Relocating To Florida Need Advice!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2006

You can locate hospitals within Florida by using the search feature at this website of the Florida Hospital Association.

http://www.fha.org/hospdir.html

I am assuming that you are going to be looking for a hospital nursing job. Once you know where the hospitals are and how to contact them, do so. Get in touch with the nurse recruiters at these hospitals or call their job hot lines to see what RN positions they have open. You could have interviews set up before you even leave your present location.

Many hospitals also advertise in the yearly career opportunity issues of Nursing 2006 and RN Magazines as well. Many times you can locate hospitals within a city by accessing the city's yellow pages as well. Most hospitals do not advertise for nurses in the classified sections of the newspapers. We nurses are supposed to know to just contact these places about open job positions. You will need at least one or two recommendations from your nursing school instructors in getting your first job as an RN, so make sure you have contact addresses and phone numbers for two of them to use on your applications.

Good luck!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2006

You also can get tips from the threads located on the Florida Nurses Forum here on this website. Here's the link.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f141/

SarasotaRN2b · Mar 9, 2006

I will be graduating from school with my BSN in nursing in May. I will be moving to Florida after that. Any advice on finding a job? How do I go about looking for a job while I still live in New York???
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!!

First, congratulations on your upcoming graduation.

Second, and most important, be aware that you are going to get significantly less income than in NY. While yes, I know that the cost of living is very high up there, the cost of living is rising very much here too. A new graduate with a BSN will only be starting with about $19/hour on the West Coast (Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, etc.). Also, there are no unions and it is a right to work state, so if the employee wants to let you go, you have no recourse.

To get a nice house, it will cost at least $250K. Also rents have gone up dramatically, at least $600 a month, more likely $700 to $800. This is because many apartment buildings have decided to go condo, and with a smaller supply and a high demand, apartment complexes can raise their rents significantly. Groceries...as expensive and sometimes more expensive than up in NY.

Believe me, I'm from NY and as soon as I get my BSN and a couple of years experience, I'm high tailing back to NY.

allthingsbright · Mar 9, 2006

First, congratulations on your upcoming graduation.
Second, and most important, be aware that you are going to get significantly less income than in NY. While yes, I know that the cost of living is very high up there, the cost of living is rising very much here too. A new graduate with a BSN will only be starting with about $19/hour on the West Coast (Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, etc.). Also, there are no unions and it is a right to work state, so if the employee wants to let you go, you have no recourse.
To get a nice house, it will cost at least $250K. Also rents have gone up dramatically, at least $600 a month, more likely $700 to $800. This is because many apartment buildings have decided to go condo, and with a smaller supply and a high demand, apartment complexes can raise their rents significantly. Groceries...as expensive and sometimes more expensive than up in NY.
Believe me, I'm from NY and as soon as I get my BSN and a couple of years experience, I'm high tailing back to NY.

I am moving OUT of Florida because of the cost of living here and the crappy pay. I know the cost of living in NY is CRAZY but at least some of the pay there is decent. Honestly, I grew up in FL and dont remember it being this bad. There are a million people moving here, the hospitals are hard to get into, and the housing is sky high and you dont get crap :uhoh21: for the money. I love the beach and all the attractions, but I am just not that impressed. And I dont know where the above poster has been finding apts for under $1000/mo but in Orlando that just doesnt happen unless you want a 1br/1 ba.

Not to be negative, but just wanted to be honest! Anyway, FL hospital is nice and friendly...also Arnold Palmer is a good place to work I think. GL!

SarasotaRN2b · Mar 9, 2006

I am moving OUT of Florida because of the cost of living here and the crappy pay. I know the cost of living in NY is CRAZY but at least some of the pay there is decent. Honestly, I grew up in FL and dont remember it being this bad. There are a million people moving here, the hospitals are hard to get into, and the housing is sky high and you dont get crap :uhoh21: for the money. I love the beach and all the attractions, but I am just not that impressed. And I dont know where the above poster has been finding apts for under $1000/mo but in Orlando that just doesnt happen unless you want a 1br/1 ba.
Not to be negative, but just wanted to be honest! Anyway, FL hospital is nice and friendly...also Arnold Palmer is a good place to work I think. GL!

Well, when I was talking about finding an apartment for $600, $700, etc., was for either a studio efficiency or a small 1 bedroom. It is also in Bradenton, not Sarasota where I'm sure finding an apartment for less than $900 would be a rare find.

But allthingsbright is right about much of the stuff.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 9, 2006

Honestly, North Carolina is a much better state for nursing. We have most of the perks of Florida (plenty of beautiful sunny beaches), plus friendly small-towns and very reasonable cost of living. Many hospitals in my region are very accommodating to nurses; some offer exceptionally professional atmospheres.