Salaries in Florida

TIFFANYLEE · Mar 1, 2004

:kiss
First of all, I hope that when you are one of the "old folks", that the younger folks don't feel negatively against YOUR age bracket.
Secondly, this North vs. South stuff is (a) old and (b) only divides us instead of uniting us. Moving to the South from "up North" over 15 years ago, I was appalled to see how other Northerners coming down here criticized everything in Southern society, running the place down, complaining about everything, etc. To the Northerners who come down South and don't like it, I say this: Move back home!!! The majority of Northerners who do move down here do so because of jobs or nice weather (neither of which is in general abundance up North). I love the South - I think the people are lovely and hospitable, and the slower-paced lifestyle appeals to me. No wonder so many Southerners have low opinions of Northerners. I wouldn't like it if someone moved to where I was born and raised, and continually griped about it. (I would be wondering....."and so why are you still here?" )We are all Americans, folks! :)

You have your opinion and I will have mine !!! I think the nurse's need more $$$$ in Florida . I have worked for the elderly for 27 years >> so what was YOUR POINT ??? I think the jobs for nurse's in the North are very profitable and prentyful . I am moving to care for my FOLKS but I don't intend for Fl to get the best of me and for nothing . Wise up !!

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 2, 2004

I lived in Sarasota, Florida for 19 years total. The number of very wealthy retirees is very high in Sarasota. Over the years, these retirees refused referendum after referendum to improve the educational standards in Sarasota. This community is one of the wealthiest cities in Florida, yet students were being forced to attend classes where it was not uncommon to have up to 38 kids in a classroom. I remember 2 years ago, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune ran a story during the first week of school, where kids were actually standing in their homeroom class because there were so many students that there were not enough seats.

My last year in Sarasota, the superintendent pleaded with the retirees to approve a referendum to increase the milage tax so there would be sufficient funds to support education in this community. Sarasota is very well known for its culture and appreciation of the arts and music, yet, funds in the schools were so limited that they were actually going to discontinue the music and art programs. Imagine, a community known for the arts and for music, discontinuing these programs for their kids! It was a unbelievable concept to me as a parent. Parents, school officials as well as general citizens where making pleadings on the news to get the referendum passed. Through much hard work and commitment from many people, the referendum passed by a small margin. However, the older citizens, most who lived on Long Boat Key, complained bitterly that they were being forced to support the school system, when they had already raised their children and did not feel it was their responsibility. Yet, these same people held bank accounts in the community, utilized the services of their lawyers and there was certainly a high use of the health care system is Sarasota.

These are the kids that will be tomorrows lawyers, bankers, nurses, physicians, etc, yet the older residents of the community did not feel any level of responsibility to them. I was totally amazed at this lack of interest by our older population and realized then that it was time to leave. Me and my children moved to a community that values their youth and recognizes that education will not only serve to to provide our kids with a direction and course in life, it will come back 10 fold to the community through services that these kids will perform as adults.

I know I am long winded about this, but feel that this dicussion needed a little perspective. Florida is a beautiful State to live in, but please don't look at all the Florida has to offer through rose color glasses. A great majority of the retirees in my former community really cared only about themselves, their cruises, their evening socials and what they could get for free. Trust me, I took off my rose color glasses a long time ago and it really ain't that pretty.

JMHO.

NENA_STUDENTRN · Mar 2, 2004

Can Anyone Tell Me The Salary Range In Miami/palm Beach Area?

We Plan To Move There As Soon As We Graduate Next Year.

We Will Be New Rn Grads:)

Thanks

Nena&mike:)

NICU_RNwantsFL · Mar 2, 2004

TiffanyLee - I am sorry, I misunderstood what you meant by "supporting old people" - I now see what you mean, and agree with you.

And RNPATL, I find the situation you described very disturbing. I didn't think my glasses were rose-colored before, but if they were, they certainly aren't now that I read your note. I have a 10-year-old and am therefore understandably interested in the educational system.

