working in jacksonville

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 19, 2011

I live in Jacksonville. There are a couple hospitals here in the city. I work at Baptist Medical Center which is really 4 different hospitals that are a system (Downtown, South, Beaches, and Nassau.) Its also a Magnet hospital.There is also Shands which is a trauma hospital, St Lukes and St. Vincents (2 hospitals but they have merged.), Memorial and Orange Park. There is also a Naval hospital on base. It kind of depends on what you are looking for. Pay wise Baptist has the lowest pay but I personally can't see myself working in the other hospitals here in the city, but don't bother applying if you don't have your BSN. I would stay away from Heartland (nursing/rehab) just because everyone that I know that has worked there has had bad experiences. I have a couple of friends that work at Brooks rehab and they love it. Jobs are tough to come by if you don't have nursing experience.

Living wise, I live in Arlington which is considered the ghetto by some but I live in a really nice area. *shrugs* Riverside and San Marco are nice if you like more of that hip, young yet at the same old timey feel. Southside has alot of apartments and nice areas as well. Its a bit pricey close to the beach but its a really nice area. I would stay away from downtown. Northside is more of the woodsy country area. Near the St. Johns Town Center is where most of the new things are popping up. Mandarin and San Jose areas are really nice. Orange Park is ok IMO.

Public school system sucks. I mean its really really bad.

Everyone says Jacksonville is violent but I don't really see much of that where I live. Closer to downtown yes, but surrounding that not so much.

Jacksonville is big.

Plan to have a good car, because you have to drive everywhere.

Hope that helps.

britgirl · May 19, 2011

hi cookie

thanks for your quick reply. that gives me plenty to think about.

wish me luck. ill keep you posted:yeah:

misswhitney · May 21, 2011

I live in Jacksonville. There are a couple hospitals here in the city. I work at Baptist Medical Center which is really 4 different hospitals that are a system (Downtown, South, Beaches, and Nassau.) Its also a Magnet hospital.There is also Shands which is a trauma hospital, St Lukes and St. Vincents (2 hospitals but they have merged.), Memorial and Orange Park. There is also a Naval hospital on base. It kind of depends on what you are looking for. Pay wise Baptist has the lowest pay but I personally can't see myself working in the other hospitals here in the city, but don't bother applying if you don't have your BSN. I would stay away from Heartland (nursing/rehab) just because everyone that I know that has worked there has had bad experiences. I have a couple of friends that work at Brooks rehab and they love it. Jobs are tough to come by if you don't have nursing experience.
Living wise, I live in Arlington which is considered the ghetto by some but I live in a really nice area. *shrugs* Riverside and San Marco are nice if you like more of that hip, young yet at the same old timey feel. Southside has alot of apartments and nice areas as well. Its a bit pricey close to the beach but its a really nice area. I would stay away from downtown. Northside is more of the woodsy country area. Near the St. Johns Town Center is where most of the new things are popping up. Mandarin and San Jose areas are really nice. Orange Park is ok IMO.
Public school system sucks. I mean its really really bad.
Everyone says Jacksonville is violent but I don't really see much of that where I live. Closer to downtown yes, but surrounding that not so much.
Jacksonville is big.
Plan to have a good car, because you have to drive everywhere.
Hope that helps.

CHICOOKIE! Good to see you are back!

I work at Shands Jacksonville and they are known for their ICU's. They have a ton to offer here too, they have everything from Peds to long term acute care. I love my job here and cannot wait to see where it goes. I eventually want to work in Peds oncology (at Wolfson's) but after a few failed attempts to get a job there, I took it as a sign to pursue more critical care nursing first, and then return to it. Wolfson's is an awesome hospital, if you want to do peds. But like Chicookie says, you will have to drive everywhere. Fleming Island is a really nice side of town. Its is in the Orange Park area, but is considered its own city.

britgirl · May 21, 2011

thanks miss whitney

my options are opening up,ive done icu but didnt really want to return perhaps something long term might do or imcu.can you pm me rates of pay and benefits info

im going to visit before making up my mind

look forward to your next message:yeah:

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 23, 2011

CHICOOKIE! Good to see you are back!
I work at Shands Jacksonville and they are known for their ICU's. They have a ton to offer here too, they have everything from Peds to long term acute care. I love my job here and cannot wait to see where it goes. I eventually want to work in Peds oncology (at Wolfson's) but after a few failed attempts to get a job there, I took it as a sign to pursue more critical care nursing first, and then return to it. Wolfson's is an awesome hospital, if you want to do peds. But like Chicookie says, you will have to drive everywhere. Fleming Island is a really nice side of town. Its is in the Orange Park area, but is considered its own city.

I am glad to hear that you got a job! A good one at that. Congrats (I think its been a year..... :uhoh3: ) I haven't been on in a while and I have no decent excuse.

britgirl · May 23, 2011

miss whitney

are you there:uhoh3:

sheri723 · May 25, 2011

Goodluck getting a job in Jacksonville. I moved here 5 months ago and have applied at 5 different hospitals, without getting even one interview. I have my BSN and 16 years of hospital experience. I think there are so few jobs that you have to know someone.

We bought a house in the Mandarin area and love our neighborhood.

FLmomof5 · May 25, 2011

Hmm, I haven't seen the same as the post above me. I do believe that 98% of our Aug 2010 graduating class is now employed. (One hasn't taken the NCLEX yet.)

I went to West Jax Health and Rehab on Monday morning with resume and license in hand....filled out their application and was immediately told to come back the next day for an interview. Pending the background test and drug screen, I have an offer. (So much better than the new way of.....apply on line and nothing....) Anyway, they are heading in the more acute/subacute direction with a sidebar of LTC so they hire only RNs.

I know that a couple of classmates went the home health route until they got their foot into the hospital door.

I did AH II and Role at St. V's and LOVED the place. OPMC was pretty cool too. Also, I didn't find any nurses in any of my clinicals that were hostile or "eat your young" types! I love Jacksonville Nurses!!! :nurse:

misswhitney · May 26, 2011

Goodluck getting a job in Jacksonville. I moved here 5 months ago and have applied at 5 different hospitals, without getting even one interview. I have my BSN and 16 years of hospital experience. I think there are so few jobs that you have to know someone.
We bought a house in the Mandarin area and love our neighborhood.

Yes, I don't know how you haven't at least had an interview. I applied at Shands w/ 1 yr experience and got a call the next day.

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 26, 2011

Yes, I don't know how you haven't at least had an interview. I applied at Shands w/ 1 yr experience and got a call the next day.

I think its more because of her specialty. She is a NICU/L&D nurse, and at least at Baptist someone has to die before there is an opening in that unit. :uhoh3:

sheri723 · May 26, 2011

Did you get the job at Shands? Shands is my first choice for a job (then Wolfsons and Baptist South. I have lots of OB/NICU experience and some telemetry. So I have applied for 15 positions in NICU, MB, and some other areas like pre admission testing, special procedures, endo etc... I am willing to try something new. Outside of the hospital, I would love a position at North Florida OBGYN.

Maybe I should have someone look at my resume. This is the first one I have had to make in 16 yrs. Maybe it isnt up to par.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.