Need a little help from all the Los Angeles area nurses.

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I am planning my move back to Los Angeles towards the end of this year. I worked there 3 years ago as a travel nurse and fell in love with the city. My friends who currently live there tell me that I shouldn't have a problem finding a job. I have been a RN for 8 years and have worked in a variety of setting. I currently work on an abdominal transplant floor and really like it. I know that would limit my choices to UCLA, Cedars and USC. I really like teaching hospitals anyway so those three would've been my choices anyway. Any ideas on how much I could make in hourly salary. Also, does any of the above mentioned hospitals offer weekend option (Baylor) positions or float pool with benefits. Thanks to all who read and respond.

P.S.

Is Woodland Hills a good place to live. When I was there I lived in Toluca Lakes near Universal Studios (great area but sort of long drive to beach cities). What about some other safe places to live. How is Culver City?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the California state forum

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(Almost) Welcome back to California!

I don't know the pay rate, sorry.

And my geography of LA is a bit iffy, since LA is so big. What I do know is that Culver City is a bit closer to the hospitals and LA proper (downtown LA), and Santa Monica Pier compared to Woodland Hills (which is a bit north-west-y from the hospitals).

As to crime rates and such, you can try looking up the local news channels/newspaper to get an idea.

Good luck job & house hunting.

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Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.

Woodland Hills is a nice area (adjacent to Calabasas) - off the 101. Culver City is closer to Venice, West LA and Santa Monica, by the 10...

Good Luck to you

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Yeah, I am a Los Angeles resident. If you are considering Cedars, UCLA, or USC....please, please, please try to find a place near/by the 10 fwy. Driving from Woodland Hills to any of the mentioned hospital will be HELL!

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

UCLA states their salary ranges on their employment page when you look at the jobs. You should be able to find a job because you have a lot of experience.

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On any given excessive heat day in LA, Woodland Hills will be the one with a temperature of 103 when the nearby cities are at 96. If you can't tolerate heat, you should consider that.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

The Beach Cities are nice as is the Torrance/Southbay area. I'm not a big fan of the Valley since driving anywhere from there is a big ordeal.

Commuting from Torrance/Southbay to the 3 places you mentioned probably won't be as bad as commuting from the Valley even though the Valley is closer. Its all about freeway accessibility.

Culver City is relatively safe and its undergoing gentrification right now with a nice new mall and a cute little old town area with little resturants. It's adjacent to the 405 and the 10 though traffic can be a little sticky.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If you're dead-set on working at Cedars, USC, or UCLA, I'd advise against living in Woodland Hills because you'll be spending at least one hour in slow-moving freeway traffic on Interstate 405. It will take approximately one hour to commute the 12 to 15 miles on the 405 freeway from Woodland Hills to West LA.

I would live in Century City, Culver City, Westwood, Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, West LA, Miracle Mile, Inglewood, Downtown LA, or basically any city or neighborhood bisected by Interstate 10.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Pay rate for Cedars for 8 yrs experience is in the $50's range but of course that would depend on your specialty too. Don't forget about Kaiser Sunset or Children's Hospital too or even Huntington Memorial in Pasadena. As far as living in Woodland Hills it is pretty nice and safe but commute can be horrible, some days 10 miles can take up to an hour on the freeway. Depending where you work make sure you live close by since traffic especially on thursdays and Friday is ridiculous. Good luck.

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Thanks to everyone for all the great responses. I can't wait to move back to sunny SoCal. I have been here in St. Louis for the past 2 years and can't take another cold, snowy winter.

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