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Thread: newly qualified nurse moving to florida

  1. #1
    Florida Newbie
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    17

    newly qualified nurse moving to florida

    Hi
    I have recently qualified as a nurse and am begining the process of investigating whether a possible relocation to florida would be a: a good idea and b:viable.
    I have a number of questions/queries regarding the move which i would appreciate any advice / help with.
    My background is i have a husband and twin boys aged 4 (they will be schoolage by the time we possibly relocate) i have recently qualified and now aim to get a few months work experience in the UK prior to any move. I have heard i can get offers of work in the ares of my choice as well as a green card through various nursing relocation agencies which is the way i think i will go as they will get me through the US nursing qualifications required and deal with visa(greencard), relocation etc.
    My queries though relate to schools for my boys and work for my husband amongst others.
    Can anyone reccommend any good school areas, we have been told about the Dr Philips area in the past is this area still good?. What happens in the school holidays are they roughly the same as the UK also are there any clubs,camps etc the kids go to during the holidays if so what sort of costs are involved. My husband currently works part time in the UK to look after them and depending on the answer to the previous question will do so in the states, do employers have the equvilent famly friendly shifts to accomodate working parents or another idea would be for my husband to work from home is this a possible option. Does anyone have any expeience of working from home and what the potential pay would be. We are fortuanate in that we have quite a bit of equity in our UK property and would be looking to purchase a house in the US outright so my husband working would not be essential but helpful for his intergaration into US life. Having previously owned a villa in the US we have an idea of utility prices and home insurance etc and are prepared for these the unknown entity would be health insurance, as yet without gaining further info from any prospective agencies i don't know if that is included in the renumeration package if not what sort of ball park figure would a family of 4 be looking at each month for a good policy with little or no excess. I have seen other threads mentioning premiums of around $700 with a $20 co-pay what does this mean?.
    I would appreciate any help/ experince that can be provided, i'm sure as i look deeper into the possibility that more questions will come to mind these seemed to be the most urgent at present.
    Thank you
    Julie


  2. #2
    Florida Junior
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    52
    Julie, in answer to your questions, I suspect that you will be covered by health insurance by your sponsoring hospital or medical facility where you will be working. I would make sure you have a clear understanding from any agency you are working with to place you in the US exactly how health insurance coverage would work. A co-pay is the amount you must pay out of pocket in addition to the sum charged to your medical insurer for medical services. The premium can vary dramatically and can be influenced by pre-existing conditions, whether you or your husband are smokers etc and so on. Again, make sure this is topic at the top of your list for discussion with the agency.

    I assume you will be going to the US on an HC1. Is that correct? I don't know what the restrictions are on spousal employment. Again talk with your agency. Some of the other more knowledgeable members on here may be able to comment. Employees are on an at will employment basis in the US. That means you can be fired for any reason, without severance, as long as it's not an illegal reason (ie race, ethnicity, religion etc). US employers generally do not have to offer "family friendly shifts". My advice is to find out if your husband is lawfully entitled to work and if so, look for a part time job in the US.

    Be aware, however, that there is a very high unemployment rate now in Florida - in excess of 11 percent. So your husband may have to search for part time work since US citizens are taking any job they can get now.

    I would not recommend a "work from home" scheme. There are quite a few of them in Florida and most seem to be some sort of scam to solicit an initial payment of money to set you up in business and then nothing happens.

    Dr. Phillips still has many foreclosed homes for sale so you can pick and choose among them. The elementary schools in that area have a good reputation so for children of 4 I would concur in relocating in that area.



