Why Does Everyone Hate Florida So Much??

zoeyzoe · Dec 8, 2008

You sound like a fool:down:

I really don't mean that. That is your opinion, and your are allowed to have it.

loricatus · Dec 8, 2008

I grew up in New Jersey. We lived in North Jersey, very very close to NYC. I went to nursing school in Pennsylvania, right outside of Philadelphia. The only reason I am living in Florida is because of my parents. My Dad's job transfered him down here to the Tampa Bay area while I was halfway through college. I had no choice after graduation but to leave PA/NJ/NY and relocate to the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am an only child. No siblings. My mother has many health problems. Dad now has many health problems as well.
In my experience, healthcare in Florida is very backwards and is many years behind healthcare in NY/NJ/PA. The hospitals up north are much much better. Technology, equipment, training, education, staffing, all much better in PA/NJ/NY in comparison to Florida. Nurses in NJ/NY/PA earn much better salaries and better benefits and live very comfortably.
I have friends I went to nursing school with who stayed in Philadelphia, and they work in some of the best hospitals in the USA. The type of hospitals with Magnet status and that only hire RNs who have their BSN. My nurse friends earn very good money and live in very nice houses and live comfortably. They are given lots of vacation time. They are very happy in their nursing careers. They are not at all worried about the current economy. They know their jobs are secure and they are well paid.
Compare that to Florida. Florida nurses are very very underpaid. Our salaries are lower than nurses up north. Our gas is just as expensive. Our groceries are just as expensive. Our cell phone bills are just as expensive. These stupid deed restricted master planned communities that are everywhere in the Tampa Bay area are expensive. Cars are just as expensive. The cost of living in the Tampa Bay area of Florida is very similar to the cost of living up north, but we have to make do with a lot less money. Our working conditions are worse. The hospitals I worked at in Pennsylvania and the hospitals I had clinical at in PA were way better than the hospitals down here in Tampa. I don't care about TGH, because TGH has got nothing on the best hospitals of NYC and Philly.
Nurses down here in Florida have less education. There are too many LPNS and ASNs from 2 year community colleges and not enough highly educated RNs with their BSNs here in the Tampa Bay area. Nurses up north are better educated. Here in Florida, the hospitals don't care if you have your BSN. The salary for an ASN nurse is exactly the same salary for a BSN nurse. I never see job postings down here that say "BSN required". The hospitals do not give enough incentive for their nurses to go back to school and further their education. Tuition reimbursement is not great down here.
I don't like living in Florida. I hate the weather. The hurricanes are deadly. The bugs are disgusting and dangerous. Gators, nough said. There is very little mass transit. We have no trains. Tampa is a dinky little city, nothing compared to NYC and Philly. Nothing to do down here, compared to up north. The only reason I am stuck down here is thanks to the major corporation my father is employeed by. They relocated us. As an only child who has 2 aging parents who have health problems, I feel it is my duty and responsibility to be here for my parents. But, I know I would be happier and better respected and enjoy a great social life and be paid higher if I could move back home to NJ or PA or NY.

Similar living in Texas.

BTW: I add fireants to the list of why I don't like Florida (& Texas).

flightnurse2b, LPN · Dec 8, 2008

i love florida. i really do.

i moved from CT when i was in high school. i hated it at first. but it's home now and i truly miss it. i moved to north carolina 2 years ago, looking for greener grass, and we haven't found it. we are moving back home next year.

misswhitney · Dec 8, 2008

I am an ASN student and I think that we get the same amount of education as a BSN student. In fact, we take the same boards and my school has a higher pass rate (and has more students accepted into their program and actually take their boards) than all of the local 4-year schools. So I do not think education is a big issue. In the end, we have to go through the same steps to become a nurse.

ChibiZoe · Dec 8, 2008

I keep wondering where all the ASN jobs are, it seems everywhere I look in Jacksonville (just because I'm curious) you have to have at least one year experience and a BSN! The BSN is no problem, but it's difficult to get experience when every job up here wants you to have it already! And I wanted to find a job as an ASN that helps pay for you to get your BSN.

