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The Ultimate Guide to Travel Nursing in California with Health Carousel

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Travel nursing opens a world of opportunities for nurses looking for adventure, diversity, and growth in their careers. Choosing the right destination can significantly enhance this experience, and California stands unmatched in beauty, diversity, and opportunities for travel nurses in almost all specialties. In partnership with Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, a nurse-nominated top 10 travel nurse agency known for its supportive and innovative approach, this could be the perfect adventure for you. If you've been considering taking travel nursing assignments in California, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health is prepared to support you on your journey.

Understanding Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is a unique career option for nurses seeking flexibility, adventure, and the opportunity to work in diverse healthcare settings. It involves temporary assignments at hospitals, healthcare facilities, and in-home health, usually lasting 13 weeks with Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health. Travel nurses fill gaps in staffing, bring specialized skills to teams in need, and support healthcare systems across the country. This role not only contributes significantly to addressing the fluctuating demand for nursing staff but also enriches a nurse's professional experience.

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The Role of a Travel Nurse

As a travel nurse, you are a critical healthcare professional, assuming duties that range from providing patient care to participating in the development of healthcare plans. You might work in various settings, including the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency rooms, and medical centers. The role demands adaptability, as each travel nursing assignment can entail different responsibilities, though the primary focus remains on delivering high-quality care to patients. This career path enables healthcare professionals to explore different areas within the nursing field and gain a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse

• Competitive Pay Rates: One of the most compelling reasons nurses choose travel nursing is the attractive pay rate. Often, the average salary for travel nurse jobs is higher than that of a permanently placed registered nurse.
• Flexibility and Freedom: Travel nursing provides unparalleled flexibility. Nurses can select assignments based on location, specialty, and schedule, allowing for a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional Growth: The varied travel nursing assignments offer opportunities for nurses to work in top-paying specialties, acquire new skills, and advance their career paths.

Why Choose California as Your Travel Nursing Destination

The beauty and diversity of california.

California is a dream destination for many travel nurses, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and vibrant cities. From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the serene beaches of San Diego, there's no shortage of places to explore. California's diverse geography presents opportunities for various outdoor activities, while its cities are known for excellent cuisine, entertainment, and arts scenes. This rich mix makes it an ideal location for healthcare professionals looking to enrich their nursing career with new experiences and lifestyles.

Demand and Salary Prospects for Travel Nurses in California

The demand for travel nurses in California is consistently high, driven by a robust healthcare system and the presence of numerous prestigious healthcare facilities. This high demand translates into competitive pay rates for travel nurses. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego often offer top-dollar travel nursing jobs, especially in specialties such as the ICU travel nurse or those with experience in the ABSN program. In addition to the high average salary, California also provides travel nurses with a unique opportunity to work in cutting-edge healthcare settings, further advancing their careers.

Working Conditions and Lifestyles for Nurses in California

In California, travel nurses can expect a supportive work environment with state-of-the-art technology. Healthcare facilities here are at the forefront of innovations in medical care, offering unique learning and growth opportunities for traveling nurses. In terms of lifestyle, California's diversity in geography and culture allows nurses to enjoy their time off in various ways, whether they are nature enthusiasts or city explorers. The state prioritizes the well-being of its healthcare professionals, fostering a healthy work-life balance for those in the nursing career.

With such compelling reasons to choose California as your travel nursing destination, partnering with a supportive travel nursing agency becomes crucial. Health Carousel Nurses & Allied Health emerges as a vital ally in this journey.

Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health: Your Ally in Your California Travel Nursing Journey

Exploration of health carousel's brand overview.

Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health empowers travel nurses by offering choice, career advancement, and a return to the passion of caring. With partnerships at leading healthcare facilities across the country, including in vibrant California, they provide a variety of travel nursing assignments tailored to meet their professionals' needs. Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health stands as an empathetic ally, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a travel nurse.

Opportunities and Innovations from Health Carousel for Travel Nurses

We have developed bespoke programs, including the Clinical Ladder , Work Study , and Career Coaching , to support the continuous professional growth of their travel nurses. These initiatives are reflective of their commitment to empowering nurses through education and skill development. Such innovations ensure that travel nurses are not just moving from one assignment to another but are on a path of career advancement and professional fulfillment.