Wonder if these rich old folks stop to think that these kids (whom they refuse to educate NOW) are going to be the doctors performing surgery on them someday? It certainly is a deplorable situation.

We stopped at Longboat Key last year on a whim, not realizing how affluent the community is. We left REAL quickly!!!

And to everyone out there, I fully agree Florida (along with alot of other states, unfortunately) pays nurses a shamefully low salary, no doubt about it.

So now I am wondering, how does a person make a decent living in Florida? (Assuming they are not rich retirees from elsewhere) -

I am bummed!

TIFFANYLEE · Mar 2, 2004

I lived in Sarasota, Florida for 19 years total. The number of very wealthy retirees is very high in Sarasota. Over the years, these retirees refused referendum after referendum to improve the educational standards in Sarasota. This community is one of the wealthiest cities in Florida, yet students were being forced to attend classes where it was not uncommon to have up to 38 kids in a classroom. I remember 2 years ago, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune ran a story during the first week of school, where kids were actually standing in their homeroom class because there were so many students that there were not enough seats.
My last year in Sarasota, the superintendent pleaded with the retirees to approve a referendum to increase the milage tax so there would be sufficient funds to support education in this community. Sarasota is very well known for its culture and appreciation of the arts and music, yet, funds in the schools were so limited that they were actually going to discontinue the music and art programs. Imagine, a community known for the arts and for music, discontinuing these programs for their kids! It was a unbelievable concept to me as a parent. Parents, school officials as well as general citizens where making pleadings on the news to get the referendum passed. Through much hard work and commitment from many people, the referendum passed by a small margin. However, the older citizens, most who lived on Long Boat Key, complained bitterly that they were being forced to support the school system, when they had already raised their children and did not feel it was their responsibility. Yet, these same people held bank accounts in the community, utilized the services of their lawyers and there was certainly a high use of the health care system is Sarasota.
These are the kids that will be tomorrows lawyers, bankers, nurses, physicians, etc, yet the older residents of the community did not feel any level of responsibility to them. I was totally amazed at this lack of interest by our older population and realized then that it was time to leave. Me and my children moved to a community that values their youth and recognizes that education will not only serve to to provide our kids with a direction and course in life, it will come back 10 fold to the community through services that these kids will perform as adults.
I know I am long winded about this, but feel that this dicussion needed a little perspective. Florida is a beautiful State to live in, but please don't look at all the Florida has to offer through rose color glasses. A great majority of the retirees in my former community really cared only about themselves, their cruises, their evening socials and what they could get for free. Trust me, I took off my rose color glasses a long time ago and it really ain't that pretty.
JMHO.

Hey I am with you . These old people need to understand without nurse's , doctor's and yes lawyer's life would not be sooooo great . How can we get the point across to the older folks in Florida .??? The power cannot be with them it must be with employee's and employer's we are the $$$ makers in florida not the old folks .

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 3, 2004

NICU wantsFL .... I would not be bummed .... there are plenty of opportunities in Florida and many, many places to live. It just might take you a little longerto find the place that appeals to you. There are places that are terrific to be. Fort Myers is a great community as are several other commuinities in Florida. Just keep the faith and keep looking.

NICU_RNwantsFL · Mar 3, 2004

NICU wantsFL .... I would not be bummed .... there are plenty of opportunities in Florida and many, many places to live. It just might take you a little longerto find the place that appeals to you. There are places that are terrific to be. Fort Myers is a great community as are several other commuinities in Florida. Just keep the faith and keep looking.

What do you think about the Ocala/Gainesville area? Specifically, between Dunnellon and Gainesville?

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 3, 2004

What do you think about the Ocala/Gainesville area? Specifically, between Dunnellon and Gainesville?

