Tampa vs. Jacksonville

nrcnurse · Dec 20, 2007

It's a LOT colder in Jax than in Tampa in the winter, but certainly warmer than MN. Other than that, the cities are similar. The magazine ADVANCE for Nurses had a survey recently about FL hospitals, from the nurses' perspective. You might check their website and get some good info there about pay and hospital culture.

The two big Tampa hospitals are Tampa General (L1 trauma center, affiliated with USF) and St. Joseph's (L2 trauma center, "stroke excellence center"). TGH does transplants, has a bariatrics center, and the strong university affiliation. You may get a wider variety of CV surgeries there. (TGH is also the "public" hospital, so lots of GSWs.) I worked at SJH on a cardiac floor, and can attest to the high level of CV work there. (LOVE the chief of cardiac surgery, Dr. Lazzara.) University Community Hosptital has a new heart center (on N side of USF campus.) Moffitt Cancer Center is on the USF campus, next to the med school, and is a top notch cancer facility. Haley VA Hospital is adjacent to USF. Shriner's have an orthopedic hospital at USF, too. Lots of opportunities in Tampa. And, no snow.

JustinTJ, ADN, BSN · Dec 20, 2007

Cities only, I prefer Tampa by a mile over Jacksonville. Much nicer, much warmer, and much cleaner beaches.

Jbeachgrl · Dec 20, 2007

I have a year and a half experience in a cardiac/transplant ICU, can any of y'all give me a going range of salaries within either city? I am leaning more towards tampa than jacksonville, but I'd like to compare salaries in both cities. Thanks for your replies!

nrcnurse · Dec 20, 2007

You should call the recruiter at TGH, or check the website http://www.tgh.org/. Your experience is so specialized that I can't even guess at a salary. Also, call LifeLink. They are the transplant organization, and have their own staff to work with their pts. Here's the link: http://www.lifelinkfound.org/

Bella RN, BSN, MSN · Dec 29, 2007

I have spoken to a recruiter who also works in the ICU in Jacksonville@Jackson Memorial and she said is making $25/hr and she has been an RN for 10yrs!!! In ICU....she went onto explain that Jacksonville doesnt pay well--that start in the high teens or low 20's as an RN.

I know the tampa bay area very well and Moffitt is an excellent hospital but is strictly oncology and the pay was in the high 20's day shift /hrly. But if you chose to work on an exempt for it was high 30's. Oh if you have your own benefits you get an additional 10%.

TGH quoted $23.50/hr but the do have a clinical ladder and you can get and additional 16% once you go up the ladder.

UCH staff I can't recall I want to say it is in the 20's also but they have something called Flex Pool now and it is $38/hr but they can float every 4 hours if they need to and they will let you know that before you sign the papers. They have done that to my friend.

St. Joseph pays very similar to TGH and will give .75 more if you have y our BSN. In 2005 I met an ICU nurse who told me she made $19/hr in ICU nights--still to this day i think that is unheard of. She was in one of my classes.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is a small community hospital but if you have your own benefits will pay $35/hr plus diff. IF you take their benefits they quoted me $24.50. They do have a small cardiovascular center there that is fairly new and they have a good director there. They have a CVOR and 6 bed CVICU and a CCU and CRU.

You would probably gain alot of experience at TGH--that is a teaching hospital.

So the ball is in your court--such a great specialty to be in!! :idea:

You've got me thinking now.......

nrcnurse · Dec 30, 2007

St. Joseph pays very similar to TGH and will give .75 more if you have y our BSN. In 2005 I met an ICU nurse who told me she made $19/hr in ICU nights--still to this day i think that is unheard of. She was in one of my classes.QUOTE]
I worked at St. Joseph as a new grad LPN (2005) and made $19.50qh on a weekend contract day shift. I have a hard time believing that a ICU RN makes $19qh anywhere.

Bella RN, BSN, MSN · Dec 30, 2007

I agree with you about the ICU nurse at St. Joseph and she was an RN...I kept telling her I didn't believe her and i was astonished about that pay--but she claimed it was true.

I never kept in touch with her and never looked into it. I am hoping that she wasn't telling the truth--because that is odd. I know when i was hired for st.Joeseph it was $22.50 or $23.50 and .75 more with BSN and that was a day shift position. I declined.