Process of Partnering with Health Carousel

Partnering with Health Carousel is streamlined and user-friendly, thanks to their proprietary On Demand platform. Nurses and allied professionals can easily search for and apply to open travel nursing assignments in California and beyond. The dedicated support from our recruiters further simplifies the process, ensuring a smooth transition to each new travel nursing job. This system demonstrates Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health’s commitment to providing flexible career options and robust benefits for a sustainable and rewarding nursing career.

Start Travel Nursing in California and Beyond With Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health

If California has been calling your name, but you still want to have a long and fulfilling career as a nurse, travel nursing might be the right move for you. As a nurse-nominated top 10 travel nurse agency, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health is passionate about helping nurses start and succeed in their travel nurse careers.

Partnering with us will provide you with an abundance of benefits that are designed to help you grow your travel nursing career. Our caring recruiters know the importance of what you do and want to help you find travel positions that reflect your career goals. Some benefits we offer travel nurses are:

• Personalized job postings that suit your experience, education, and career goals
• Career Coaching
• Support from a QIN-Led Team
• Clinical Ladder and Work Study programs
• A Full Circle of Support
• Comprehensive health and wellness plans
• Competitive pay rates

Check out On Demand , our powerful web app, where you can search and apply for travel nurse jobs nationwide.

What do you need to be a travel nurse in California?

To be a travel nurse in California, you must have an active Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing or have a compact nursing license that California recognizes. Additionally, most travel nursing positions require at least one to two years of prior nursing experience in your specialty. It's also essential to have the necessary certifications for your specific area of practice.

Is it worth it to travel nurse in California?

Travel nursing in California can be highly rewarding due to the state's high demand for healthcare professionals, diverse patient populations, and the opportunity to work in various healthcare settings. Additionally, California often offers competitive pay rates and benefits that can significantly exceed those in other regions, making it an attractive option for many nurses. However, it's essential to consider the higher living costs in many parts of the state when evaluating the overall worth.

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Travel Nursing in California | Top Paying Specialties & Cities 2022

Travel nursing is an exciting opportunity to see parts of the United States while making some serious money. California — one of the most sought-after states because of the diverse culture, fun outdoor activities including swimming in the Pacific Ocean or sipping wine in the Napa vineyards — is the ideal place to take a travel nursing assignment.

This guide will help you learn more about travel nursing in California and why it might be a great fit for you!

Speak with a recruiter about available travel nursing assignments in California!

COVID & travel nurses in California

As of December 3, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported a minimum of 7,612 new cases per day.

California has been particularly hard hit with COVID cases, especially during the surge from the Delta variant. As a result, news reports indicate that more than ever, California is relying on travel nurses to fill the staffing shortage and help relieve overwhelmed hospitals. Furthermore, the Omicron variant has now been detected in California which could continue to strain hospitals and healthcare systems.

Currently, there is a shortage of 40,567 full-time RNs, which is projected to persist until 2026, according to an analysis of preliminary data from the 2020 Survey of California Registered Nurses and final data from the 2019-20 Annual RN Schools Survey.

How much do travel nurses make in California?

According to ZipRecruiter, the top locations for travel nurses are Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.

Los Angeles

• Hourly Wage: $49.00
• Weekly Wage: $1,953/week
• Monthly Wage: $8,463/month

San Francisco

• Hourly Wage: $50.33
• Weekly Wage: $2,013/week
• Monthly Wage: $8,724/month
• Hourly Wage: $45.48
• Weekly Wage: $1,819/week
• Monthly Wage: $7,883/month
• Hourly Wage: $44.40
• Weekly Wage: $1,776/week
• Monthly Wage: $7,696/month

Highest paying nursing specialties in California

The highest-paid travel nursing specialties depend on a variety of factors including location, demand, and urgency of needs. Right now, the demand for travel nurses in California is extremely high due to COVID and crisis contracts. As a result, the wages that are being offered are steadily increasing. Unfortunately, this is not being seen across all disciplines of nursing.

Historically speaking, the top paying travel nurse specialties are,

• Labor and Delivery
• Operating Room
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Post-anesthesia Care Unit
• Intensive Care Unit

With COVID, the top paying travel nurse jobs have changed and are based on location more so than position.

