Permanent relocation or Travel Nursing?

[Bchow410]

Hi everyone,

So I am a med-surg RN and I have just finished my first year of being on the floor! I live in Chicago, and have been applying to jobs like crazy but am getting NO calls from hospitals around here. I have my IL and CA license. I am leaving my current job because the nurse-patient ratios are crazy. Sometimes as charge I can have up to 7-8 patients.

Currently, I am going through a situation where I just got offered a job in San Diego on an ortho unit. They have not told me my base pay yet because they said they need HR to review my experience first, but they are offering me $2500 to relocate. However, I have heard that compared to other areas of California, San Diego has lower wages but high cost of living. I'd like knowing that I will have a permanent position, but I am afraid of permanently living out there.

I have also been in contact with a nurse recruiter from a travel nursing agency who says the company will provide housing or a housing stipend, they will pay for medical/dental/vision insurance premiums, and they have "low census protection" so that I won't be at risk of getting cancelled and having to reimburse the agency if I barely work. I am looking for a position in California, and they said they will email me with potential matches tomorrow, but after looking on their website it looks like most of their assignments are in Northern California which I also like, but I like SoCal better. However, since I only have one year of experience, I am sure there may not be a lot of matches for me at the moment.

I just don't know if which one I should choose. Has anyone worked in San Diego as an RN? How has your experience been working and living there? Also, has anyone had experience as a travel nurse? Any advice is helpful, thanks again!