Alta Bates in Oakland CA

NedRN · Jul 3, 2014

Oakland is fine and Bay area bill rates for travelers can be quite high. Alta Bates and indeed most East Bay hospitals have a bad rep on traveler forums because you may float every four hours. The issue is structural, travelers work 12 hour shifts and staff work 8 hour shifts. As an ER nurse, that doesn't really impact you so I wouldn't worry about it.

As it happens, I have a little inside information here. 8 week assignment starting the 14th, right? Short assignments usually have a higher bill rate as all the underlying work, finding housing and credentialing the traveler has to be amortized over a shorter period. That said, the bill rate is higher than expected and I'm not sure why. They had it filled and the nurse (someone I know personally) cancelled last Friday. So they may have bumped the rate even higher as a rapid response job (short notice).

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 3, 2014

Ned, just found out this particular facility goes through Parallon and if you are an active HCA employee (which I am still PRN status for my home job), I can't qualify. This really sucks, as I was really looking forward to making that money LOL! I had already had a few spots for housing I had found on my own.

The bad part is I am already signed up to work back at home for my PRN job which is part of HCA. My agency said I would have to quit my PRN job in order to get this particular assignment.

BluntForceTrauma · Jul 9, 2014

Ned, just found out this particular facility goes through Parallon and if you are an active HCA employee (which I am still PRN status for my home job), I can't qualify. This really sucks, as I was really looking forward to making that money LOL! I had already had a few spots for housing I had found on my own.
The bad part is I am already signed up to work back at home for my PRN job which is part of HCA. My agency said I would have to quit my PRN job in order to get this particular assignment.

Hi! Just finished an assignment there in May. All the travelers worked 8's while the staff worked 12's. The staff is supposed to be converting to 12 hr shifts, but they were still fighting it when I left. I worked days and I was never floated mid shift...the 3-11 shift has it worst with the mid shift floating. I did float to med-surg and telemetry.

I worked primarily ICU. Most of the ICU nurses were pretty nice, but I think its all about attitude.

You will work every Thursday-Sunday! There were plenty of opportunities for OT with the high pay rate...loved my check!

There are several agencies that this hospital uses to staff...not sure if they all have to go through HCA though.

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 9, 2014

Hi! Just finished an assignment there in May. All the travelers worked 8's while the staff worked 12's. The staff is supposed to be converting to 12 hr shifts, but they were still fighting it when I left. I worked days and I was never floated mid shift...the 3-11 shift has it worst with the mid shift floating. I did float to med-surg and telemetry.
I worked primarily ICU. Most of the ICU nurses were pretty nice, but I think its all about attitude.
You will work every Thursday-Sunday! There were plenty of opportunities for OT with the high pay rate...loved my check!
There are several agencies that this hospital uses to staff...not sure if they all have to go through HCA though.

Thanks for the input! Did you feel safe there? Where did you live? A traveler who worked with me is starting there this week in the ED, but I think he is doing Alta Bates Berkeley.

I'm just now coming off 8 hr shifts and just don't know if I could do it again. So, it's probably good I didn't get this particular assignment.