According to ZipRecruiter, the following cities have these top-paying specialties:

• ICU Travel Nurse: $58.54 per hour
• Emergency Room Travel Nurse: $57.29 per hour
• Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse: $63.26 per hour
• Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse: $63.13 per hour
• Critical Care Travel Nurse: $65.32 per hour
• ICU Travel Nurse: $58.29 per hour
• ER Travel Nurse: $59.04 per hour
• ICU Travel Nurse: $56.18 per hour
• Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse: $59.06 per hour
• Emergency Room Travel Nurse: $54.84 per hour

Looking for travel nurse assignments in California? Speak with a recruiter today!

Top 5 Hospitals in California

With more than 39.51 million residents in 2020, California is the most populous U.S. state in population. California’s population is projected to reach 45 million people by 2050. With such a large population, California has multiple cities with over a million residents including Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose.

U.S. World News and World Report evaluated 416 hospitals in California. The top five hospitals in California as of 2020 were:

1. UCLA Medical Center

• Location: Los Angeles
• Nationally Ranked: 14 Adult Specialties and 6 Children’s Specialties
• High Performing: 17 Procedures/Conditions

2. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

• Nationally Ranked: 11 Adult Specialties
• High Performing: 1 Adult Specialty & 17 Procedures/Conditions

3. UCSF Medical Center

• Location: San Francisco
• Nationally Ranked: 14 Adult Specialties and 10 Children’s Specialties
• High Performing: 14 Procedures/Conditions

4. Stanford Health Care – Stanford Hospital

• Location: Stanford
• High Performing: 1 Adult Specialty & 16 Procedures/Conditions

5. Keck Medical Center of USC

• Nationally Ranked: 12 Adult Specialties

Cost of living for travel nurses in California

As the national cost of living continues to rise, California has continued to see a dramatic increase in the cost of living. In fact, the cost of living in California has always been one of the highest in the country. Cost of living is defined as the amount of money needed to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare.

The cost of living is always higher in larger cities than smaller towns, therefore housing will cost more in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

According to Bestplaces.net , the overall cost of living in California rates 149.9. The number is well above 100, which means California’s cost of living is significantly higher than the U.S. average. The median house cost is $684,800 as compared to the median home cost in the U.S. as a whole ($291,700).

Payscale.com reports on the cost of living in major California cities including the median home price, median rent, and monthly energy bill.

• Compared to National Average: 43% higher
• Median Home Price: $788,384
• Median Rent: $2,470 / month
• Median Energy Bill: $180.74 / month
• Compared to National Average: 44% higher
• Median Home Price: $817,185
• Median Rent: $2,560 / month
• Median Energy Bill: $192.64 / month
• Compared to National Average: 80% higher
• Median Home Price: $1,146,835
• Median Rent: $3,593 / month
• Median Energy Bill: $182.92 / month
• Compared to National Average: 17% higher
• Median Home Price: $474,696
• Median Rent: $1,487 / month
• Median Energy Bill: $149.72 / month
• Compared to National Average: 49% higher
• Median Home Price: $860,907
• Median Rent: $2,697 / month
• Median Energy Bill: $210.75 / month

A great resource to evaluate how far a salary will stretch in a given city is CNN’s Cost of Living Calculator .

Pros & cons of travel nursing in California

With any career, there are pros and cons to the job. Travel nursing is no different. It’s important to take into consideration your own personal circumstances, family obligations, and reasons for wanting to be a travel nurse. Reasons that some nurses might see as a con may in fact be a positive for you.

