Tampa area

U.S.A. Florida

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Hello Floridians! I am currently living in the rural northeast area of pa. My husband is an engineer in a neighboring state. He was asked if he wanted to relocate to the tampa area. I am an RN with one year med/surg experience and one year psych experience. Could you tell me a little about the Tampa area? We are a quiet, Catholic, conservative couple with an infant and a rottweiler. Would we fit in? Are there a lot of hospitals/psych hospitals to choose from? How hard is it to find employment? What is the pay like? What is the cost of living? I currently make a little over $20 an hour, which seems to be the norm around here. Housing is pretty cheap, a 3 bedroom /1.5 bath pretty big house with a 1/2 acre yard goes for about $90,000. He would get a little pay raise and have moving costs paid for. What is the weather like? How is traffic? I am not one for traffic or noise. Are there any quiet less populated area's outside of Tampa but still close enough to commute? I am used to fridgid weather and lots of snow. I don't wear a jacket or pullover unless it is well below 30 degrees. Everyone here has a 4wd vehicle. I would prefer things to be a lot warmer. I am wondering if it would be worth the move.

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU~CCRN,CNRN.

I have to say DON'T DO IT! You'll be waist deep in debt for your aggravation!

I moved to Ft. Meyrs 2 years ago and just applied to Tampa General. Housing is ridiculous and the cost of living is crazy. New grads start at around $19/hour

I have 10 years ICU trauma experience and they offered me $24/hour. The hospitals are very old and the equipment is antiquated. They have never heard of computer charting. So if you're used to using kardexes, writing on flow sheets, and equipment that companies don't make anymore..then this is the place for you.

I'm shocked and disappointed that I didn't research further before I made the move.

Here at Lee Memorial it's even worse. They're struggling with their budget and today I actually got a paycut!! I am now looking for other work, most likely outside of this area, and considering leaving the state altogether!

Just me two sense all!

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Here at Lee Memorial it's even worse. They're struggling with their budget and today I actually got a paycut!! I am now looking for other work, most likely outside of this area, and considering leaving the state altogether!

Just me two sense all!

That sucks! :(

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.
Hello Floridians! I am currently living in the rural northeast area of pa. My husband is an engineer in a neighboring state. He was asked if he wanted to relocate to the tampa area. I am an RN with one year med/surg experience and one year psych experience. Could you tell me a little about the Tampa area? We are a quiet, Catholic, conservative couple with an infant and a rottweiler. Would we fit in? Are there a lot of hospitals/psych hospitals to choose from? How hard is it to find employment? What is the pay like? What is the cost of living? I currently make a little over $20 an hour, which seems to be the norm around here. Housing is pretty cheap, a 3 bedroom /1.5 bath pretty big house with a 1/2 acre yard goes for about $90,000. He would get a little pay raise and have moving costs paid for. What is the weather like? How is traffic? I am not one for traffic or noise. Are there any quiet less populated area's outside of Tampa but still close enough to commute? I am used to fridgid weather and lots of snow. I don't wear a jacket or pullover unless it is well below 30 degrees. Everyone here has a 4wd vehicle. I would prefer things to be a lot warmer. I am wondering if it would be worth the move.

Hi I might be able to help..currently I am a legal assistant primarily working with real estate. There are more rural areas outside of Tampa such as Pasco county (a bit redneck-sorry Pasco...I do live in Pasco by the way)....and there are some good hospitals out there the pay diff isn't that substantial in or outside of Tampa...might as well avoid the commute...takes literally 45 min to get 15 miles at rush hour here...lack of interstates...they dont get road construction here. You can still land a pretty nice house for 200k in Pasco too....Pinellas county (everything is by county here) the homes are much more expensive however, more infrastructure (dog parks, cool nature preserves to bring your kids to)....we are in the process of moving back to Pinellas. Let me know if you need help, I can definitely hook you up with some incredible realtors and attorneys.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
Hi I might be able to help..currently I am a legal assistant primarily working with real estate. There are more rural areas outside of Tampa such as Pasco county (a bit redneck-sorry Pasco...I do live in Pasco by the way)....and there are some good hospitals out there the pay diff isn't that substantial in or outside of Tampa...might as well avoid the commute...takes literally 45 min to get 15 miles at rush hour here...lack of interstates...they dont get road construction here. You can still land a pretty nice house for 200k in Pasco too....Pinellas county (everything is by county here) the homes are much more expensive however, more infrastructure (dog parks, cool nature preserves to bring your kids to)....we are in the process of moving back to Pinellas. Let me know if you need help, I can definitely hook you up with some incredible realtors and attorneys.

Thanks! I will PM you if we decide to move to the area!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I have to say DON'T DO IT! You'll be waist deep in debt for your aggravation!

I moved to Ft. Meyrs 2 years ago and just applied to Tampa General. Housing is ridiculous and the cost of living is crazy. New grads start at around $19/hour

I have 10 years ICU trauma experience and they offered me $24/hour. The hospitals are very old and the equipment is antiquated. They have never heard of computer charting. So if you're used to using kardexes, writing on flow sheets, and equipment that companies don't make anymore..then this is the place for you.

I'm shocked and disappointed that I didn't research further before I made the move.

Here at Lee Memorial it's even worse. They're struggling with their budget and today I actually got a paycut!! I am now looking for other work, most likely outside of this area, and considering leaving the state altogether!

Just me two sense all!

Florida can definately be behind the times and pay low wages. $24.00 does seem like a slap in the face. I guess I'm lucky to have stuck with the same hospital for 14 years and make much more.

We do computer charting.

From some places in the north it is an adjustment. Since we have a lot of transplants and a lot of travelers I hear that all the time. "Up north we...........".

You have to have compelling reasons to move to Florida besides your career. Otherwise you will be bitterly disappointed.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

We would be moving for my husbands career, (He now works in a scummy part of New York State) and for somewhere new to live w/o any snow. We are sick of poor driving conditions and not seeing the sun for weeks, and fridgid temps! I would only be working part time so I would definatly not move there just for my career.

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In Pinellas housing is hugely overpriced, traffic is awful, pay is low. That's about it.

We would be moving for my husbands career, (He now works in a scummy part of New York State) and for somewhere new to live w/o any snow. We are sick of poor driving conditions and not seeing the sun for weeks, and fridgid temps! I would only be working part time so I would definatly not move there just for my career.
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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
We would be moving for my husbands career, (He now works in a scummy part of New York State) and for somewhere new to live w/o any snow. We are sick of poor driving conditions and not seeing the sun for weeks, and fridgid temps! I would only be working part time so I would definatly not move there just for my career.

Frigid temps is definately not a problem. But your tradeoff is about six months of heat and humidity. :)

The traffic is not as bad in Saint Petersburg as it is in the mid and northern part of the county where, especially during the "season" (which is winter, and especially Jan-Feb) it is indeed heavy.

I'm fairly easy going and easy to please and I love Florida and St. Pete. I'm fortunate to have bought a house the year before things went boom, it's a nice quite neighborhood. I can see Tampa Bay a few blocks away when I take a walk. Fort DeSoto Park is heaven on earth, I feel like I'm going to the islands when I go there.

The Tampa Bay area offers quite a bit in the way of sports, recreation, and entertainment. Lots of good restaurants and some nice malls.

Everywhere has it's downsides, including Florida. Right now there's enough upside to keep me staying and happy.

I wish we made more money and had a ratio law though. That would be nice.

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Specializes in ICU, Home Health Care, End of Life, LTC.

I am looking for information on nurse recruiters in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area any help would be great.

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