Specifically, which L.A. hospitals pay more???

Rule #1: If one facility is paying more than the other in the same area, consider why? Location is a big thing. Your safety also needs to be taken into account. And especially if you have always lived at home. LA has sections that are very nice, as well as sections that are not nice.

Focusing on the pay is not the way that you should select a facility or rule another one out. What type of unit do you wish to work on? Do you speak Spanish? Do you want large teaching hospital? Smaller community hospital?

Many of the major hospitals only have new grad programs that begin two times a year, August and in the early winter. That is something else that you need to consider. If you are actually graduating in August, you are not going to have time to get an Interim Permit that quick. Especially since you did not attend nursing school in CA. Your application will not even be processed until the BRN has received a completed set of transcripts from your school.

Just a few things to think about.

See if you can get this magazine sent to you:

http://nursing.advanceweb.com/main.aspx

The one for Southern California obviously. There are some ridiculously good offers in there, one that comes to mind was Children's Hospital in LA, a $10 or $20k sign on bonus, a $5k relocation bonus AND they paid you a housing allowance for 6 months! Hourly rate was good too. I've seen some others that look very appealing, a lot of relocation, signon bonuses, free medical insurance for you and your family, weekend differentials, night differentials, paid training for depts like ICU, ED and L&D. I would start calling recruiters now just to see what kind of programs they might be offering. I imagine a lot of new grad programs are probably going to start around Jan/Feb or July/August though since those are traditionally when school gets out.

If you only want the money 2 hositals come to mind. First, Cedars Sinai it is I think on the outskirts of beverly hills. I think they pay what everyone else pays like 30 an hour but their night shift differential is insane. It is like 7 bucks an hour. So it really adds up. I know people who work their and hate it because the patients are very needy and complain about the smallest things. That is all from a friend.
The second hospital is King Drew medical center. You might have heard of them because they lost their accrediation and closed their major trauma ER ( i hope i got that right) They pay more because noone wants to work their, it is in the heart of the worst neighborhood in los angeles. It is just south of watts in willow brook. It is crazy, I think i would only work their for like 45 or more an hour. You have to worry about getting your car stolen and robbed. It is very bad.

I would reccomend going to a different hospital and getting a little overtime hear and their. I personally do not believe either of these hospitals is worth the extra money. Good luck.

Ben

Kaiser pays very well - not sure what they pay new grads but it's definitely up there.