Registry in Cali

Registry is another term for agency. Also per diem but that term can be used for both agency and hospital staff. Block booking is possible at some hospitals with consistent needs but they usually have to know and like you already.

I'm guessing you have heard about big bucks. That is only for staff. Registry maxes out at about $45 in the Bay Area, less than travel at around $50. Senior per diem staff are over $60.

10 years ago, it was possible to get a staff job and work 30 days straight or whatever and fly home with a bunch of money, but not anymore. Lots of travel jobs, not very many staff jobs and the only route to staff is to land a travel assignment, be very well liked and be very lucky.

Ok, so why in the hell is it so difficult to get a perm position in Cali?

I'm not an expert but I can speculate about the why. Since the 2008 economic decline, management can see a lot of economic risk and flat or declining revenues. So locking in increased staff costs and benefits is not cost effective over contingent staff unless you have a clear picture extending over one year of expected census. The accelerated changing of inpatient care to outpatient care from the ACA muddies forming clear predictions of staffing requirements going forward.

On on top of this uncertainty is the reality that in many parts of California that travel nurses can cost less per hour than a staff nurse can make the decision pretty clear to management.

That is what I think is likely going on. Before 2008, growth and the scarcity of nurses made hiring all comers a better business decision. Travel nurses are beginning to fail to meet needs in California and bill rates are going up. So the worm may have turned now and there may be more staff jobs opening up in the near future. But travel pay will likely go up too so staff positions may remain empty in this scenario.