sw florida low census

[misdmnr, BSN]

Looking at making a HUGE life change and move to fort myers/naples area this winter. I will be moving permanently ams working full time at one of the major hospitals in either of the two cities. Please, can any of you shed light on the low census reality once the snow birds leave? Both health systems are offering huge incentives, but not worth the move if I'm going to be called off every week in the summer. We all have bills and i am moving alone. PM me if you need more info or want to keep it private. Also which system pays better? Are there opportunities to work LTC at a nursing home as casual call to supplement your income? I really don't want to come down there with rose colored glasses on. Thanks in advance!

[Alfi_srq]

I don't know anything about Naples area. I am 1.5 hours North of Naples working at a large non-profit hospital. We used to see seasonal change in census but not as much any more here. I think tourism picked up and it is common to have patients who were visiting end up on our unit. The last two years our lowest census number was what our highest census used to be 2 years ago. Both last summer and this summer I ended up working overtime. First, a lot of staff wants to take time off in the summer because their kids are out of school. Our unit even had a calendar with blocks when nobody else could request vacation because so many already had time approved.

I think it depends on the type of unit you end up working. I work on a cardiac/telemetry unit. While we were busy, our ortho unit was flexing staff because most of their patients undergo elective surgeries. Our county is the oldest county for its size in the country, so the peds unit constantly has low census, etc. You get the idea. Plus during the high season, we were so full that we had to open overflow units and hospital paid double rates and high census bonus program to get staff to come in. So, you could save up a nice cushion for the slow time. And last year we were so busy during the summer that staff annual bonus was doubled. I have not heard anything about this year yet. But we were busy most of the time. and by busy I mean full.

I would try to talk to the nurses who actually work in that hospital system.

[Debilpn23]

Hi misdmnr

I moved to Fort Myers this past June . I have had a little trouble getting a job. But I'm an Lpn not an RN . My daughter works in the Lee Memorial healthcare system, as a CNA . I asked her if the nurses got called off a lot during the summer . She said no they very rarely get called off. Hope this helps.

[misdmnr, BSN]

Thanks for the info both of you. ...it makes this potential big move seem more fiscally safe. Cross your fingers I'm hoping to have an offer there before winter!