• Increased earning potential: Travel nurses have the ability to earn significantly more money than staff nurses. Furthermore, they can make more due to reimbursements and incentives. Most travel nurses receive free housing or have a monthly allowance to put toward housing expenses.
• Travel: One of the main reasons travel nurses start this adventure is to experience different cities and states they may not otherwise get to experience. It also is great for nurses who are not sure where they ultimately want to settle down.
• Flexibility: You have the ability to take a contract when you want to and where you want to. If you really want to travel to Hawaii, you have the ability to find a contract that fits your needs.
• Networking: Most don’t consider this a huge pro of travel nursing, but it is! With an increase in the number of nurses that go on to earn an advanced degree, making connections with different hospitals, providers, and nurses can be very important when trying to find preceptors for graduate-level clinical rotations.
• Avoid hospital and unit politics: Most don’t like to admit but bedside nursing comes with drama and politics. It can be as simple as a hierarchy based on seniority or something more serious. Being a travel nurse allows you to avoid all of this by not being fully invested in the unit but rather helping out for a very specific amount of time.
• Always the new person: Being new to a unit can be exciting but can also be frustrating or even lonely. Not knowing anyone on the unit can affect the type of help you will get in your work environment.
• Not the best assignments: Some hospitals will assign travel nurses patients just like any other nurse on the unit. Others will assign them the easiest patients, the hardest patients, or the ones who no one wants to deal with.
• First to float to another unit: Despite being contracted to a specific unit, most travel nurses will have to float to other parts of the hospital within their skill set. This again will make you the new person which can affect how others perceive you and assist you throughout the shift.
• Finding a place to live: All travel nurse companies offer their nurses places to live during each contract. However, it is not always in the location that you want or with the amenities you desire. Contracts will offer a housing stipend instead, which most travel nurses take, but then finding appropriate housing falls on you.
• Changing health insurance policies: With each contract may come a new health insurance policy. This will be dependent on the agency that you work with. If you switch between multiple agencies then there will most likely be a lapse in your health insurance. However, nurses can opt for private insurance and pay out of pocket. That way, when the assignment ends, you won’t lose your insurance.

Why travel nurse in California?

California is a great state with sunny weather, diverse food, a rich cultural scene, pristine beaches, vibrant nightlife, mountains, and vineyards as far as the eye can see.

With an ongoing high demand for travel nurses of all specialties at very competitive wages, California is a great fit for anyone interested in becoming a travel nurse. Whether it is your first contract or your fifteenth, California has something to offer anyone willing to explore!

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• RN 13 Weeks Days Estimated Total Pay $3,856.69 - $4,046.67 /wk*

*Includes estimated wage of $49.19 - $56.19/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

• RN 13 Weeks Days Estimated Total Pay $3,588.46 - $3,778.44 /wk*

*Includes estimated wage of $53.69 - $60.69/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

*Includes estimated wage of $26.39 - $33.39/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

• CT Technologist 13 Weeks Days Estimated Total Pay $3,386.53 - $3,576.51 /wk*

*Includes estimated wage of $21.34 - $28.34/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

• Nuclear Medicine Technologist 14 Weeks Days Estimated Total Pay $3,366.52 - $3,556.50 /wk*

*Includes estimated wage of $55.43 - $62.43/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

• Cath Lab Tech 13 Weeks Days Estimated Total Pay $3,363.52 - $3,553.50 /wk*

*Includes estimated wage of $36.69 - $43.69/hr and non-taxable benefits if eligible

Travel Nurse Jobs in California

Are you a registered nurse that’s ready to explore new destinations? Start searching for travel nursing jobs in California with Host Healthcare. Whether you’re looking to explore Southern or Northern California, this state offers great weather, activities, and opportunities. Learn more about the career benefits and average annual salary you can earn while on a travel nursing assignment in California

If you are ready to access new California travel nursing jobs and take your career to the next level, talk with Host Healthcare today.

Cities Already Traveled

From northern to Southern California, Host Healthcare offers a number of nursing jobs throughout the state. Whether you’re looking for travel LVN jobs in the San Jose area or CNA jobs in the Southern California region of Santa Monica or you’re a registered nurse looking for placement, our team is ready to help you find the right hospital or healthcare facility for your specific situation and qualifications. Experience working with different healthcare professionals as you travel for your specialty by talking to one of our recruiters today.

California travel nurse jobs or traveling CNA jobs give nurses the opportunity to work in a new healthcare facility, train with a dedicated team of nurses, and earn an attractive salary. Whether you are a CNA, LVN, LPN, or RN, there are plenty of travel nurse jobs for your specific specialty.

Just a few cities we’ve placed travelers: San Francisco, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Redding.

The Perfect Meal

In-N-Out Burger Animal Style Fries, Ceviche Tostadas, Lobster Rolls, and Cold-Pressed Kale Juice.

Wade These Beaches

West Bluffs at Crissy Field, San Fran. Family-Friendly views of Golden Gate. El Pescador State Beach, Malibu. Not overly developed. Surprisingly secluded. Tourmaline Surfing Park, San Diego. Big waves for the avid surfer. Lifeguards on duty.

