Nursing – A great job to have in Central Florida

There are so many things to love about the great Sunshine state that is Florida. There are the obvious things like, well… the sunshine, of course. But besides the beautiful weather, Disney World, the Miami Heat basketball team and the delectable Cuban sandwich, Florida is also one of the best states in the country to work in, especially if you are in the nursing profession. How do palm trees and sandy beaches equal more opportunities for aspiring nurses? While there may not be a direct correlation between the beautiful landscape and a nursing career. But, when you factor in that nearly that 20% of the U.S. population age 65 and older calls Florida home and the fact that, this number is predicted to grow, it starts to make sense. If you’re considering pursuing a career in the nursing profession and perhaps also considering a change of scenery; check out some of the reasons to put Florida at the top of your career destination list.

Money, money, money – Whatever field you work in, where you work in terms of geography can directly affect your career and daily life. Cost of living, tax rates, average wages, and commuting – are all things that vary from state to state and can be pivotal elements when it comes to deciding where to launch your nursing career. How does Florida shape up next to other states? Pretty darn good actually. With no state income tax and a median annual wage for RNs of nearly $65K, that’s a couple of solid checks in the plus column for the sunshine state.

Long-term job outlook – According to the bureau of labor statistics, the demand for registered nurses is predicted to grow by as much as 15% nationwide and 21.4% in Florida alone. What is perhaps more notable, is the Florida Center for Nursing’s prediction of a nursing shortage in the sunshine state of 50,000 nurses by the year 2025. Can you say job security?

The perks of being in high demand – When your skills as a qualified nursing professional are in high demand and there is a state-wide shortage of individuals with those skills, many hospitals and healthcare facilities will offer incentives to meet the demand. Hospitals in several areas of-Florida are currently offering substantial sign-on bonuses and even relocation costs for some positions. Hospitals also have nurse residencies geared for new nurse graduates in specialty areas such as ICU and Progressive care.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) – Another great reason to be a nurse in Florida? The state became one of the 31 NLC states in 2018, a multistate license program that allows nursing program graduates who successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam, to practice in any NLC state, opening the door to even more opportunities!

Sunshine, no state income tax, solid job prospects for the foreseeable future, potential sign-on bonuses and flexibility – that’s a pretty solid list of reasons why nursing is a great job to have in Florida.

If you need one more reason, check out the nursing program at City College. Located in Altamonte Springs, near the beautiful city of Orlando, City College is helping students get the hands-on training and skills they need to launch successful, fulfilling careers in nursing.  The campus currently has a 100% NCLEX pass rate reported on the Florida Board of Nursing website and current candidate for initial accreditation through ACEN for programmatic accreditation.  This campus boasts high quality skill laboratories and high-fidelity simulation lab utilized for learning.  It’s a great time to be a nurse in the sunshine state! Contact City College today to learn more about how you can join the elite group of nursing professionals changing the lives of Florida residents on a daily basis, or to schedule a tour of our campus.