Travel Nursing Eureka CA-St. Joseph

[tampanurse2000]

Hi fellow travelers, can anyone share info on St. Joseph Hospital (med-surg) Eureka CA. I am considering an assignment there. Is it expensive to live close by the hospital, rent a car? would you do 13 weeks, or possibly 26 weeks. All responses appreciated, thanks in advance.

[NedRN]

It is not as expensive as most of California, and there is a fair bit close to the hospital. Great Safeway grocery store nearby too. If you cruise Craigslist, you will see a number of listings specifically targeting travel nurses.

Renting a car is always expensive, can you not bring your own?

It is always safest to do 13 weeks and extend if you like it. Eureka doesn't feel like an island, but many travelers will feel very isolated and meth abuse is far more visible than any other place I've seen. The climate is cool year round with an average temperature of around 60 degrees. 70 degree days are very rare in Eureka, much more common in nearby Bluelake and Fortuna.

Personally, I like the vibe of the hospital, and of course California staffing ratios are great. Some units have problems giving breaks, but there is no problem documenting them and getting paid an extra hour for each missed break - you might want to negotiate a better hourly rate just for missed breaks as you won't be getting extra housing and per diem pay for those hours.