Get to Know the Flora and Fauna of Golden State

Your next travel nursing California job is waiting for you. Want to explore parts of the bay area and enjoy the city life or perhaps you’re looking to work in the small-home-feel town like Bakersfield? No matter the desired destination in California, we’re here to guide you on any journey. Whether you’re looking for travel RN California jobs or nurse practitioner jobs, our team of trained recruiters will help pair you with the best hospital. Find a travel assignment in California today!

Discover San Francisco

Mission district.

San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood has a lot to offer. From unique shops to new restaurants, this is a must visit. This place also holds some of San Francisco’s oldest structures.

Golden Gate Park

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Palace of Fine Arts

Gawk at one of the only surviving structures from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. View a dance production in this 900+ seat theater. There’s plenty to do at The Palace of Fine Arts.

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Host Healthcare is amazing! Best travel co out there! Amanda is the recruiter I have & she is wonderful. She is there from the beginning. From searching for the perfect assignment throughout completion of a contract - Amanda is there for me! Host Healthcare treats their nurses so well

Amanda Goad is the most amazing recruiter I have worked with. She is the most responsive and go-getter. She is in constant contact with you or hospitals to get you offers and/or advocating for you. She is super motivated and helpful. If you have the opportunity to use her, you will not regret it.

Needed to move across country to be next to my partner, but blindly jumping into a full time job for a hospital system I was not familiar with was out of the question. Host Healthcare (Natalie G specifically) stood by me and helped me fulfill my absurdly specific requests. I was a first time time traveler and I couldn't have made it without the support I received!

Just finished my first contract with Host Healthcare (fifth overall) and they were amazing! Specifically my recruiter Jenny Berroth. Jenny was so helpful and easy to communicate with. I had a couple issues come up and Jenny was all over them and took care of everything so I could just concentrate on being a nurse, while she handled the rest. I can’t recommend Host and Jenny enough! You have to give Host and Jenny a try, you’ll be glad you did!

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Travel Nursing at California Kaiser Hospitals

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest healthcare employers in the state of California if not the largest. Kaiser is also one of the biggest users of travel nurses in California. In this blog post, we’ll provide some detailed information about travel nursing with Kaiser so that travel nurses know what to expect.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest healthcare organizations in America. In addition to their massive footprint in California, they also have operations in Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Washington DC. Like many large organizations, Kaiser is broken up into regional subdivisions. While each subdivision is certainly accountable to the larger organization, they also have a certain level of autonomy with respect to operations.

We’ll be focusing on the California market in this blog post. There are two divisions of Kaiser in California, Northern and Southern. This fact only affects travelers on rare occasions. We’ll point out the differences where applicable throughout this article.

Is Kaiser a good place for travel nurses?

Of course, the first question every nurse considering a travel job with Kaiser wants answered is whether or not Kaiser is a good place for travel nurses. Are Kaisers “travel nurse friendly?” Unfortunately, this question is too general to provide an an all encompassing answer.

Workplace culture plays a big role in whether or not a job will be travel nurse friendly. And culture has a lot to do with the specific people you work with. Therefore, you will find differences between hospitals, differences between Units in the same hospital, and even differences between shifts on the same unit.

In an effort to lock down an answer, many nurses turn to message boards and social media groups to ask for feedback about a specific unit at a specific hospital. Be careful with this approach. Like everyone else, nurses have varying opinions on what constitutes a good work environment. So if you choose to go this route, we recommend asking for specific details and discard general answers like, “It was great!” or “Don’t do it!”

Having placed more than 50 travelers at Kaiser facilities throughout California, I can offer the following anecdotal observations. I worked with more nurses who took permanent jobs with Kaiser than said they’d never work there again because it was so horrible. A strong majority of my Kaiser nurses accepted an extension or took an assignment at another Kaiser hospital.

Kaiser is also great at making sure travelers get their hours and they cancel shifts far less than other organizations. Moreover, Kaisers are really good about making sure that nurses receive their breaks. Sure, you’ll find some Kaisers that drop the ball in both cases, but as an organization, Kaiser is really good about breaks and hours.

Despite these positive indicators, the negative perception of traveling with Kaiser is quite pervasive. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, Kaiser’s system, HealthConnect,  is quite tedious. As a result, I received regular complaints of micro-managing and overbearing paperwork. However, these complaints almost always subsided once the nurse got the hang of things.

