what do u think ?

Cmyst · Sep 23, 2003

Hi, Caramel

I don't think that's a very good wage, no. However.... what kind of unit are you considering working on? Is that a base rate, with more money added on for nights and weekends? And since you're coming from England, are you using an agency to get the job? Do they include housing, or transportation along with the hourly rate? Those are all things to consider.

As a Med/Surg RN with 10 years of experience I was given a $5000 sign-on bonus (half after 30 days and the rest after one year, taxes already taken out so I actually *got* $5,000) and made a base rate of $34/hr. Night shift added on an additional $4.40/hr. and weekends added on $1.20/hr. This was in Sacramento, where wages are lower than Southern Cali/LA area.

If you would like the name, phone number and contact information for the hospital system that I work for I will send it to you. I'm not trying to recruit for them, but I would appreciate you telling them I sent you because they will give me another $1000 for doing so! And hey -- Sacramento is way more reasonable on housing than LA or San Francisco and (much like London) is the seat of California government.

caramel · Sep 24, 2003

Cmyst

Thanks for your reply. the conversation i had with the lady recruiter she mentioned a flat rate of $27 and additional money if you work weekend, and night not sure how much exactly.relocation allowance is given $1500,which i think is very little amount considering i am relocating from one country to another. I am a pead. nurse.will be working nicu or picu

indie · Sep 24, 2003

Read Cmyst carefully and take heed! Good advice. I'm ex UK, now in USA for 16 years and also a peds. nurse. If you are skilled - NICU or PICU as you say - I'd advise you really look around. Sounds as if you could do a lot better - even without an agency - and it also sounds as if your recruiter is lame. S/he should know much, much more.

UCLA has a reasonably good reputation as an employer, but I think it might be wise to check out lots of other places and approach them directly.

Go it alone - you'll do better in the long run. Email me for support if needed.

pickledpepperRN · Sep 25, 2003

Just looked at the UCLA contract. A CNII with 6-7 years as an RN will earn $30.56/hour starting May 1, 2004. Evenings is an extra $2.25, nights $4.00, weekend $2.50, charge $2.00.

12 paid holidays a year.

The RN experience does not have to be at UCLA.

Cmyst · Sep 25, 2003

Caramel:

The contract that Spacenurse is referring to is probably the union contract with UCLA. Many hospitals in California are unionized, and many are not. Individual hospitals unionize, not an entire hospital system. I am not sure what your work status would be if you hired on as a contract traveler at UCLA; however, if you are mandated to pay union dues then surely UCLA would have to give you commensurate union wages! However, as I said, if housing and utilities are being paid by your agency, that is going to take away from your hourly rate. Since it's a tax-free benefit, some people prefer that. And in some areas, the cost of housing alone that their agency is paying for would add another $10/hr onto their wages --- it's really important to know what benefits, including housing and utilities, the agency is paying.

However, my prior advice stands: I think you can do better, especially as an PICU or NICU nurse, than the union scale that Spacenurse is quoting for UCLA. I recently saw an ad for L & D RNs, with full benefits including vacation/sick time (put together and called PTO, about 24 days per year), for a range of $40 to $50 at a hospital near the San Francisco East Bay area.

And I know that nurse managers from that system recently went to England to recruit, so they would probably be willing to work directly with you on getting your documentation and licensing.

pickledpepperRN · Sep 25, 2003

Cmyst:

Good advice.

I am not familiar with travel nurse contracts at all.

Housing is expensive in California cities.

Caramel:

Whatever you choose, WELCOME!

RNKPCE · Sep 25, 2003

I think that salary is low. You would be enter as a step 5 where I work in the Bay area and day shift pay would be around $38/hr with 10 diff for pm's and 20% diff for nights, and 10% for weekend, and 5% for charge.

We have had a few long term travelers(4years) at our hospital from England. The Traveling thing works well for them. Housing costs are very expensive here and that it paid for by their agency. Even though they may only make $20/hr their housing is covered. They have turned down permanent positions at our hospital because of the benefits of having their housing paid for.

It might be something to try to at least get in, and then go from there.

Gomer · Sep 25, 2003

Are you a contract nurse (i.e., traveler) or is UCLA sponsoring you for a visa? If you are a contract nurse is housing provided? Travel? Who will be paying your union dues, you or the traveling agency? More details would help us tell you if $27 is low or not.

pickledpepperRN · Sep 25, 2003

Travelers are not required to pay union dues, Their contract is with their agency.

An RN who is covered by the contract makes the CNA contract rate I posted above.

That said it may be best to try traveling because rent is high and you may want to leave after your contract is finished.

We need qualified peds nurses.

Glad to have you!

Clearly you are a friendly person. It comes through in your posts.

I imagine you will be a welcome part of the team in a short time.

caramel · Sep 25, 2003

Hello Gomer

I am not a traveller. i am directly employed by ucla. i went through an agency here in london who i suppose got the contract .ucla is sponsering my visa pertition to Bcis. As far as union dues go, i will be paying for them from my pocket .

how much is it ? accomodation is given for maximum of 2wks. hopefully one would be able to get accomodation after that. .it is a 2yr contract by the way:rolleyes:

Gomer · Sep 25, 2003

First, welcome to sunny warm So. Calif. and I hope you enjoy your work at UCLA (it's a great hospital....too many interns/residents for my taste, but still an excellent hospital).

Second, if UCLA is sponsoring you it's costing them money. About $2000 for a visa and if they do your green card it's about another $3000.

That being said, I would say that $27/hr is on the low side, but still acceptable. I believe UCLA pays a night shift differential and a weekend differential...which is extra money paid to you for working the off-shifts....which will increase your pay. Also, they are on 12-hour shifts and you can always pick-up an extra shift. Because of wage and hour laws in Calif. extra shifts are usually paid as OT (over time) at time-and-a-half. (UCLA, because it is state owned is exempt from many wage and hour laws that other privately owned hospitals have to face).

As for living costs....LA is expensive when it comes to housing unless you are willing to commute from the cheaper living areas. (A 1-bedroom apartment in the Westwood area -- where UCLA is located -- or on the "West Side" -- as we call the entire Westwood/Brentwood/Santa Monica/MDR areas -- will run you at least $1000/mo) Also, car insurance is high (and you will need a car). And, according to my friends who drink the stuff, so is milk. Other than that I would say the prices are similiar to any other big city -- London, NY, etc.

Again, WELCOME!