35/hr is what I make now.

I've been looking in the Orlando area via internet for anything I can find on the housing, jobs, hospitals etc. As I said, I have 19yrs experience in L&D. also antepartum. By the time I do make the move it would be 20+. I really can't afford to take more than a 5$/hr cut and I don't want to work nights.Have you heard of anyone making 32-33/hr base with the years that I have?

Thanks for the reply Cheryl. I'm in the midwest where housing is expensive. I did not get an offer for any jobs yet. The $35/hr is what I make now.

I've been looking in the Orlando area via internet for anything I can find on the housing, jobs, hospitals etc. As I said, I have 19yrs experience in L&D. also antepartum. By the time I do make the move it would be 20+. I really can't afford to take more than a 5$/hr cut and I don't want to work nights.Have you heard of anyone making 32-33/hr base with the years that I have?

Hi Sepia

Well I personally have no knowledge of anyone making that much here but it doesnt mean it doesnt happen. I would check out Florida hospital in Orlando, they are the big leval 3 in the area and have over 2,000 beds and employ over 3,000 nurses. The web site is just http://www.flhosp.org. They are run by Adventist healthcare and are supposed to be a great place. Too far a commute for me . You may not know this is a "right to work" state and while some hospitals are "organized" the rest work very hard to keep the unions out.

Another option of course would be to take a travel contract. They make more $$ and provide housing.

If you have school age children, the school year here begins in August. Never figured that out -why start in the hottest part of the year- but it ends in May.

Hmmm a quick look at FL Hosp shows 284 openings for nurses, they should have something there....ok I see a couple of positions at Celebration hospital for L&D I think they are now a leval II. Celebration hosp is located in Celebration development ( was origionally organized by Disney as ideal type community but they are getting ready to pull out I hear). Here is one at the main hospital job #26775 its a full time day positon 7a-7p hehe Here you go....

Posting Date: 03-19-04

Posting End Date: 12-19-04

Company: Florida Hospital / 20

Functional Area: Nursing

Learn more about Nursing @ Florida Hospital

Location: Florida Hospital Orlando | 01

Department: LABOR & DELIVERY / 6700

Position Status: FT - Full Time

Working Hours: 72

Job Summary:

The Labor and Delivery nurse is a registered professional nurse who develops expertise in observational and assessment skills required in caring for antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum adult and adolescent patients. Through utilizing the nursing process is responsible for collaborating with physicians in providing quality, safety, and appropriateness of patient care. Utilizes knowledge of current trends and practices in the nursing profession. Must be able to perform all essential nursing functions including, but not limited to, the following: able to walk and stand most of work day. Able to sit, reach, turn, twist, bend, crawl, climb, balance, run, jump, crouch/stoop, kneel. Able to lift and carry, push, pull and handle all reasonable and customary objects at the level required to meet the demands of the job. Has bilateral manual dexterity of fingering, pinching, grasping/ holding, feeling, writing. Has senses of seeing (with accurate color vision, good field of vision and depth perception, and good visual accommodation), hearing, touching and smelling. Communicates effectively through use of talking and listening. Can function effectively in confined spaces. Maintains mental and emotional stability. Follows the OSHA/Florida Hospital Infection Control Bloodborne Pathogen Rule for BSI of not handling blood or body substances without personal protective equipment. Follows this rule for waste disposal for both biohazardous and non-biohazardous waste. Utilizes equipment needed in patient care appropriately. Keeps a safe environment by adhering to the policies outlined in the Hazard Communication Program for toxic/irritating substances.

Department Specific Criteria:

Experienced L&D RN; FT 7a-7p

Skills Required: Community Health, Current Clinical Experience Skills Preferred:

Majors Required: Nursing Majors Preferred:

Degrees Required: Associates Degree Degrees Preferred:

Certifications/Licensures Required: Registered Nurse - FL Certifications/Licensures Preferred:

Required Years of Relevant Experience: 1

At any rate there are some options for you. If you want to persue the travel option go to Delphiforums.com, get a free account and then go to the travel nurse and therapists board. You will be able to find out from people there who is and is not a good company.

Hope this helps a bit.

Cheryll