Second, many Kaiser hospitals run on 8 hour shifts but bring travel nurses in on 12 hour shifts because it’s so hard to find travelers that will work eights. This means travel nurses are always there during shift changes. This can disrupt the continuity of care. It also increases the likelihood of floating. Travelers may be floated to another unit or may be transferred to a new set of patients as the shifts change. This doesn’t mean that every traveler floats all the time but it does increase the likelihood. Moreover, some specialties are affected more than others.

Travel nursing companies that work with Kaiser

Kaiser hospitals in California consistently have needs for travelers. However, some Kaisers have more needs than others. The most consistent needs are at the facilities in Oakland, Santa Clara, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about landing an assignment with Kaiser in California is that American Mobile Network (AMN) is the Managed Service Provider for all Kaisers in California. This means that AMN has an exclusive contract with Kaiser to staff all their supplemental staffing needs. However, AMN has agreements with a large number of “Sub-vendors” who help fill Kaiser’s supplemental job openings. To be clear, sub-vendors are agencies that have a contract with AMN to provide staff for Kaiser hospitals. However, everything goes through AMN.

This is an important relationship for nurses to understand. By and large, AMN has first crack at filling Kaiser’s supplemental jobs. If they are unable to fill the jobs on their own, then they’ll release the job openings to their sub-vendors. As a result, jobs in the most desirable locations, like San Diego, tend to get filled by AMN because it’s easier to find candidates interested in such locations. Therefore, nurses working with AMN will have the inside track on Kaiser’s jobs.

In addition, AMN charges sub-vendors a service fee that effectively reduces the bill rate for sub-vendors. The fee is approximately 2% of the bill rate. However, this doesn’t mean that sub-vendors always pay less than AMN. In fact, many sub-vendors are able to pay quite a bit more than their larger competitor.

Unfortunately, many nurses do not like working with AMN. The company routinely receives poor reviews on all the major travel nurse agency rating services. And we regularly hear that AMN pays very poorly for the extra hours . Again, AMN uses many sub-vendors for the Kaiser account including some of the top rated staffing agencies, so it’s not absolutely necessary to work with AMN to land a job at Kaiser.

The travel nursing submission process with Kaiser

Upon agreeing to be submitted for a job with Kaiser, your submission profile will first be sent to the AMN Account Manager responsible for managing the specific Kaiser hospital in question. You will be contacted by the Account Manager or another representative, typically within 24-48 hours, who will ask a standard set of basic questions. They will typically ask if you have ever participated in a Code Blue and if you are proficient with IVs. They will also ask if you have all the licenses, certifications, and experience required for the position.

Kaiser Travel Nursing Interviews

If everything checks out, they will schedule a time for your clinical interview. You should attempt to schedule the interview at soon as possible. AMN works hard to fill the positions quickly. So they routinely schedule people for interviews as they are available. This means that someone could sneak in before you and land the job if you wait too long.

Computer Interview

Currently, interviews for Kaiser travel nursing jobs are conducted via the computer. The process is pretty basic. A time will be scheduled and the computer access information will be provided to the traveler.

The interview has two main parts. First, there will be a series of questions that deal with your specific unit. These questions may include medication calculations and other unit specific inquiries. For this series of questions, your answers will be entered into the computer.

The second part of the interview is a series of standard interview questions that will be voice recorded. The questions will address issues like:

• What makes you a good employee?
• How often do you miss work?
• Describe a situation in which you used cultural diversity training to provide patient care.
• Describe an instance in which you had to care for a difficult patient or deal with a difficult family member.

For some great advice on how to handle a computer interview, check out this great article on Highway Hypodermics.

Of course, the computer won’t be able to answer specific questions you have about the job. This means that questions about float policies, support staff, and shift-report will not be answered during this interview. If you receive a job offer, then you can always request to speak with a unit manager or have your recruiter get your questions answered.

Interview With Clinical Interviewer

In the past, the clinical interview was always with a qualified Registered Nurse who worked for AMN. In rare occurrences, you may still encounter a live interview a so it’s beneficial to know how they work.

In this case, a time would be scheduled for the interviewer to call you. It’s best to be available a half an hour before to a half an hour after the scheduled interview time just in case the interviewer calls early or late.

The clinical interviewers typically operate off of a standard interview template that can be modified a little to fit the needs of the particular unit in question. They routinely asked situational questions and medication calculation questions very similar to what is asked on the computer interview.