  3. #3
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Posts
    7,007
    First of all you have to get through the Nclex which is their nursing exam, they wont accept your UK nursing qualification. It isnt a pushover, I know someone who was a qualified nurse in Switzerland who has failed four times. Secondly green cards for nurses are in retrogression, ie you could wait years for one. Am on various immigration forums, have seen people walk away from it after years of waiting. It wasnt always like this, about three years ago, you could get through in about a year, then people from all over started applying and the waiting list got longer and longer. A little soon to be thinking of schools or houses I think.
    Julie


  4. #4
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    May 2003
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    7,668
    A lot of Americans are going into nursing of some sort my daughter started last year..the classes are full and we have already been told there are no jobs local...she will have to move to Boston or out of State..that's maybe because MA has had so called Universal health care for the last 2 years and has gone bankrupt..so hospital can't afford new staff and doctors offices are closing down..we have a 9 month wait to get on a Doctors books..and there is talk about 3 people at a time to see Doctors at the hospital if they have the same problem..so I can't see it getting much better around here anytime soon..I go to FL to be sick..that is where my daughter will end up working...along with many of the people taking the same course


  5. #5
    Florida Newbie
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    17
    Hi
    Firstly thank you to the members who have submitted a reply and i welcome further advice, experience and information to my query.
    As i mentioned in my initial post and i take on board the comments about thinking a little way ahead the move to Florida is still currently just a dream. The viability and probability of a move are still at the gathering information stage which is why i'm trying to gain information e.g on the quality of schooling (which doesn't sound too good) and the best areas of these schools. We have looked at websites giving pages and pages of figures for different subjects including schools but i'm sure as with most things these can be fabricated to make anything look good. The purpose of my post was to gain real experience of people who have been there and got the preverbial t'shirt.
    As i said i've only just recently qualified as a general nurse and the aim is to get at least a years proper work experience before we embark on any possible relocation adventure. The couple of relocation agencies which i so far have had limited contact with have both advised a year's experience is a minimum requirement, they then will accept us for relocation to Florida whereupon they obviously sort out a job and place of work and all the visa requirements.They seem to suggest this will be a permanent visa i.e green card although this is something i will get clarification on once we begin the process. The whole move to Florida will depend on this outcome as the mentioned HC1 visa seems to only give us 3 years and isn't renewable. We don't want to find ourselves in a situation where we are forced to come home after this period of time and have to uproot the children and generally start again, so the entire decision will depend on this. The potential job benefit package listed also suggests health and dental care are included although again i would need to assertain specific details of cover provided and if any costs from my own pocket would be needed possibly to gain a better coverage for the whole family.
    I suspect we are still probably 2 years away from embarking on any possible move due to the mentioned nclex exam pass required. I have spoken to collegues who have taken the exam and passed so i'm going into it with my eyes open and although i appreciate it won't be a pushover i am confident in my ability to get through it. The mentioned retrogression is obviously a concern but after visiting Florida twice a year since 1998 and previously owning a villa over there i feel it will be worth the wait. Who knows by the time we embark on our dream things could have changed in our favour, what with the impending health care bill if that were to be passed this could ignite the need for extra nurses?
    The work from home schemes though sound a bit of a dissapointment as ths option would give my husband an income and a way to occupy mind and time and solve our potential problem of child care during the holidays. Working part time away from the home would be my husbands preffered choice in order for him to intergrate into American life, but what happens to the kids whilst he's at work would then become an issue. If anyone could share any relevent experince/solution in this matter this would be great.
    Once again thanks for your views and advise and i welcome further input
    Kind regards
    Julie


  6. #6
    Gold 5 Star Member SDJ's Avatar
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    Although you are not planning to relocate anytime soon Julie, you seem to be quite knowledgeable and have indeed tried to further your knowledge by asking others on the forum and no doubt elsewhere.

    I wish you all the luck in the world and hope everything turns out as you would want it. Keep planning your 'dream' with the open mind you seem to have and I am sure you will be successful.[clap]

    Sandra


  7. #7
    Super Moderator florida4sun's Avatar
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    Bromsgrove, UK.
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    We had a lot of dealings with UK nurses in Florida and to be honest most were not happy. They wee under very tight working conditions as there is more pressure for hospitals to make profit. The wages are not brilliant. The minimum I would want to be on for an average life style in Florida is around $100,000 a year (combined). Further education is very expensive.
    You should get company provided health insurance but this is a double edged. If you claim for something or have ongoing healthcare, you will be stuck with that job forever as no new insurance will take you on.T


