Where can we find jobs, warm weather, and a beach?

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Currently, my wife has five years of Cardiac ICU experience and I have only 8 months PCU/MedSurg experience (we both work nights) We live in Indiana and have decided that if we have to spend another winter here we will just throw ourselves off of a tall building! Basically, our motto is that we "can be broke anywhere" so we may as well be somewhere that is warm and near a beach (and which doesn't cause us to spend $500.00 per month on oil/electric heat during the winter!!). Our families are deceased or live elsewhere (mainly Chicago), our son homeschooled, and we work too much to have many friends. Our top three contenders (as far as moving) are Tampa/Orlando, Houston, or San Diego. Although, I would eventually like to work in an ICU environment (I now work PCU/med surg) I am willing to take essentially any job ranging from nursing home and home care to Media shop attendent/Mcdonald's french fry cook IF it enables me to be close to a decent public beach (within an hour or so)!! We plan to rent (or live in a Travel nursing provided apartment if my wife can find a travel gig) although, I'm willing to consider a tent city at this point if that is what it takes. The goal is to move no later than Aug 15 (we are in the process of applying for our Florida licenses as we were told that most jobs won't look at you until you are licensed in that state). Any input about these locations or possibly some others that I haven't considered?

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How about two out of three with the possibility of the third? Anywhere on the coast of Cali will give you that. Any guesses which might be the difficult piece to the puzzle?

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Come join us in Antigua - Its the melting pot of the Caribbean. Our newest hospital just opened and we are looking for more nurses to come and join us.

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Specializes in Corrections.

Brownsville, TX, harlingen, tx, mcallen, tx.. if you want the beach down here google search "South Padre Island, TX"

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Have you considered applying to work as a civiian nurse at a DOD hospital? Guam comes to mind as a beautiful location with numerous fun in the sun possibilities...

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How about Wilmington, NC?!! The weather is great, people are nice, plenty of opportunity, and most importantly we have the beaches!

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My pick would be Dunedin, Florida. It's a nice little town. You're within 20 minutes of 4 community hospitals, and within 30 minutes of Tampa General and Bayfront hospitals. You're within 10 minutes of the beach. The Pinellas Trail runs through it, if you like to bike or roller blade. Housing prices are down so you can get deals. As far as working goes, I really think nursing staff ratios and pay is about the same or better, all things considered.

http://www.delightfuldunedin.com/

http://florida.hometownlocator.com/features/cultural,class,hospital,scfips,12103.cfm

http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/default.htm

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

How about AUSTRALIA?! We have jobs, warm weather and PLENTY of beautiful beaches! :)

I wish you both success and happiness in your quest.

Cheers from Down Under! :)

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My pick would be Dunedin, Florida. It's a nice little town. You're within 20 minutes of 4 community hospitals, and within 30 minutes of Tampa General and Bayfront hospitals. You're within 10 minutes of the beach. The Pinellas Trail runs through it, if you like to bike or roller blade. Housing prices are down so you can get deals. As far as working goes, I really think nursing staff ratios and pay is about the same or better, all things considered.

http://www.delightfuldunedin.com/

http://florida.hometownlocator.com/features/cultural,class,hospital,scfips,12103.cfm

http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/default.htm

While I don't particularly know Dunedin I did just recently visit a friend in the Sarasota area (Bradenton specifically). It was beautiful! Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater Beach... so many places near that area! I currently live in Miami and when the time comes to make a family I'd like to relocate to the west coast of Florida... more laid back. Miami is a bit expensive but I looove it, such a melting pot of so many diverse cultures! Oh and one more thing, the traffic SUCKS but the plam trees make up for it! :onbch:

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Houston is definitely warm, but we are sorely lacking in a beach that you'd want to step foot on. Galveston is not your typical 'beach'...it's pretty brackish looking and I'd need a good long shower in some heavy duty cleaner after getting that water on me.

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Specializes in ED, MICU/TICU, NICU, PICU, LTAC.

I lived in the Tampa area for four years and loved it!! You should have absolutely no trouble finding work there; if you want to be in Tampa I'd go to each hospital's website (Tampa General has tons of listings, for example) and start sending out your resumes! If you'd prefer to actually live nearer the water (although Tampa itself has access to several small beaches, the nicer ones are in Clearwater, Madeira Beach, etc) there are hospitals in Dunedin (as a previous poster mentioned, Dunedin is gorgeous); there's also Largo, Indian Rocks, St. Pete...plus cost of living is definitely comparable (I moved there from Evansville, Indiana and had no trouble living comfortably working as a bartender). I've heard very good things about St Joe's (in Pinellas County); if I move back (which was my original plan after school, but now my boyfriend's in the Army, so no telling where I'll end up ;-) I've always planned to work at Tampa General because it's an amazing teaching hospital. Best of luck to you and your family wherever you decide to go!

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Stay away from Orlando--the traffic is enough to make you take up drinking!! Come to the west coast. St. Pete, Clearwater, Sarasota, Dunedin or Palm Harbor are all good choices. The weather in Pinellas County is downright freaky. When the rest of the state suffers drought, extreme weather or natural disaster, we always seem to dodge the bullet. (Knock on wood) We're a little peninsula surrounded by friendly waters that seem to somehow protect us. There are LOTS of hospitals within a 20 to 30 minute drive from anywhere and the beaches are all around you. There are major entertainment venues close by and something is going on every weekend. This weekend is the Grand Prix. We also have the Bucs and the Rays and the Lightning. Tampa, Port Canaveral & Miami are all loaded with cruise ships for a quick getaway any time of the year. Property prices are very reasonable right now and there is also a fair amount of rental property available. Come on down!!

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