The Southern states, including Florida, are noted for their warm climate, easy lifestyle, and reasonable living costs. For nurses interested in careers in this part of the country, here's a look at three medium-sized cities. Information comes from CNNMoney, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, America's Career Infonet, and Salary.com.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
Known as "The River City" for its location on the James River, the Richmond, Virginia area, with a population of 513,278 is near the middle of the state. Average July high temperature is 87[degrees], January low is 27[degrees]. Median household income is $46,484, and median home price is $154,039. State income tax varies from 2% to 5.75%, sales tax is 5%. There are 10,880 RNs in Richmond, with a mean annual salary of $49,330. Clinical nurse specialists earn a median salary of $71,905. VCA Health System is one of the largest employers here.
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
The Winston-Salem area in North Carolina, with a population of 229,041, is in Forsyth County in the middle of the state. Eighty-eight degrees is the average July high and January low is 27[degrees]. Median household income is $42,691, and median home price is $121,575. State income tax is 6% to 8.25%, sales tax is 7%. There are 11,670 RNs in Winston-Salem, with a mean annual salary of $48,660. Clinical nurse specialists earn a median salary of $65,352. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Center are large employers in the region.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
The Greater Orlando area in Orange County, Florida, has a population of 773,856, and is the largest interior city in Florida. Average July high temperature is 92[degrees], January low is almost 50[degrees]. Median household income is $45,022, and median home price is $159,610. Florida has no state income tax, and the sales tax is 6.48%. There are 12,450 RNs here, with a mean annual salary of $46,200. Clinical nurse specialists earn a median salary of $69,746. Three large healthcare employers here are Florida Hospital, Orlando; Orlando Regional Healthcare, and Arnold Palmer Hospital.
Your Guide to Job Opportunities in the Southern States and Florida
Duke University Health System
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Contact: Nurse Recruiter/HR
(800) BE-A-NURS (800-232-6877)
Fax: (919) 681-7397
Web site: http://www.dukenursing.org
Florida Hospital Waterman
1000 Waterman Way
Tavares, FL 32778
Contact: Karin D'Aurora, Recruiter
(877) 298-7329
Fax: (352) 253-3454
Email: Karin.d'[email protected]
Web site: http://www.fhwat.org
Orlando Regional Healthcare
1414 Kuhl Ave, MP-113
Orlando, FL 32806
Contact: M. Radcliffe, HR Dept.
Fax: (407) 237-6374
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.orlandoregional.org
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
P.O. Box 6028
Greenville, NC 27835
Contact: Employment Office
(800) 342-5155
Fax: (252) 847-8225
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.pcmhcareers.com/magnet
South Carolina Hospital Association
Contact: Anne Howard
(803) 796-3080, ext. 264
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.SCHealthJobs.net
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare
1207 TMH Court
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Contact: Tammie Burris, RN, Nurse Recruiter
(850) 431-5785
Fax: (850) 431-6555
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.tmh.org
VCU Health System
P.O. Box 980066
Richmond, VA 23298-0066
Contact: Jaime Cook, Nurse Recruiter
(800) 755-NURSE (6877) or
(804) 628-0918
Fax: (804) 628-8873
Web site: http://www.vcuhealth.org/careers
RNs are very much in demand, according to Debbie Waters, BS, nurse recruiter at Kaiser Permanente, in San Diego, California. Kaiser Permanente is an integrated health care organization, with 30 medical centers in nine states and Washington, DC. Waters says all in-patient specialties (med-surg, critical care, emergency, NICU, peds, operating room) are in demand here, plus specialized RNs, such as enterostomal therapists, and clinical nurse specialists/educators. There's also a demand for nursing management positions, as well.
"(There are) great opportunities for new grads," adds Waters. "We partner with local colleges, attend career fairs, and interview RN students particularly in their last semesters. Many times jobs are offered before they graduate."
She says salaries at her facility are competitive for the San Diego area. May 2004 Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show the average annual salary for an RN in San Diego is $61,710. For California, it is $66,920.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Lately, the media has been covering issues surrounding California's nursing job market. A recent article in USA Today says the state has 14,000 openings for nurses, and a California Hospital Association spokesperson says hospitals use travel nurses in many cases to plug the gaps.
SFGate.com reports that California governor Schwarzenegger is trying to delay implementation of the law mandating one nurse to five patients on general floors, because of the difficulty with finding enough nurses. He is supporting nursing education, however, with federal and state funds, to expand programs to meet the demand for more nurses. The California Nurses Association opposes delaying the implementation of mandated ratios, and is campaigning aggressively against the decision.
And a recent Silicon Valley-San Jose Business Journal article reports that hospital efforts to fill positions and meet mandated staffing ratios is putting pressure on long term care facilities, which typically offer lower pay and more patients per nurse than hospitals.
Your Guide to Job Opportunities in California
California Department of Corrections
2201 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95818
Locations Statewide
Contact: Recruiter
Toll Free: (888) 232-4584
Fax: (916) 227-4370
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.corr.ca.gov
Cedars-Sinai Health System
8723 Alden Dr., SSB-110
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Contact: Thea Bruzdzinski
(310) 423-6320
Fax: (310) 423-0378
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.csmc.edu/careers
Memorial Medical Center
1800 Coffee Road
Modesto, CA 95355
Contact: Jill Steele
(209) 572-7194
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.memorialmedicalcenter.org
UCLA Healthcare
10920 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Contact: Sheri Monsein, RN
(310) 825-8141
Fax: (310) 825-3102
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://hr.healthcare.ucla.edu