PhD in California

I think university of phenix have a program for phd. give them a call and ask the academic adivser all your questation including other schools that have phd program.

UCLA has the best PhD program in Southern California and UCSF has a great program in the Bay area. Check out their websites

Nani gave you names of 2 good schools. I would like to add too that if your interest is in cardio-pulmonary nursing, you might want to check the faculty profiles in the university websites to see what specializations and what areas of research the faculty members are involved in. That way you will find a program that can match the areas you want to focus your research on and there will be an available faculty that can mentor you through that process.

I also think that you should speak directly to the director of doctoral program in the schools you are interested in so that you can get all the information you need.

Salaries? maybe check salary.com