Ohio RN looking for info on cali.. (San Jose, Riverside: rental car, apartment)

[Kereczr]

Hey I am about to recieve my RN and I've heard that cali really needs nurses and they are paid very well there...but how much do they typically make, and what are the typical benefits? Also, how do these stack up when you take the cost of living there into account?

Thanks in advance!

[Ultrarunner]

A lot of Bay Area Hospitals and Surgery Centers use "Travelers" It is great way for a Nurse to actually try-out living somewhere and not be tied down. We typically contract for 3 or 4 months at a time. One of the Travelers like the Bay Area so well that she is now full time.

[Kereczr]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

A lot of Bay Area Hospitals and Surgery Centers use "Travelers" It is great way for a Nurse to actually try-out living somewhere and not be tied down. We typically contract for 3 or 4 months at a time. One of the Travelers like the Bay Area so well that she is now full time.

Does the pay balance out with the cost of living? Because I know it is horridly pricey to live there.

[u2katie]

My dad works as a travel nurse in California. Actually I am visiting him right now, so he is directly giving me this info.

California has strict nurse/patient ratios, so they are very short handed. He works for a travel company called ATC Healthcare Services. You can check them out at globalnursesonline.com. There are a ton of agencies out there, but my dad is VERY happy with this one. His contracts are for 13-16 weeks each. So far he was worked in San Jose and Santa Barbara, where he is now. Pay is based on location, but right now he is making $34 base (first 8 hours of his shift), and $51 for the next 4 hours (to complete the 12 hour shift). He works 36 hours a week and brings home about $1100 after taxes and insurance, etc.

Also, his contract includes a fully furnished apartment, rental car, utilities, and travel expenses. His apartment right now is in Carpinteria and is right on the beach, very nice. All of his utilities are taken care of including internet and cable. They offered to have a phone line put in but he uses his cell phone all the time. Right now his rental car is a 2007 Chevy Impala, but last time he had 2006 Chevy Cobalt. After every contract, the agency pays for his flight home and back to CA for his next contract. If you choose to stay in CA in between contracts, you can get up to $300 in cash instead of the plane ticket. He usually has 3 weeks in between contracts, but it can be longer or shorter if he needs it to be.

He is really enjoying working out here and I think you would too. He says nursing in CA is a lot easier than nursing in other places. If you want more info, check out that website, or you can call his nurse recruiter at 800-323-7408 and talk to John Momboleo. My dad's name is Kelly Holt, so you can tell him he sent you.

Good luck!

[Kereczr]

Originally Posted by u2katie

My dad works as a travel nurse in California. Actually I am visiting him right now, so he is directly giving me this info.

California has strict nurse/patient ratios, so they are very short handed. He works for a travel company called ATC Healthcare Services. You can check them out at globalnursesonline.com. There are a ton of agencies out there, but my dad is VERY happy with this one. His contracts are for 13-16 weeks each. So far he was worked in San Jose and Santa Barbara, where he is now. Pay is based on location, but right now he is making $34 base (first 8 hours of his shift), and $51 for the next 4 hours (to complete the 12 hour shift). He works 36 hours a week and brings home about $1100 after taxes and insurance, etc.

Also, his contract includes a fully furnished apartment, rental car, utilities, and travel expenses. His apartment right now is in Carpinteria and is right on the beach, very nice. All of his utilities are taken care of including internet and cable. They offered to have a phone line put in but he uses his cell phone all the time. Right now his rental car is a 2007 Chevy Impala, but last time he had 2006 Chevy Cobalt. After every contract, the agency pays for his flight home and back to CA for his next contract. If you choose to stay in CA in between contracts, you can get up to $300 in cash instead of the plane ticket. He usually has 3 weeks in between contracts, but it can be longer or shorter if he needs it to be.

He is really enjoying working out here and I think you would too. He says nursing in CA is a lot easier than nursing in other places. If you want more info, check out that website, or you can call his nurse recruiter at 800-323-7408 and talk to John Momboleo. My dad's name is Kelly Holt, so you can tell him he sent you.

Good luck!

Thank you very much for this post, really appreciate it!

[Sage of Sagle]

u2katie,

Since Kereczr is happy to have received this data, we'll leave the post intact. But normally, we would need you to refrain from what could be interpreted by others as advertising for that company's recruiting department.

But we'd prefer to PM this type of data to someone in the future please.

[ferretkona]

And for the future the state is known as CA, So CA or No CA, Calif and California not cali.

[Kereczr]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

And for the future the state is known as CA, So CA or No CA, Calif and California not cali.

Why on earth would the difference of one letter matter?

[futureRCP]

do the same wage laws apply to RTs in california?

ie. first 8hrs base, next 4hrs at 1.5 base salary

im really interested in moving to LA/OC/Riverside county area

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

And for the future the state is known as CA, So CA or No CA, Calif and California not cali.

I can answer that one....

"Cali" is something coined by both hip hop artists, gang bangers, and "urban" folks (of any race, btw) and is the new "cool" name for California.

If you walk into some place in SoCal and say "Cali", people will look at you like you're an idiot who just watched "Biker Boyz" and "Fast and Furious" and are trying to be "urban".

At least that's how it was last year before we moved away.....