Picking up travel again...in California. Pointers?!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Surgery.

Hi All-

I am picking up traveling again in February 2015, and am hoping to travel to California for awhile. I am an emergency medicine nurse and hold a compact license currently. I have already applied to the nursing board in California for temporary and permanent licensure and just awaiting...They received in 12/3/2015. Can anyone give me any pointers? Best locations in California? Best hospitals? Best place to live? Time it will take to get my license?

The only agency I have accepted contracts with was Nurses RX back in 2013. I had no problems with them at all, liked my recruiter. This time around Id like other options...so any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT.

It can take a long time to get your license. I sent my stuff in back in March, they cashed my check in April and I didn't get a license until August. It's mid-December and I still don't have my paper license cards, despite "re-ordering" them in September. The CA BON is slow, understaffed and clunky. I'm sure the people working there are overwhelmed. I didn't apply for a temp license though, so I don't know how long that takes.

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When My wife decided to Travel To California it took about 2 months from the cashed check to get the license. California is great just pick an area you would like to go. Do you like Water sports, Then look down the Coast from San Louis Obispo Down to San Diego. Like to Ski then check out Sacramento and surrounding areas, they are close to Lake Tahoe Skiing. Or Even Bishop right down the road from Mammoth. Do you like Wine on your days off then Look near Napa. California is one of the Few States that has everything. It does make it hard to leave, but remember your a Traveler. FYI when we travel to California I was able to Surf then Ski in the same day :)

Rooster

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

There are plenty of jobs in CA for travelers. I always stick to the coastal areas and avoid too inland...location is always my number 1 priority. Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Barbara are my favorites. I've never done San Diego but would love to. I love southern CA, people are laid back & friendly for the most part and it's sunny year around.

When I was in northern CA, SF, Marin County and Napa were all great locations. I tend to travel places I'd want to vacation at. And sometimes I'll pick a large academic hospital, it always looks good on my resume. I received my license several years ago so can't comment on that.

Also, there are so many weekend trips you can do while living in CA. So if you grow tired of your current city or need a getaway from it all there are limitless options. Best of luck.

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I hate to be a downer but I applied in March and just received my CA license first of December. And that was after months of calling (at least an hour of continued redial and then 30-45 mins of holding) Good luck

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
I hate to be a downer but I applied in March and just received my CA license first of December. And that was after months of calling (at least an hour of continued redial and then 30-45 mins of holding) Good luck

That's insane!

I applied for mine Sept 2013 and received my license Nov 2013. Don't know what has changed since then, but I do know that getting my fingerprints done in person while I was on vacation there made a huge difference as compared to someone who mailed in fingerprint cards from out of state. I knew I'd be traveling there for a work assignment "someday" so opted to get my license sooner than needed. Glad I did, now ready to take a Calif assignment in April once my current one ends :)

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