travel nursing in florida

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I've recently observed my situation and realize that I'm barely making enough money. I still have a significant amount of student loan to pay. I'm single and have thought about traveling specifically to Florida. I recently got my license for Florida and I'm currently practicing in NJ. I have a little over 1.5 years in nursing. One year in a nursing home and 6 months on a telemetry/cardiac floor. I'll make a year in June in the hospital and by that time I should be able to move. My questions are:

1) what were the assignments like

2)did you get the most challenging patients because you were new?

3)what travel agency did you use?

4) did you receive medical benefits or did you have to purchase it on your own?

5) did you receive a housing stipend?

6)did you Have to live with roommates?

7) what is your best advice/tip to me?

Thanks for your time

Shoot!

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Specializes in stroke and trauma.

I have been speaking to about 4 different recruiters and they are offering me positions in Florida. I am taking my family with me, husband and infant son. How is finding housing? extended stay better than an apartment?

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Regular apartments are bigger, can be nicer, and cetainly less expensive for similar lodgings. With a family, it should be worth the hassle (get the husband to look while you work) or even better, take provided housing from the agency for your first assignment. You will have enough stress on your first assignment so the luxury of turnkey housing is great.

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Specializes in stroke and trauma.

I have so many recruiters calling my phone, which company would u say is the best?

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The agency brand is almost completely irrelevant. Talk to lots of recruiters and pick the best 3 - 5 to work with. These are the ones with whom you communicate well with, and who present an ethical and honest impression. It takes a few conversations to sort the BS from the truth. Your relationship with your recruiter is the single most important factor to your success at being a traveler. It is not agency brand, and even compensation doesn't make the top 5 or so factors in traveler surveys.

You are past a deflection point since you have already signed up at a job board or "free single application to top agencies" site. These places are happy to sell your name to unlimited agencies, and there is no slowing that down now without changing your phone number and email (probably would be a good idea). These sales leads are "low quality" and agencies assign the newest and least experienced recruiters to cold call you. In general, it is better for you to control the entire process and there is no simple way to shortcut the process described above. But if you do the calling, you can avoid giving out your phone number (and block caller ID) until you are convinced that they are worth a second call. Then your contact information will be shared by far fewer agencies. My parents are still getting calls 10 years after I made the mistake of using their landline one day without caller ID blocking.

You may not even need an agency for Florida - a number of hospitals have seasonal employees (AKA travelers) and you can learn names from other Florida threads, no doubt including this one. You might also reconsider going to Florida in general unless there are personal reasons involved. Pay is less, physicians more obnoxious than average, and poor staffing ratios don't make up for the beach scene to me. Might for you and if you are from the South, you are already familiar with the working conditions and believe them to be normal. Other states have better odds of getting a good assignment. Good time of the year for the NE.

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Specializes in stroke and trauma.

I work in Broward, few minutes from miami and 6 to 1 medsurg is normal for me but i always wished there was a world where i acutally had time to spend with my patients. One recruiter sent my info out to 3 North Florida Hospitals but I am starting to consider the advice of the seasoned travelers and leave Florida. This is my first assignment so I was trying to take baby steps but I guess I need to broaden my choices and just go for the bigger bucks. I see what you mean about the apartments vs lodging... airbnb.com is too expensive for a 13 week assignment.

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Sometimes you can find/negotiate good deals on AirBnB or VBRO and other such sites, but Craigslist and then property managers as my Plan B is where I start. Posting your own housing wanted ad on Craigslist will turn up great things often that you will not find any other way.

If you are going to travel, travel! It is not just about compensation perhaps being better, it is a lifestyle choice. Get out of town and see real hills (or even mountains), different cultures, and other ways to run hospitals.

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Hey there, are you still with Orlando Health? I was offered a position there and having trouble deciding if its best to take it. How do you like it?

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I am currently in Orlando so I know what to expect. The two big hospital organizations are Orlando health and Florida hospital. This is my second assignment with Orlando health and they do a good job not overloading their staff. When I float to m/s I havnt had more than 5 patients on nights...same for day shift. I hear overall good, but mixed reviews on Florida hospital. Message me privately and I can give you a financial breakdown on what to expect here on Orlando. Jacksonville is roughly the same pay...just a little higher.

Hey there, are you still with Orlando Health? I was offered a position there and having trouble deciding if its best to take it. How do you like it?

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I live in FL. Currently work at Delray Medical Center. Night ratios 8:1. Is there any better options out there?

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The best way to "travel" in Florida is as a seasonal nurse. I have found that Southwest Florida has the best rates ($50 or more plus differential as well as a completion bonus). I recently interviewed for a seasonal position in Fort Lauderdale. The nurses have 4-6 patients (more on the weekends because of inevitable discharges...of course, that doesn't mean that you won't receive a couple of ED admissions) and the nursing assistants have...WAIT FOR IT!...15-17 patients on a surgical unit. I am currently traveling in WI and I have 4 patients and my nursing assistant has 4-6 patients. I have been traveling for five years and I would recommend that you work for the facility paying the most money.

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I am currently in Orlando so I know what to expect. The two big hospital organizations are Orlando health and Florida hospital. This is my second assignment with Orlando health and they do a good job not overloading their staff. When I float to m/s I havnt had more than 5 patients on nights...same for day shift. I hear overall good, but mixed reviews on Florida hospital. Message me privately and I can give you a financial breakdown on what to expect here on Orlando. Jacksonville is roughly the same pay...just a little higher.

Hey! I'm interested in finding out more about traveling in Orlando area. Any chance you can telll me what the going rate weekly in your experience? Actually in the process of planning to relocate there from NY and trying to understand how much of a paycut I'll really take. Do you suggest any specific travel agencies?

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