working Florida hospitals

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Is there anyone with info about Halifax Medical Center or Fish Memorial Hosp.

Wondering what they are like to work for.

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I am only a nursing student at the moment, living in Orlando, but I lived in Daytona for 6 years, in fact right next to Halifax. Its not the greatest of cities to live in, for sure. Obviously, I can't comment on working at Halifax as a nurse, but from what I have observed, the ICUs are pretty nice but the rest of the place wasn't as nice. Additionally, the average net income in central Florida is like 43K, with Daytona being much less. I've been told by a few nurses there that the pay wasn't great and it seemed to be inline with my experiences of working in other industries in Daytona. Housing prices in this area tend to be 5-6 times median salaries, so I wouldn't expect to own a house unless you live in the countryside. I lived in Kansas before I moved here so I have seen my fair share of rednecks, but Florida rednecks are a different breed. If you are familiar with Larry the Cable Guy, well he is from Volusia county which is where Daytona is. Expect to meet a lot of Larry the Cable Guys. Also, crime is surprisingly high in Central Florida, and Daytona is definitely a high crime area.

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Specializes in Gastroenterology; and Primary Care.

Seriously now, what's wrong with Larry the Cable Guy?? I think the poster was asking about working conditions in the area hospitals not the type of people she would work with....I work in a rural area (Plant City) and is more redneck than any Daytona hospital! I believe the person wanted to now about staffing, acuity, pay, etc...Are we not here to nurse all people even Larry the Cable Guy??

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Specializes in peds and med/surg.

I live in SW FL, and the pay isn't that great here for the cost of living, but I have to agree about the Larry the Cable Guy comment. What?? He is acting! He doesn't even really talk like that. I grew up in a town that was mostly rednecks, but basically that just meant they wore jeans and t-shirts with cowboy boots, and liked big trucks with 4 wheel drive......and all the things they can do, especially if they had a few beers. My husband is one of those rednecks and he does pretty well for himself.

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I guess it depends upon what else is important to you outside of work. Of course we are nurses for everyone. However, one must consider life after and outside of work.

Seriously now, what's wrong with Larry the Cable Guy?? I think the poster was asking about working conditions in the area hospitals not the type of people she would work with....I work in a rural area (Plant City) and is more redneck than any Daytona hospital! I believe the person wanted to now about staffing, acuity, pay, etc...Are we not here to nurse all people even Larry the Cable Guy??
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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

hey, miss edison girl,

i'm curious ,

i am also a edison girl ,but from the charlotte campus,

that just graduated

and passed my boards.

the salaries vary in charlotte and sarasota county.

how is lee county?

i like venice regional were i work.

i have been there for several years working as a tech.

i guess i like it, because i know everyone, and am familiar with the facility.

i think sarasota county is a great place to live, but prices are getting steep...

well edison girl enjoy your new nusing life...

i live in sw fl, and the pay isn't that great here for the cost of living, but i have to agree about the larry the cable guy comment. what?? he is acting! he doesn't even really talk like that. i grew up in a town that was mostly rednecks, but basically that just meant they wore jeans and t-shirts with cowboy boots, and liked big trucks with 4 wheel drive......and all the things they can do, especially if they had a few beers. my husband is one of those rednecks and he does pretty well for himself.
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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
hey, miss edison girl,

i'm curious ,

i am also a edison girl ,but from the charlotte campus,

that just graduated

and passed my boards.

the salaries vary in charlotte and sarasota county.

how is lee county?

i like venice regional were i work.

i have been there for several years working as a tech.

i guess i like it, because i know everyone, and am familiar with the facility.

i think sarasota county is a great place to live, but prices are getting steep...

well edison girl enjoy your new nusing life...

hi, i live in charlotte county and formerly did staff relief at doctors sarasota and englewood community. and i worked for six months at fawcett. i haven't worked in 17 years but i have been a patient in fawcett, the former st. joes, charlotte regional. from what i understand, talking with staff (after they find out i am a licensed nurse) not too much has changed. the salaries are still poor when compared to other parts of the state and other states. they are still working short staffed. they still do not receive the respect from doctors they deserve.

woody:balloons:

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

Yes, it does seem funny about the rates of pay.

