Yes, I have heard that complaint too.  I live in South Georgia and the pay here is around 25-30 bucks an hour.  What is it there?

 I live in Florida and I agree it pays very low...... I moved down from Mass about 16 months ago , and lets just say my jaw must of been on the floor in shock when I got  pay offers.....I do the exact same thing here making $18.00/hr and $19.00/hr (2 agencies) as I did in Mass making almost $32.00/hr ~  I am not kidding. Also down here there is no shift differential, or holiday pay unless you work in a facility......and even that sometimes is not paid. I also can't believe how strict  it is, and tons more ceu's than most other places.......I have to work about 2- 3 days to make the same as I made in 10 hours back up north. Things here are comparable in prices...gas is 10-20 cents more per gallon,.....the only thing I have seen cheaper are houses to buy or rental costs....other than that everything is the same or more cost wise. Fl needs to get with the program in paying people, not just nurses either......ALL people no matter what their occupation is.......

I know, I know, then go back....well I want to but financially we can't so we are here until we hopefully get rich or win the lottery ...neither of which I see happening anytime soon.......

nursereilly says ...

 I live in Florida and I agree it pays very low...... I moved down from Mass about 16 months ago , and lets just say my jaw must of been on the floor in shock when I got  pay offers.....I do the exact same thing here making $18.00/hr and $19.00/hr (2 agencies) as I did in Mass making almost $32.00/hr ~  I am not kidding. Also down here there is no shift differential, or holiday pay unless you work in a facility......and even that sometimes is not paid. I also can't believe how strict  it is, and tons more ceu's than most other places.......I have to work about 2- 3 days to make the same as I made in 10 hours back up north. Things here are comparable in prices...gas is 10-20 cents more per gallon,.....the only thing I have seen cheaper are houses to buy or rental costs....other than that everything is the same or more cost wise. Fl needs to get with the program in paying people, not just nurses either......ALL people no matter what their occupation is.......

I know, I know, then go back....well I want to but financially we can't so we are here until we hopefully get rich or win the lottery ...neither of which I see happening anytime soon.......

 

I live in southeast FL for 9 years and I came here from Michigan. From $38-$40/h I dropped to $22/h here. My house was the same value as the one I had in Michigan but taxes and insurance tripled, the electric and water 4 times higher and so on. Now is even worse because taxes and insurance went to over 3.5% of the value of the property( and they put the value they want not the real one). I own 2 properties here and $1000/mo is just taxes and insurance for each one of them. Thank GOD I've found a good job( home health) that pays much more than the hospitals do but still it is extremely expensive. We pay dearly for the beautiful weather.

Idaho is pretty poor in this area as well, although I am sure the cost of living is lower here. That really sucks, sorry.

Every form of refuge has its price.

Starting pay for graduate nurses in Wisconsin is anywhere from 22.00-28.00 an hour which isnt too bad.

When I worked in Florida on a very very busy med/surg unit, on day shift I had approx 9-15 patients with 1 CNA,  on 3-11, I had anywhere from 9-18 patients with 1.5 CNA (usually shared with another nurse), on 11-7, I  usually had averaged 18-20 patients with again 1.5 CNA.  We had NO IV team, and most of the time we were 100% responsible for admissions, D/C's, IV's, Pre-ops on call to OR, and dressing changes.  Additionally, it was a very rare occasion that we actually had a medication nurse.  For 2 of the 5 years I was there, we had 1 RN that worked 11a/ 11p and from 11a till 3p (3 days a week they let her pass meds).  Charge nurse carried full team even on day shift.  We had a nursing supervisor who 'rounded' with the surgeons and made sure the charts and coffee were in order.  This is the same place that gave us a vacuum cleaner after they put in carpeting. 

BTW, this is a very well known level 1 trauma center.  I'm not saying the name, but many of you especially NASCAR fans would be familiar with it.

I've yet to figure out why they don't pay well in Florida.  I'm more inclined to go with 'every refuge has it's price'.  I can assure you that nurses are in high demand in Florida, but the pay just isn't there. In NC I was making DOUBLE of what I made in Florida, a year after I moved (and I had less patients).  Here in PA,  (12 years later) I'm making $10 more an hour than my best friend who was a CRNA was making in 97 (she had 20 years experience at the time)

Starting wages for a new RN grad in North Carolina are around 20-22/hour.  An experienced RN can get around $24/hour;

The Winston-Salem area paid well.  As an experienced RN in 2003, I made over $26 plus shift diff/ and weekend diff  at major local hospital.   I made over $30 when I left NC working as an RN in LTC.  I've heard that the Eastern part of NC did not pay as well.

SEVOFLURANE says ...

Like everything else.... wages are market driven... if an entity cannot get employees at a given remuneration... they up the pay. It is quite simple... supply and demand.. no big conspiracy.

       You got that right unless there is a union or government intervention the market forces are in charge (the equilibrium wage level).  I see someone didn't like your post and gave it a thumbs down.  They must have took the art class instead of the macro economics I imagine.  I gave a thumbs up so your even now, not that you care anyways Sevo.  Your not only a smart-ass, your smart as well.  Take care and watch out for those nurses.

Cheers - Tim, R.N.

An average of $12 to $15 (if converted in dollars) that is per day, not per hour  in the Philippines

I have to disagree... I am a Nurse, and I am paid exactly what i am worth.

angela0915 says ...

HI

     I TOO WAS SURPRISED BY FLORIDA'S RN PAY. I WAS CONSIDERING MOVING TO ORLANDO UNTIL THE NURSE RECRUITER INFORMED ME OF WHAT THE PAY WAGES WERE GOING TO BE. HERE IN PHILADELPHIA A NEW RN CAN MAKE FROM $26hr to $31hr. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE HOSPITAL , LOCATION, EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE, AND EDUCATION. YOU CAN NEGOTIATE YOUR PAY. WHAT FLORIDA'S HOSPITALS ARE OFFERING, IS WHERE WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO!!!!!!!! THAT IS JUST AN INSULT. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS SO CHEAP ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING IN FLORIDA, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT. I WAS LOOKING AT APARTMENTS, AND THEY COST THE SAME AMOUT THAT I AM PAYING HERE. I JUST FEEL THAT ALOT OF THESE HOSPITALS NEED TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!! 

What do they pay in Orlando?