Relocating to Orlando Area

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Hello all!

I am a RN with 3 years experience and am relocating to the Orlando area within the next couple of months. I am looking for a FT night shift position, preferable in critical care. I see the pay is low, especially compared to that of MI pay, but relocation is a must. I just have a couple questions if anyone can help...

-Can anybody give me any ideas of the best hospitals to work? Why?

- Do hospitals in this area do computerized charting?

- Any other tidbit you could add would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

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Your primary choices in Orlando are either Florida Hospital or Orlando Health. Both have several campuses spread throughout the metro area. There are also the two HCA hospitals (Central Florida, Osceola), however, these lag well behind the other choices.

Both FH and OH are solid outfits and are worthy of consideration. Both use computerized charting. Base pay scales are comparable. Both have strong supporters...and detractors. Both are not-for-profit.

The basic differences between the two:

* Florida Hospital is part of the Adventist system and is faith-based. Orlando Health is its own outfit and is not faith-based.

* Florida Hospital is gravitating towards total care and phasing out nurse techs. Orlando Health continues to use nurse techs and has no plans to change.

* Florida Hospital pays bonuses. To the best of my knowledge Orlando Health does not.

* Orlando Health has the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the area.

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Thank you so much for your response! I thought of a couple others...

-Are the nurses in a union?

-What are the ratios?

Thanks in advance for the info!

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Thank you so much for your response! I thought of a couple others...

-Are the nurses in a union?

-What are the ratios?

Thanks in advance for the info!

1. No unions.

2. Generally 1:5 - 1:6 in med/surg. 1:3 - 1:4 in PCU/Stepdown. 1:2 - 1:3 in ICU.

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No unions around here. At Florida Hospital the ratio is 4:1 on most med-surg or PCU floors, sometimes 3:1. But without patient care techs 4:1 is scary.

What was the ratio where you worked? thanks

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This is great information. I plan on coming to Orlando for the summer. Hopefully I can find a per diem position without having to be a travel nurse.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

There are only a couple of union hospitals in FL. And the one that I know of, has ratios of 6-12 pts per RN with a tech for every 8-12 pts on some "specialty" medsurg floors. Obviously the union is not that useful.

Some places will find a way to fire you, if you even mention the word "union".

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