The only people that seem to make a decent salary are those that work per diem.

It would not seem so bad if the cost of living would match the salaries, but unfortunately they do not.

My plan is to get my experience in the ER for 2 years, then travel.

I belive I could adapt to that way of life.

Hi, I live in Charlotte County and formerly did staff relief at Doctors Sarasota and Englewood Community. And I worked for six months at Fawcett. I haven't worked in 17 years but I have been a patient in Fawcett, the former St. Joes, Charlotte Regional. From what I understand, talking with staff (after they find out I am a licensed nurse) not too much has changed. The salaries are still poor when compared to other parts of the state and other states. They are still working short staffed. They still do not receive the respect from doctors they deserve.

Woody:balloons:

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Hey Doris,

I replied to you in another thread but I thought I would reply here too. I live in Volusia County, Orange City to be exact. My kids are grown (my youngest lives in DeLand, the others are still in CT). If I had young kids I might not be here. I don't think the schools can hold a candle to the ones in CT from what I can tell. But if you aren't worried about that kind of thing then I would suggest you look at Halifax, Central Florida Regional and maybe even down in Orlando before Fish. I drive an hour to work everyday in Clermont at SOuth Lake Hospital. It is worth the drive to me to work in a place that I am proud to work in. Formerly I worked at Florida Hospital DeLand and your original assessment of that place was spot on.

As for the pay, well find a place that has critical care diff and a Clinical ladder and you should do okay. I am a Unit Educator and I earn about 55k a year working 40 hours a week days mostly M-F. So that isn't too bad. Cost of living HAS risen since I moved here in 2003 though. So that has to be taken into consideration.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in peds and med/surg.
hey, miss edison girl,

i'm curious ,

i am also a edison girl ,but from the charlotte campus,

that just graduated

and passed my boards.

the salaries vary in charlotte and sarasota county.

how is lee county?

i like venice regional were i work.

i have been there for several years working as a tech.

i guess i like it, because i know everyone, and am familiar with the facility.

i think sarasota county is a great place to live, but prices are getting steep...

well edison girl enjoy your new nusing life...

then you might know who i am. remember at the nclex review where everyone had to come to ft myers. i was the one who all of a sudden jumped up one day b/c my best friend had a huge spider on her. that lady called her spidey the rest of the week.

our pay is 21.50 in ft myers, but i work in naples, where i make less/hr, but the shift diff is better and i get an extra 2 on weekends, plus a sign on bonus.

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Specializes in ER/ medical telemetry.

Life as a new grad and a RN is good so far.

I am still in orientation,but I think I'm almost there.

I work in the ER.

I think my group I work with is supportive, more than all the money in the world...

YES, I remember the spider woman table. That was great!

You know,

I really don't know if that seminar in Fort Myers helped or not.

I found NCLEX to be bazaar, and I was sure I flunked it, but thank God I did not.

I was the first in my class to pass, and I waited 5 weeks after graduation.

All my co-workers advised me to take ASAP or else I may forget what I had learned.

So far from the Charlotte Campus 4 of have not passed NCLEX.

8 have passed, and 5 or 6 thay may have not taken yet... all out of 18.

I can say though,

that I am proud to be an graduate of Edison College.

They were a very supportive family, that tried to prepare us for the tough world that we had ahead of us. They taught us to be strong

well prepared RN's.

I felt I was taught well.

Then you might know who I am. Remember at the NCLEX review where everyone had to come to Ft Myers. I was the one who all of a sudden jumped up one day b/c my best friend had a huge spider on her. That lady called her spidey the rest of the week.

Our pay is 21.50 in Ft Myers, but I work in Naples, where I make less/hr, but the shift diff is better and I get an extra 2 on weekends, plus a sign on bonus.

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