Veela101

To start with, UCLA's ED is part of the UCLA University Hospital system (http://www.medctr.ucla.edu/ucla-medical) while the ED for USC is part of LA County USC (http://www.ladhs.org/phcommon/public/adrs/adrsprogdetail.cfm?orgid=118&unit=lacusc&prog=lacusc&ou=dhs) - the seperate USC University Hospital (http://www.uscuh.com/) itself does not have Emergency Services. I hope this helps somewhat. :-)

That sounds awful. Does your agency have a DON - someone with an RN license you can talk to? Mine does and I've found her a very helpful resource in situations where I have felt overwhelmed. Recruiters, no matter how good/bad, just cannot know what the RNs are up against - they have never worked a hospital floor so you cannot expect them to.

It can lose you the job depending on the hospital. Beware especially if it is a chain of hospitals like a CHW or Kaiser.

I specifically know of a lot going to Bakersfield...

Suzanne - you are so right! Plus, specifically for OR nurses, many states have them only circulate, where in CA you need to scrub AND circulate or you are useless in the OR - no scrub techs to help you out... aargh.

I'm guessing here, but I assume you interviewed with the John George Psychiatric Pavilion in Oakland/San Leandro. They have recently switched to 8 hour shifts so as not to pay OT... That has changed things a lot... Lots of Psychiatric nurses migrating south...

I would try CA then. Seriously - you get time and a half after 8 hours in a day so if you work a 12 hour shift, you get OT pay after the first 8 hours you work, even if you only work one twelve hour shift - it's the law!! I know a CA specific agency if you want to contact me!

That is accurate - Kaiser Santa Clara, Santa Teresa (San Jose) and San Francisco all make you float like crazy. Thank GOD I work with a local California recruiter who told me that when we first spoke!! I told her DO NOT submit me and she told me that these three facilities will float you once every 4 hours if need be. A nurse she had me talk to confirmed! Seriously, these huge national agencies are awful when it comes to information relay - I'm an advocate for using the local medium sized places - they are not too small where they will tell you anything to keep you, but they know their sh@@ if you know what I am talking about. If you're unhappy, let me know - I'll hook you up!

Ah - I know these guys well. I've seen their contracts... They say that they offer very high pay for travellers, until you see the fine print. I saw one contract for $38/hour - that's if you don't take any benefits - goes down to $33.50 if you do - plus housing clause is really shady. I haven't had a roomate since college folks - don't want one now... The bonuses are great - if you travel for the whole year. Contracts are limited as well (hospitals tend not to like to use Fastaff.) If I were you, if you have a location in mind, I'd use a local agency. They know where they are sending you - heck, the recruiter may be your patient some day at a local agency! They will most likely have the best and most plentiful contracts in the area you are looking for. When I decided it was California or bust, I chose a local agency and loved it - ended up going perm after 3 13 week assignments! I talked to Fastaff at the beginning and it was like Long Beach or Palm Springs. Palm Springs is like 120 degrees in the summertime and Long Beach can be hit or miss neighborhood-wise! Ugh!

I would suggest either the suburbs of a larger city, or a more rural town (Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto, Grass Valley). Here's why - the big cities in CA have horrendously high housing costs (regardless of whether you get company housing - believe me, you will feel this), few camps and more for young boys to get in trouble doing... Salaries depend on the company you work for really from what I hear. I myself like places that pay good stipends or per diems rather than having a super high hourly taxed wage - that's just a personal preference. Northern CA rates beat S. CA by a mile - but the SF Bay area is expensive too... Do you have a company you are going with? If not, I can suggest a place I've heard of that my girlfriend likes - she's with them now (I went staff a while ago but am toying with the idea again.)