Traveling to CA soon, need advice on where to start

[Dredredr]

I have been nursing for over 10 years. I float to different areas other than ICU, OR and PACU. I am not sure if it is better to do a travel assignment or per diem through a hospital or agency. Recently the rates that I've been quoted from travel agencies are really low, such as 44/hr. With the company not reimbursing for travel and no meal or housing stipend.

Does anyone have any information on:

per diem rates in Northen CA,

realistic expectations of travel companies,

agencies with the best packages/rates, or

any hospitals that have direct travel assignments.

Also besides CA what other states have good per diem rates?

[mushrooms4]

I was a travel nurse up and down the coast of Cali for several years and the further north I went the better the rate of pay. Also I did per diem registry in San Diego for several years and I will tell you, you basically have to be available for every day of the week with some companies to get your hours. I was available for an entire week several times, sleeping during the day and getting ready at night only to be cancelled. If you end up in San Diego or Orange County as a registry RN go with PRN Health Services, 888-830-8811, that's who I was with last, they bought the company I worked with (medsource) and they have contracts with all the hospitals in SD except the Kaiser system. I was very happy with them and they also do travel nursing so you can switch it up periodically. Good luck!