    <blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by vickers
    Hi
    I have recently qualified as a nurse and am begining the process of investigating whether a possible relocation to florida would be a: a good idea and b:viable.
    I have a number of questions/queries regarding the move which i would appreciate any advice / help with.
    My background is i have a husband and twin boys aged 4 (they will be schoolage by the time we possibly relocate) i have recently qualified and now aim to get a few months work experience in the UK prior to any move. I have heard i can get offers of work in the ares of my choice as well as a green card through various nursing relocation agencies which is the way i think i will go as they will get me through the US nursing qualifications required and deal with visa(greencard), relocation etc.
    My queries though relate to schools for my boys and work for my husband amongst others.
    Can anyone reccommend any good school areas, we have been told about the Dr Philips area in the past is this area still good?. What happens in the school holidays are they roughly the same as the UK also are there any clubs,camps etc the kids go to during the holidays if so what sort of costs are involved. My husband currently works part time in the UK to look after them and depending on the answer to the previous question will do so in the states, do employers have the equvilent famly friendly shifts to accomodate working parents or another idea would be for my husband to work from home is this a possible option. Does anyone have any expeience of working from home and what the potential pay would be. We are fortuanate in that we have quite a bit of equity in our UK property and would be looking to purchase a house in the US outright so my husband working would not be essential but helpful for his intergaration into US life. Having previously owned a villa in the US we have an idea of utility prices and home insurance etc and are prepared for these the unknown entity would be health insurance, as yet without gaining further info from any prospective agencies i don't know if that is included in the renumeration package if not what sort of ball park figure would a family of 4 be looking at each month for a good policy with little or no excess. I have seen other threads mentioning premiums of around $700 with a $20 co-pay what does this mean?.
    I would appreciate any help/ experince that can be provided, i'm sure as i look deeper into the possibility that more questions will come to mind these seemed to be the most urgent at present.
    Thank you
    Julie

    [/quote]


  8. #8
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    7,668
    I kind of disagree with Martin on the money front we don't earn anywhere near 100k but own 2 homes holiday about 5 times a year...and live full time in one of the most expensive places in the US..
    We could live very well on even less in FL..
    You do need enough money...granted..but don't let a 100k living tag put you off...if you come over with a fair amount of money to start with and slowly build up...something we never did..[msnscared]...then a lower wage will be fine..something over the 60k mark...planning and saving to move over is your best move..

    I'd not count on the new bill calling for more nurses..we have a system in place in MA very much like it and doctors and nurses are being laid off because its bankrupted the state in under 2 years..my daughter is just going into health care and will have to move away to find a job when she finishes next year...

    Only you know what life you want and how much you need..we don't all need the same or even want it..hope it works out for you..



  9. #9
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    7,007
    It is true that the retrogression situation could change but so could the nursing shortage. They have increased the number of places on nursing courses to try and cultivate more home grown nurses so as not to have to rely on foreign labour. It was the lack of training places that was partly responsible for the shortage and these people are now working through their degrees.
    Julie


  10. #10
    Florida Newbie
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    17
    Thanks again i appreciate all and any advice and information that can be passed on.
    I too was a little taken aback by the sum of $100k needed for an average life in Florida. Unless things have changed dramatically from when we owned a home 3 years ago the combined bills and cost of living at that time were never going to add up to that much. Even allowing for us living there permanantly rather than renting every so often to strangers i found this sum alarming, it's certainly more than we expected or currently live on in the UK.It's good to know that not everyone agrees with this figure.
    With regard to specialist nursing which has been suggested i currently work on a general ward that deals with patients that have had a heart attack or stroke so not rearly along the lines you were meaning. Unfortunately once your trained as a nurse the number or jobs or "ideal jobs" are very few and far between, you basically within reason take the best thats available with the hope a more suitable job will come available later!. The area i'm most interested in is Midwifery and an 18 month training course is available from next March 2010, obviously though this would delay further any potential move to the U.S. But on the plus side it would give me further qualificaions and a specialist subject to go over with. I notice too from job websites in Florida that new position's of certified nurse midwife's are now available so this would tie in nicely. I don't know if these positions would be more sought after which is another potential down side, although this job would give me combined with the benefit package given the plus $100k salary that has been mentioned, which incidentally far exceeds the salary paid in the UK by quite a distance!
    A lot to consider still i think.


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