Lstcats · Dec 10, 2008

I live in Chicago and have visited almost every part of Florida, I am actually going to be visiting Ft.Lauderdale at the end on January. I ask anyone here that has ever lived in Florida and they have nothing but terrible things to say. They tell me the schools and education systems are bad and that the majority of the population have low Iq's and are poor. I don't know why this is, everyone seemed pretty normal to me?? I would like to move there one day and start a new life with my husband but I'm worried about salary and job placement for both himself and I. Why are some peoples experiences so bad, its so beautiful and the people are very nice. I just don't get it. Can someone help me understand why this is??

Yes, I agree that there are some people who "complain" about FL because they don't know how GREAT they have it. It amazes me! I live near Boston and I can tell you that it is different in FL. I am debating a move there in the next year and just got back last mos. from Tampa Bay area to check things out. I have been to FL at least 15 times in my life and do love it but of course, I did notice just a couple drawbacks while I was there looking things over last month. But, most everything is awesome.

There are NO potholes and the streets are beautifully maintained. There is NO beeping of horns or roadrage and minimal amt. of people that cut you off. The driving is wonderful. However, they do drive pretty fast and get up on you just expecting you to move. The minimum speed limit on 275 /75 is 70 miles per hour and it is 55 to 65 here in MA. So, almost everyone goes 80 mph. As for the cost of living, it is MUCH less than what I am used to. It all depends where you live. Chicago's cost of living is still less than Boston so you may not see a big change as I do. Rents for 2 bed/2bath-approx. 1200 sq. ft w/ gorgeous landscape, pools, fitness center, etc. are about $1000 per mos. in the Tampa Bay area. For $1000 per mos. here in Boston area you get a 700-800 sq. foot 3 room apt. or 1 bedroom if you are lucky w/ no amenities at all or sometimes heat may be included. The apt. in FL would be around $1600 to $2000 per mos. here in MA and would not be as nice (ie. no palm trees). Also, of course NO 10 degree weather and huge snowstorms. Yes, there are hurricanes but you learn to live w/ it like anything else in life.

As for the cost of living, I paid $5 to park downtown Tampa garage near the Convention Center. And, yes that was for the entire day. Here in Boston that cost anywhere from $20-28 per day. Also, NO tolls except for the Sunshine Hghwy which you can avoid. For me to go into Boston through the tunnel (just 12 miles) is $3.50 one way. There is only one highway that doesn't cost any $$ here but the traffic is unbearable (Rte. 128). In the tampa bay area, there are 3 that are free. I was staying in Madeira Beach and went to Advance for Nurses Job Fair in Tampa @ the convention center. It only took me 35 min. and no traffic at 6:45 AM. I couldn't believe it. And, that was a Friday.

At the Job Fair, I went to a class on medical prevention errors and it was awesome. The only thing was that I heard the most horrible story that I have ever heard in my life about what a nurse did in a FL medical facility. It ended up in a lawsuit. One of my biggest concerns is the medical care and nursing care in FL. The story that was told didn't seem to amaze anyone in the room exceept for me. My mouth was wide open with unbelief that this could happen. Anyway, I did meet 'wonderful' people who were so helpful and one recruiter eveen called me when I got home to tell me about jobs for another company and NOT her hospital. Can you believe it? I had people helping me out left and right. Was a completely different atmosphere at the Advance seminar in Tampa from the ones in Boston. I trully believe it has a lot to do w/ the Christian influence in FL.

I know this was a lot to read but I, too, am trying to see if FL is right for me. i do have a condo to sell and wonder if it will sell. Just FYI, I live in a crime ridden city w/ drug dealers, gang members (on my street), and two shootings on my street in the last 3 years. I have lived here for 4 years and paid $215,000 for this 1200 sq. ft. 2 bed/2bath condo w/ just a parking lot and an elevator in the building. So, for all the people in FL: What do you think of that? What can you buy for $215,000 and what are your taxes and condo fees? My taxes are $2100 per year and my condo fee is $312 per mos.. My auto insurance is $1600 per year for a 2006 Toyota corolla w/ one point on my auto insuurance. One more thing, the pay for nursing educators is terrible. I made $43,000 per year as nursing faculty in a community college. The top pay is only about $60,000 per year w/ a MSN teaching in public colleges. I don't know about private schools.

