San Diego, CA questions---going out in June

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I am planning on traveling to San Diego,CA this June and wanted to know what to expect. What type of payrates should I expect?which travel company is the best to work with out there? Which hospitals are travel friendley? I'm traveling with my husband and pets so I need a house. I want to be on or near the beach. What is a good area? I would appreciate any help or advice. I'm currently working in Washington, DC with American Mobile. I've heard their pay rates are lower than others and I've had some issues so I'm ready for a change. Thanks for the help!

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I traveled to San Diego... worked at Paradise Valley in National City, CA. I went with Access Nurses but later switched to a different company a few assignments later. They put me up at La Mirage in Mission Valley area which was really nice. Apparently that's where most travel nurses live.

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Thanks for the response Justine.

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Specializes in psych,med-surg,geriatrics.
I traveled to San Diego... worked at Paradise Valley in National City, CA. I went with Access Nurses but later switched to a different company a few assignments later. They put me up at La Mirage in Mission Valley area which was really nice. Apparently that's where most travel nurses live.

Hi, I am also taking an assignment in san diego in april for psych. I work for medstaff and this is my first assignment. 28/hr with housing does that sound fair? I also think i'll be staying at la Mirage apts. but when I looked up reviews they were all negative. Can anyone give me any info about the apt. and or pay rate? any bad dealings with medstaff? I appreciate any comments. thank you guys!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
Hi, I am also taking an assignment in san diego in april for psych. I work for medstaff and this is my first assignment. 28/hr with housing does that sound fair? I also think i'll be staying at la Mirage apts. but when I looked up reviews they were all negative. Can anyone give me any info about the apt. and or pay rate? any bad dealings with medstaff? I appreciate any comments. thank you guys!

Been in San Diego since June '09.

Travel companies paying the most $$$ here are Emerald & On Assignment. AMN is not...

AMN also nickel & dimes you for benefits any more and their travel pay is less these days. (um, they SUCK)

I don't know what you heard about La Mirage but it's nice. Maybe a little too active on the party side of things so it's not as quiet. VERY pet-friendly. Its a younger crowd so you might try Escala or Portifino down the street on Friars road. Still in Mission Valley and it's more of an adult oriented, more mature community.

Here's a pic of La Mirage:

100_1108.jpg

28.00/hr is low unless you're getting a stipend or per diem.

Look for over $30.00 @ least from Sharp, Alvarado, or Scripps.

I was @ Sharp Memorial and pay for the ER was $31.53/hr with housing & insurance paid. $600.00 travel.

... PRN or Registry @ any of the above is good money too if you want to work over your contracted shifts.

Me I'm outta here. After 3 contracts here in "paradise" going back to the greener pastures up north.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in psych,med-surg,geriatrics.

Thank you for your response emergency nrse, I don't mind the partying too much as I will be working nights anyway, maybe the partyer's will sleep in the day time with me..lol. I was just concerned about rats and break-ins at the apt.s. maybe they were disgruntle people that posted the reviews. with the 28/hr the apt and utilities are paid for but i will check with some other agencies to see about more money.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

La Mirage is nice enough and they have security.

Perhaps what I meant to say is that maybe Portofino has a more of a professional feel to the complex. The community is gated, has security and is pet friendly. They have a certain amount of travelers so just check with your company to place you there. It's a newer complex where La Mirage is about 10 years older.

I have been at both and IMHO Portofino is nicer. Staff more professional.

:twocents:

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Specializes in psych,med-surg,geriatrics.

Thank you again for your speedy response, this is all new to me and I definitely value all the input I can get. I'm so glad we have this "family" on allnurses, it's a real blessing!

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I am with Medstaff also , up north in Santa Rosa, doing some home health in wine country. This is my first assignment with medstaff, I just extended with them so i will be here until June. So far no problems with them. What has your experience been with them ?

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Specializes in psych,med-surg,geriatrics.

I'm leaving a assignment in n. dakota tomorrow, My recruiter at medstaff is great but the hospital was not very "hospitable" to me. So medstaff offered me another assignment and san diego is one choice but it looks like it will take a couple of months to transfer my license, is this true? I need to get back to work soon so I might have to go somewhere else before I can go to California.

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I have some earlier posts on getting licenses in CA, you can search by my name. It can be done in two weeks but you have to make a trip to CA, any city here.

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Specializes in psych,med-surg,geriatrics.

Thank you!

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