Headed to San Diego in August... Hospitals/housing??

I am starting in San Diego in July and I will let you know how it goes!

Hi!
Worked at UCSD- hilcrest campus (main campus) in their 5 IMU. It was probably the poorest hospital I have worked in. It was extremely busy- especially night shift. It seemed like all patients would be transferred at change of shift. Sometimes i would transfer my entire assignment and have 4 new patients by 2300. It was CrAzY!!! I will never go back. But the manager was great- she would help on the floor. Help turn and clean patients. I dreaded going to work every night- I don't recommend it.
I went with Medical Express. The housing was awesome- La Mirage! Pay was like 26/hr.
I was there summer/fall of 2005.

Howdy!
I was a traveler in SD in '04....worked at Kaiser. The nurses/staff were wonderful to work with.....hospital so-so but good for Kaiser from what I understand. The bad side was that you floated frequently for the first 4 hours (I did 12H) and then would come back to your "home" unit. The patient/nurse ratios were good, but you still ran your butt off! I lived in Spectrum Center Blvd (I can't remember the name of the complex--I'll have to ask my hubby!) and they were AWESOME! It was by far, the best housing I ever had! The complex was gated, and lots of young military families and travelers were there. I had friends who also worked in SD, but worked at different hospitals. They lived at The Mirage....it was ok, but they were having problems with security (hopefully, this has improved). I made $35/H on a DOU, but most of the hospitals paid about $26/H. I LOVED SD--it was worth living with Kaiser just to get to be in SD. Hope this helps ya!

I have heard so-so things about Kaiser, yet the have an opening I am thinking of considering. Who did you travel with when you were in SD? Did you works days or nights? Thanks!

Hey all! Just wanted to give you an update. I'm going on my third week in SD actually La Mesa in E county. Im working at one of the sharps hospitals in the MICU. So far so good, pay is pretty decent, staff is friendly and helpful, Housing is excellent (they have me at Missions at Sunbow in Chula Vista). I have heard some horror stories about how this hospital treats travelers.... for example one traveler told me that out of two weeks she was floated out of the unit every shift but one. Also the regular staff here keeps warning me that the travelers always get floated out for the majority of the shifts that they are scheduled to work, and not necessarily to another ICU, more often to a tele unit. Well nothing bad has happened to me yet and I cross my fingers that nothing will. I am with Innovative Placements and I feel like if I do end up getting tossed around that they have my back. But on a lighter note San Diego is beautiful and the weather is awesome!

I was just interviewed for 5 IMU at UCSD. I thought the manager seemed really nice. They want me to come for 6 months. After reading the post above about the unit, I'm rethinking....

OK so I'm gonna give the low down on travelin' in San Diego. I've been travelin here and back for about 2 years, I've been and worked at many units in a number of facilities. Don't fret it's not bad or good just a head's up so u know what to expect. First, San Diego is a travel nurse town. The healthcare industry in this city has approx 30% travelers (almost 1/3 of the total workforce), the reasons for this are many but basically SD has a high cost of living but lower than nat'l average of salary (don't scream at me for specifics). There is a reason that American Mobile has it's coporate headquarters here (there campus is huge BTW). Second, San Diego is a highly travel nurse destination as such, the travelers here make the lowest pay-to cost of living indicies in the country (even San Fran makes more than us!) The travel companies know this and can use this against you .... Also, there is also the SD travel RN bug, meaning that a lot of travelers tend to linger and even go to staff because they just love the area! I've been to several of the facilities, Scripts Mercy, Script Chula, Scripts Green, UCSD Thorton, UCSD Hillcrest & Sharp Chula. I can let u know what to expect, but I have to rebut a slap to UCSD ... UCSD is primarily a physcian-driven hospital as like most academic medical centers in the west, there is little nursing leadership or respect however if teritiary care is what your used to then that's the place you want to be not Scripts or Sharp. I WILL tell you to RUN away from IMU! Also now for the good part, SD is a great down, live in La Mirage if you don't mind driving you'll meet LOTS of travelers (and I mean lots!, it's the Melrose Place of San Diego), otherwise I say to young single people live in PB (take the housing subsidy and live in a apt complex Avalon at Mission Bay) less travelers in this complex however lots of college students and beach bums ! You can WALK to the beach, bars & clubs! Great sights and u can see a lot, just be prepared not to save a lot of money while ur here! Hope this helps!! -Nick RN BSN CCRN CFRN

I'm glad you posted that about IMU. With two people saying it's bad conditions, I don't think it's the place I want to be. I'm glad I'm learning this now and not when I get out there. I'll be searching elsewhere.