travel to CA

LadyNASDAQ · Apr 26, 2007

I go to Cali every year. It's my second home especially during hurricane season.

rnerin · May 10, 2007

Hi! I worked at Kaiser Santa Clara form 5/04-12/04. It was my first travel assignment-a little of a shock at first-goofy system, BUT lots of travelers-everyone was very nice to me. TONS of opportunity for OT (at that time). I am an ICU nurse-was floated to "step down" (more like med-tele) at least 4 hours/week, but after the initial adjustment, it was okay. We actually lived in San Jose (20 minute drive to work)-LOVED it!! I agree with the other folks-pay is better in the north. Good luck!

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2007

Travel nurses want CA because of the ratios. Your friends gave you bad information, or based on something prior to the ratios going into effect. And that was several years ago, and will even change in 2008 to 4 patients per nurse on Med-Surg.

sotexasrn · May 11, 2007

I worked in Sacramento last summer: great weather, great pay, lots of things to do, was treated very well by the staff. I was at a CHW hospital.

Good luck

riverrdnurse · May 11, 2007

I'm just finishing up an assigment at a Kaiser in San Diego. Great people, great location, but the floating was horrible! I contracted for ICU and have worked ICU 2 times in the last month. I'm usually floated to at least two units a day, sometimes three. Even with the ratio, that can add up to as many as twelve patients in a 12 hour shift (rarely 3 floats/day). I love CA and will definitely try to find another assignment (bay area preferably) but I sure learned what my first question in the interview will be -- HOW MUCH FLOATING???

NurseguyFL · May 20, 2007

I love California and will definitely be going back there for my next travel assignment this summer. Only, I wouldn't work for Kaiser in the Bay Area again because of their floating policy. My last assignment was in the LA area and it was great. Very traveler friendly staff, friendly managers, great DON. Ratios were awesome compared to Florida. Only reason I came back to FL for a while is because local agency contract was paying significantly more money, but now that 'season' is almost over the local work will soon dry up so I'm looking forward to going back to Cali again.

kalbo3 · Jul 10, 2007

Hey there TravelguyFL, So are you back in Cali yet or just starting to appreciate the hot humid summer days in the south. I have heard about a lot of high paying assignments in Cali. Who you working for now and do you like them? Hope all is well.

Happy Travels,

Jason

48RVRN · Jul 12, 2007

I'm thinking of a Central Coast assignment for my next place. Any recommendations or warnings for me?

Selke · Jul 12, 2007

I'm thinking of a Central Coast assignment for my next place. Any recommendations or warnings for me?

The central coast is beautiful. It's rural and small town, but in the unique way coastal CA can be with beautiful rolling hills, Pacific Ocean, vineyards, strawberry fields, Oaxacan migrant workers ... (ie, it's not midwestern or southern US type of rural!)

San Luis Obispo (SLO) has 2 hospitals. Tell your agency you want to live on Pismo Beach, althought SLO is a great little town.

Santa Barbara is fabulous and is considered central coast. Cottage hospital has a great reputation and is travel friendly.

Further north there's Monterey and Santa Cruz, both very cool places to be. CHOMPUS (Community Hospital of Monterey Pennisula) has a great reputation, travel friendly.

There are several much smaller hospitals in the entire area, with not so great reputations and poor staffing in spite of the ratios. Be careful.

Most of these hospitals only book travel RNs for night shifts, however. Check them out!

48RVRN · Jul 12, 2007

Thanks so much for the info and I'll keep it in mind!

Diary/Dairy, RN · Jul 15, 2007

This is all great info- I cannot wait to work my way out to California!!