Unfortunately, the AMN interviewers do not work directly with the unit so they tend to know very little about the way the unit operates. Here again, you may have difficulty getting your travel nursing interview questions answered. Therefore, it’s important to communicate all questions and concerns to your recruiter. This includes questions about scheduling, time off, and other issues.  Your agency will contact the AMN Account Manager who will communicate with the hospital to get answers.

The AMN clinical interviewer will typically let you know immediately whether or not you passed the interview. If you did not pass, then you’ll need to wait 6 months before interviewing for another Kaiser assignment. If you pass, your profile will be forwarded along with the results of your interview to the Unit Manager. Additionally, passing an interview with Kaiser is good for 6 months. Therefore, you can be submitted to any other Kaiser jobs for the same unit during the 6 month period.

Regardless of the type of interview you receive, time-frames vary for the Unit Manager to get back to AMN and your agency as to whether or not you landed the job in question. I’ve had weeks go by without an answer and sometimes the job offer comes back within the hour. On rare occasions, you may receive a call from the unit manager who may ask some additional questions or tie off any loose ends.

Travel nurse onboarding with Kaiser

The onboarding process is a bit more tedious with Kaiser than it is with many hospitals. This is due in large part to the fact that they require their travelers to complete a set or four online training modules on Kaiser’s HealthConnect system prior to orientation. These modules can take up to 12 hours to complete but most nurses finish them in far less time.

Of course, you’ll also have to go through all of the standard testing and submit all the standard medical, license, and certification documentation. It’s important to note that Kaiser typically requires an AWHONN Advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring Certification for L&D nurses. And they typically require a “Telemetry Certification” for Tele, SDU, PCU, and ICU nurses. The telemetry certification can be completed as a CEU course on the same website where the HealthConnect training is completed.

While we’re on the subject, the HealthConnect modules and Telemetry Certification course will be found on RN.com. This is AMN’s CEU and training website. You will need to register for an account. If you don’t want AMN to contact you, then you should be sure to un-check the box that gives them permission to do so during the registration process.

If your contract is with a Kaiser in the Southern California Division, then you’ll need to schedule and attend an onboarding orientation prior to your contract start date. This onboarding orientation typically lasts 3 to 4 hours and there are multiple locations and times available for scheduling. It’s most common for nurses to schedule this onboarding orientation the Saturday before their contract starts.

The onboarding orientation is conducted by an AMN representative. They will answer basic questions about reporting for your assignment. You will be required to complete some standard paperwork and take some standard tests. This is also an opportunity for AMN to pitch you on their services. They may even offer to schedule PRN shifts for you should you choose to take them.

If your contract is with a Kaiser in the Northern California Division, then you’ll be able to complete all the onboarding orientation requirements online. Northern California used to require attendance so the online option is a new addition. They may revert to requiring attendance in the future, or perhaps the Southern California Kaisers will adopt the online method.

As mentioned previously, Kaiser requires nurses to complete a large number of steps prior to starting their assignments. The HealthConnect modules were added to the onboarding process when AMN took over the Kaiser contract from NurseFinders. There was no reimbursement offered to nurses and agencies were unable to bill for the time. Needless to say, there were tons of complaints. Recently, Kaiser began providing agencies with reimbursement for the onboarding process. Nurses will undoubtedly find that reimbursement amounts vary from agency to agency. However, the figure we here most is $200.

Pay expectations for travel nurses at Kaiser

Of course, pay is one of the main considerations when deciding whether or not to accept a job. Kaiser used to be the highest paying option for travel nurses in California. That’s because their contract with NurseFinders had the highest bill rates in the state. The bill rate for Specialty RNs was approximately $72 per hour in Northern California and $66 per hour in Southern California. The non-specialty bill rate was approximately $67 per hour in Northern California and $62 per hour in Southern California.

When the contract came to it’s scheduled end, there was a bidding war between some the industry’s top agencies and the bill rates were reduced significantly. In fact, they dropped by approximately 8% to 12%. As a result, the pay at Kaiser is now on the mid to lower end of the pay scale for California contracts. The fully blended pay rate for a standard assignment with Kaiser can be anywhere from $38 per our to $48 per hour, give-or-take, and depending on the specialty in question.

