California ICU RN Job availabilities

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Heading to La for my 3rd travel contract and wondering how the job market is there/difficulty of finding a staff position in the hospitals there? A little about me; 27 yo male, started nursing in June 2016 in a mixed CTICU/CCU level 1 trauma /teaching hospital, just finished my 2nd contract at Mount Sinai CVICU and starting a travel contract at USC Keck in their CVICU. I plan on applying to Kaiser's CRNA program. Going to work a few contracts and then my plan was to go staff somewhere for a year, get residence, retake some classes, and apply for the program. I'm just worried about being able to get a staff position in a CVICU in one of the teaching hospitals there. Any thoughts from a California RN greatly appreciated!

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You already work there, couldn't you find out by talking to staff or the manager?

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I don't start until 5/16. It's a big move for me and I'd like to have an idea prior to getting there.

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Specializes in ICU.

USC keck will probably have an opening. Also USC has a CRNA program. Kaiser will be difficult to get into.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Why don't you just stay travel and make more $$? You would be better off in school. I'm poor student now and wish I saved up more $$ prior to starting. The majority of my classmates all seemed to be travel nurses. If you're concerned about not taking the sickest patients to get you ready for CRNA school then tell the charge nurses there that you want the sickest patients, and then express that you did so in your interview.

USC's program also isn't as competitive as Kaisers, and while it's expensive, it's not too much more expensive than Kaiser's since they transitioned over to a DNP. If I were you I would keep taking the contracts at the level 1 hospitals and market myself as a well-rounded applicant with experience in multiple level 1 ICUs. Maybe try to per diem in a Kaiser ICU. CVICU isn't the end all be all. I have coworkers from My MICU and SICU that got into kaiser just fine. They're more focused on GPA and interview than anything else. USC took my buddy with 8 months of ICU experience at the time of application from a non-teaching hospital smaller level 2 trauma center. Focus on saving $.

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i Suggest just try stay as a travelling nurse , more money thats if u dont have family with u

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

Kaiser always has positions! Who do you travel with? American Moblie Healthcare out of San Diego usually has great contracts with Kaiser

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