Gainesville is a great place. Lots of of stuff to do and a great college town. Dunellon is a very busy place, next to Tampa. However, both areas have a great reputation for their school system as well as their support of youth in the community. There are a lot of job opportunities in Dunellon with Tampa being so close. In addition, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs have a lot of hospitals that are local. Palm Harbor is very busy with US 19 being one of the busiest highways that goes right through Palm Harbor. There is a very high population in this area. Gainesville is a little more laid back and spread out more.

As an experienced RN, you can expect to make around $21.00 - $23.00 per hour before shift and weekend differentials. In addition, there are a lot of seasonal contract opportunities during the winter. Seasonal rates are averaging around $34.00/hour with a completion bonus. But remember that the tourist season generally ends around Easter and hospitals slow down a great deal. If you are working staff, you might get called off a lot during the summer. I use to use this time to take vacation and do some work as a camp nurse or something fun with the kids.

Good luck.

pieWACKet · Mar 3, 2004

I am not a new nurse, been at it 21 years, and I'm interested in the Miami area principally, but all the way up to West Palm. I came to this post because I leave tonight for Miami, and I wanted some background information. This thread has really disappointed me... if the hospitals there offer me less than 27$/hour BASE [50,000] I'm not going to be enticed, but may consider if the benefits are sufficient, and the hospital nurse friendly enough, nurse voice responsive enough..still it sounds like 27$/hour BASE is way unlikely. 27$ base is a cut for me I would only accept under theconditions outlined above.... and I've reached out only to magnate hospitals in the area of Florida i mentioned above. My current position in southern california [67,000 yearly] involved a cut when moving from NYC [75,000/year on leaving] . I am not blasting southern culture but hospital culture that so undervalues its primary and completely vital nursing staff by obvious disregard for a nurse's entitlement to not only a living wage, but one that offers a modicum of grace to the life of a hard working RN, as well as the climate of economic viability that might undermine the longstanding nursing shortage. These wages you all are mentioning suck to the extreme.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2004

Actually, you are not blasting Southern culture.

Florida has very few "Southerners" living in most of the areas mentioned. The vast majority of the population is migrated from the North (retirees), or in some cases from foreign soil(migrant workers of various legal/illegal origin, Cuban refugees, Haiti, Jamaica, Ireland, Scotland, many Asian countries, India, Pakistan, etc.).

Florida hasn't been a "Southern" state for ages. (Just try finding sweet iced tea in Ft. Lauderdale restaurants, and not getting some crappy lemon/raspberry infusion)

And Florida has lousy pay for everyone not just Nurses. They are an equal opportunity crappy employer. It is a reflection of how the aging population values all workers in Florida. And it tends to be more of a reflection on America's national retiree population's values than anything Southern.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2004

Carolina is correct. The wages overall are lower here in most fields, even lower in the west coast of Florida than the southeast.

It's true. I moved south after living in Atlanta and Durham, North Carolina and feel like I've moved North. It's not very souther here at all here in the mid-west coast.

Some parts of Miami you find it's like New York City, and other parts you feel like your in Latin America, but definately not the South.

Good luck. Again, it's the market and the area that tends to be lower. Part of it is that it's always been a growth state. There's a steady supply of people moving here taking jobs at lower wages and depressing the overall picture. Strange because there's a so-called nursing shortage, you would think the wages would be higher, but I think the overall economy of low-paid workers brings it down. Just a theory. But I've read that somewhere.

Good luck! You'll probably come close to your expectations and what you want though.

michelle95 · Mar 5, 2004

I'm sure that I am going to be flamed for this, but, don't any of you think we are being a little greedy here? Other professions with the same amout of schooling make far less, as well as a lot of 4 year degrees.

A social worker that works at a nursing home that I used to makes about 2 dollars less an hour than I did. She has a 4 year degree and I only have my little 'ole LPN diploma.

I live in Pensacola and do not have a problem starting at 17 and hour when I finish RN school.

Just look into what other professions make and you will see that we are certainly compensated for the stress compared to their jobs.

That's just my own humble opinion.