Nursing Jobs in Tampa, Florida

Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is two distinct areas divided by a bay. The Tampa Bay metro area spans four counties and has many beaches. The number of hospitals in Tampa is also extensive. The city’s website lists 11 major hospitals in Tampa and at least 14 more nearby, creating many opportunities for nursing jobs in Tampa, FL, and the surrounding area.

Let’s look at some other facts about Tampa that might interest you if you’re considering working here.

Quick Facts About Nursing Jobs in Tampa, FL

• Is Florida a compact state? Yes.
• What do RNs earn in Tampa? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) combines Tampa with St. Petersburg and Clearwater to form a metro area. The average salary for RN jobs in this area is $79,920, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
• Where can I find information about RN license requirements in Florida? You can visit the Florida Board of Nursing website for up-to-date information.

What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Tampa, FL

Tampa supports a wide range of lifestyles for its nearly 392,800 residents and 24.5 million annual visitors. You’ll find skyscrapers, large companies, and a major airport in Tampa. You’ll also see the tourist side of Tampa with beaches, tiki bars, and theme parks. Drive around and you’ll find quiet residential neighborhoods. People often use the names Tampa and Tampa Bay interchangeably, but Tampa is just one city in the Tampa Bay area of 3.1 million residents.

You’ll find all kinds of opportunities for nursing jobs in Tampa and the surrounding Tampa Bay area. Beyond the long list of hospitals, specialty clinics, urgent care centers, there are also doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities that are looking for qualified RNs, CNAs, and LPNs. You can work full time, part time, on contract, temporarily, or even per diem.

Despite the common perception that Florida is full of retirees, your patient base in Tampa has a median age of 34.8 compared to the national median of 37.4. The percentage of those aged 65 years and older in the U.S. is 16.8%. In Tampa, it’s 12.8%. There’s also quite a diverse population in Tampa. Nearly 23% of residents are Black, 4.6% are Asian, 26.2% are Hispanic, and 19.1% have a mixed-race ethnicity.

Working in Tampa

Healthcare practitioners and those with technical healthcare occupations number 97,590 in the Tampa metro area. Of those, there are 31,600 RNs and 6,430 LPNs. Workers with healthcare support jobs equal 47,280, consisting of 10,470 home health and personal care aides and 15,420 nursing assistants. Altogether, healthcare supports more than 144,870 jobs in Tampa.

Here are some of the top-ranked hospitals in Tampa according to U.S. News and World Report:

1. Tampa General Hospital
2. Morton Plant Hospital
3. St. Joseph’s Hospital - Tampa
4. Mease Countryside Hospital
5. St. Anthony’s Hospital

In addition, Tampa is home to Moffitt Cancer Center. The facility is designated as a comprehensive care center by the National Cancer Institute.

You will also find a number of state and local agencies posting nursing jobs in Tampa, FL. Here’s a list of a few:

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay employees include nursing professionals that work in several areas of the Crisis Center, including sexual assault services, transportation care, child development screenings, and traveler aid at the Tampa International Airport.

Florida Department of Health has many programs and services in each county in Greater Tampa Bay — Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties.

Tampa Family Health Centers is a community service with 19 facilities throughout Tampa.

Free Clinics has a database of healthcare locations in the Tampa area that are free or income-based.

Tampa has 20 skilled nursing facilities throughout the area. Eight are in the city of Tampa, and 12 are nearby.

How will your drive to work be in Tampa? The average commute time is 24 minutes. A little more than 78% of commuters drive alone to work, 8.4% carpool, and 2.5% use mass transit. The other 6.1% have a short commute since they work from home.

If you have children that need care while you work, you can find a number of childcare centers in Tampa. The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County provides childcare for those who need financial assistance.

If you need someone to watch your dog or feed your cat while working a double, you can find many private and franchise pet care providers in Tampa.

Living in Tampa

When you’re ready to start shopping for homes, you need to know that Tampa is divided into four areas that align with the counties it covers. Each area has distinct features that cater to various lifestyles. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect.

Hillsborough County: The city of Tampa and Tampa International Airport (TPA) are located in Hillsborough County. Several popular neighborhoods in Hillsborough County are Plant City, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Carrollwood, Westchase, and New Tampa. These spots are a quick drive from downtown Tampa:

Pinellas County: The picture-postcard beaches you see in travel brochures are in Pinellas County. Tampa shares the county with St. Petersburg and Clearwater. An alternative to the Tampa Airport is located here. The St. Pete-Clearwater Airport can be a simpler and more convenient way to get to Tampa. Favorite areas in Pinellas County include Gulfport, Clearwater, and Dunedin. The area caters to tourists and has lots of smaller rentable properties.

Pasco County: You’ll find many retirees have settled in this area, along with younger families too. Pasco is a hot spot for vacationers and is home to much of the Tampa area’s history. This is where you’ll find many cultural attractions, from museums to theaters. Housing here is some of the most affordable in the Tampa area.

Hernando County: North of Tampa is Hernando County, with its popular Spring Hill and Brooksville neighborhoods. This Florida region is called the Nature Coast because of its expanses of undeveloped land. You’ll find lots of outdoor attractions and activities here. Although this location attracts tourists, the beaches aren’t as busy.

Once you decide where to settle down, you’ll want to know where to eat. Tampa has a few dishes that are iconic to the area. In the top spot is the Cuban sandwich. It’s a sub sandwich with a flair. Ham, pork, salami, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard are stuffed between thick slices of Cuban bread. Pair that with Spanish bean soup, and you’ll be filled with the best of Tampa cuisine.

With the beauty of Tampa and its beaches, it might be hard to imagine running out of things to do in the city. One attraction of particular note is the Salvador Dali Museum. It houses nearly 1,500 pieces of the artist’s work. For those with wanderlust, Tampa is located in an ideal spot for day trips. You can be at Walt Disney World in two hours or at the enchanting Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in one hour, where you can take a kayak tour to see aquatic animals or watch mermaids from your seat in an underground theater.

Think of Tampa, and you might have images of sun and sand. The city has an average of 246 days of sun each year. With the sun comes heat. Summers in Tampa can bring oppressive heat and humidity. Temperatures are usually within 52°F to 90°F. The best time to visit Tampa is late February to early May and from mid-October to early December.

The cost of living in Tampa is 0.5% lower compared to the U.S. average. The average home price is $423,986 which is about 7% lower than the national average of $457,007. However, those who rent in Tampa don’t fare as well as the average apartment rent is $1,543, which is 11% higher than the national average of $1,393.

Got Your Eye on Nursing Jobs in Tampa, FL?

If the sun is calling, it might be time to take a serious look at RN, LPN, and CNA jobs in Tampa. IntelyCare can help put you in a position with a flexible schedule. Start your IntelyCare application today, and set your sights on an outstanding work-life balance.