Travel to Key West

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

To my understanding, the facilities in the Keys rarely need travelers, if ever.

It is one of the few areas in Florida, where the population is somewhat younger, generally more well off, and doesn't have as massive a Winter influx of seasonal older visitors. As such the population is more stable, and younger/healthier, so they have regular staffing and are highly unlikely to need travelers, compared to the rest of Florida.

In addition, there are limited travel companies that place LPNs.

Silkybo · May 14, 2006

Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West and Fisherman's Hopital in Marathon are HMA affiliates, use contract nurses mostly for ER and ICU, some med/surg and peds. You can contact them directly via websites...very short staffed especially nights right now...LKMC main phone number 305-294-5531 Mary Kelly HR manager. Pay low compared to SKYHIGH cost of living, but a fun work atmosphere and great place to live, as long as you know its expensive... come on down

flakeysrn · Jun 23, 2006

Hi, I saw this a bit late, but noticed you received some good info on the hospitals in the keys. LKMC in Key West is recruiting heavily right now. Mary Kelly in HR is the person to contact. 305*294*5531 x 4761. They do hire quite a few travel nurses,especially in ICU and ER. Pay is low relative to the extremely high cost of living, so be forewarned. There is a great group of nurses there. EVERYTHING in Key West is EXPENSIVE. Utilities charge deposits, cable or dish is the only way to get any sort of tv signal, bilingual is a plus! Home Health is quite lucrative here, try contacting several of the hospice. Good luck to you!

susyn153 · Aug 4, 2006

BOY are you right about expensive, If you really want to go, then go down at the begining to middle of hurricaine season, you can hear an echo in the place and the hospitals and especially the nursing agencies need help (everyone that is not in it for the long haul bugs out at hurricaine season) So they are short staffed and know you are serious, plus the restauraunts etc. give you a break in the off season. Try renting a camper at the sugarloaf KOA if you aren't sure you like the place. But if you are, get an apartment ASAP before the season starts. Utilities, dish, etc are aprox 2x more than miami or dade counties and 2.5 more than palm beach county. You may want to get a COSTCO or BJ's card and do your bulk shopping once a month, bring down all your food and especially your liquor. Try to buy as little as possible local, bag of pretzles can run you $3.00. If you are good about it, you can make out pretty good. When I was there, they allowed sailboats to harbor off of Marathon, and the rent was free, you have to be a minimalist, and I had to pay a dingy docking fee each month. but we all went up to west palm once a month to stock up on goods at BJ's and visit with family, friends etc. Thats where I am at right now. The winn dixie in marathon is $$$$$ hot dogs are as much as a steak. You can blow $200.00 a week and eat top ramen and cat food. I was using solar power but my landlubber friends said the electric and Water were sky high compared with 100 miles north. Your water bill can get you. I got water with my dingy fee and just carted it back and forth. You can wash most things in salt water and dawn dish detergent to get the goop off and then just rinse with fresh water. Also on boats you can catch water and filter it (makes for less hauling of water). It's used for deck washing and rinsing of things. There were rumors about Marathon starting to charge to hang on a hook in the harbor, so if there are any other boater nurses out there thinking about a year or so in marathon, you may want to check it out. It was alot of fun, I'll say that for it. I would recommend a stint in the keys, just be aware that you will take whatever bills you have, double them, and you will aproximate the cost of living down in the keys, You don't have to have a car, but it helps. best of luck in the Keys, they are trully beutiful and I can recomend a kayak, a set of snorkle gear, a basic dive licence, and a bike. You will have GOBS of fun on your day off.