Thanks for reading.:wink2:

mystical0217 · Dec 10, 2008

I have to tell you here in south florida there is plenty of road rage, birdies, honkers etc... I have to agree the roads are kept good , the taxes here are the same and more it all depends and you have to pay for hurricane insurance if you own a single family home and the condo fees are about the same here. you can buy a SFH for the same amount as you paid, it all depends on where you live in FL. and what you can get for your money.

Lstcats · Dec 11, 2008

I have to tell you here in south florida there is plenty of road rage, birdies, honkers etc... I have to agree the roads are kept good , the taxes here are the same and more it all depends and you have to pay for hurricane insurance if you own a single family home and the condo fees are about the same here. you can buy a SFH for the same amount as you paid, it all depends on where you live in FL. and what you can get for your money.

Thanks for the comment. But, I totally disagree. I drove 800 miles in one week in FL last month and not one episode of road rage, honking the horn, or people cutting me off. That happens to me pretty much on a daily basis here in Boston (you ought to come up here and try it) and sometimes 3-4 times in 5 minutes. I am surprised that your RE taxes are the same for condos @ $2100 or more per year in a "crime" ridden city in the poor section. And, condo fees of $312 per mos. for a "parking lot" and an elevator. I think NOT. Is the SFH of $215K w/ 2 bed and 2 bath of 1200 sq. ft. in a crime zone? I think NOT. I have looked at them and investigated. My same home would run around $110K or less and that is being conservative. This is my experience in the Tampa Bay area. I know that Ft. Lauderdale and Miami are a different story but, I am not looking to live there.

mystical0217 · Dec 11, 2008

you are entitled to your opinion, I live here, that is in south florida. I can't say anything about tampa.

joseash · Dec 11, 2008

Again, Florida is soooo vastly different from Panhandle to Keys. There are big cities, riddled with the same problems as any other big city in the US (but arguably better weather!) and there are small town Mayberry-like towns that are sweet and homey and safe and cheap. It is warm year-round in the southernmost portion and gets a bit chilly in winter in the northern panhandle. Bad drivers exist everywhere (and I don't mean just in Florida either.)

If you want to leave Boston behind and give Florida a try, go for it! Don't let anyone discourage you. You will eventually form your own opinions after living there awhile but in all honesty, I think you'll like it and I say this because you have a positive outlook about it and seem to be open-minded. As a military spouse who has lived in many a new town, I know firsthand that going into it with a positive outlook makes a world of difference. There's good and bad about every place but you can't dwell on the bad. People I know who move to a new duty station with a negative mindset already in place never like it there and suffer through miserably for their two or three year tour. Those who go into it excited and embracing the positives make the most of their experience. Good luck to you!

NewGoalRN · Dec 11, 2008

I live around the Tampa Bay area and she is right. In a suburb of Tampa and nice community, you can purchase a 1200-1400 sq ft fairly new townhome for under $160 and they even have new ones for around $140k in Valrico/ Riverview etc which are suburbs of Tampa. The HOA fees are around $150 to $265 a quarter. They all include water bill, sprinklers, etc. The $265 one includes basic cable and all of them have pools and some gyms.

Parking is very cheap hrere and Taxes on these TW are around $2600 a year (high) if you don't claim homestead exemption, if you do, it is around $2400. This is due to high hurricane insurance. Now, I have also lived in South FL and that is another animal. Higher cost of living there.

Here and in SF, LPNs in nursing homes make around $180$20/hr. RNs -new around $23/hr with no diffferential. Your salary will be higher than what you are making now.

mystical0217 · Dec 11, 2008

FYI new grads do make differential.. I have a friend that works in a coral springs hospital that makes about what you said 23 but she also gets diff...