That said, Kaiser still has the potential to pay the best rates in California. That’s because their “Crisis Rates” are really high. Kaiser approves crisis rates when they have an urgent need or a need that is difficult to fill. The fully blended pay rate for a Kaiser crisis assignment can be anywhere from $55 per hour to $63 per hour, give-or-take, and depending on the specialty in question.

Kaiser also has the potential to pay among the lowest rates in California. That’s because their bill rates for 8 hour shifts are really low. As mentioned previously, many Kaisers operate on 8 hour shifts. Therefore, they sometimes have assignments with 8 hour shifts. The fully blended pay rate for an assignment with 8 hour shifts at Kaiser can be anywhere from $33 per hour to $41 per hour.

Travel nurse time reporting at Kaiser

Of course, a nurse’s hours must be reported to the agency in order for the nurse get paid. Typically, Kaisers require travelers to submit a weekly time sheet to the hospital’s staffing office. The staffing office obtains the appropriate signatures and submits the time sheet to the Vendor Management System, FieldGlass, that AMN uses to manage the account. That time sheet is then sent to your agency if you are going through someone other than AMN.

It’s always a good idea to maintain your own time sheet and submit it weekly to your agency. In fact, some agencies require this. Doing so helps ensure that you are paid properly. It gives the agency a record to compare with Kaiser’s report. They can also use this record to help ensure that hours are reported in a timely fashion.

Travel nursing disciplinary actions with Kaiser

Kaiser contracts are completed without a hitch in the vast majority of cases. However, there is always potential for disciplinary action. In such cases, it’s important for nurses to understand the potential impact. For example, disciplinary actions can be recognized by all of Kaiser California,  just one of the divisions, or just the hospital that levied disciplinary action. This is particularly important when a nurse is flagged as “Do Not Return” or “Do Not Use.”

Moreover, the nurse could potentially be marked as DNU by AMN. This is important even if you do not wish to ever work with AMN. Unfortunately, AMN is the Managed Service Provider for many hospitals and hospital organizations throughout the country. Therefore, if a nurse is DNU’d by AMN they could lose access to all the hospitals where AMN is the Managed Service Provider.

Again, these instances are rare. Be sure to communicate with your recruiter to determine the impact should you find yourself in such a situation.

As always, we’d love to here about your experience with this topic. Please post your questions and comments in the comments sections below!

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They blacklisted me for reporting on of their clients for discrimination. The were the vendor. On that note, if they retaliate for reporting who wants to work for a company like this anyway.

It is illegal for them to do blacklist. Especially in the state they are in. People can report them or any agency that does this to the Labor Board. Just look up the law in the state you worked in or the state the agency is based.

They should put thr CEO on Undercover Boss because she probably does not know what her employees are doing.

FOR ICU TRAVEL NURSES: I’m currently at Kaiser and was hired as an ICU nurse but have only worked one shift in the ICU. All other shifts I have been floated to the floor and they will float you every 4 hrs if they need to. Multiple nurses (and the manager) in the ICU have told me to expect to float the majority of the time. With union laws travel nurses have to float before regular staff. Just be aware if you are wanting to work in the ICU. It’s not necessarily bad just not what I expected or wanted.

I had a bad experience with AMN. One of their reps wrongfully lied and said my doctor’s office never faxed my physicians statement. They faxed it 7 times. The rep continued to cover her end and not tell the truth. The same rep also cleared and reset something and all my tests vanished. She continually lied and said she didn’t. I then I formed AMN that I printed my 1st test in December of last year. She then informed the staffing rep I was wrong. This staff rep Jackie Townsend then accused me of being crazy. Jackie said I coudon’t print my certifications. I still have it. Later I had problems on their sites with learning modules. I informed them. They were no help as they blamed me for a lot. I then found the program format needed to have certain computers add another program. No one was aware of this. I then went to a friend’s and worked a week and a half on these learning modules and papers I needed to sign. Monday at 5 on the General manager of the Pleasanton office decided to not have me work with their office. Corporate management said they can’t do anything about this and it’s up to the branch it self. I couldn’t believe I worked on these modules and put so much time into this from December and January to be blacklisted cause their employee wrongfully cleared my account and tests as well as lied on all my physicians statements being faxed. My doctor’s office was upset that this rep was slandering them as well as acted with defamation of character. This company violates various medical regulations, wants to profit off our professions and treats us as though we are wrong and then not pay me for my time and work I put on these modules. NLBR violations, EEOC, FEAH and etc.

what ever you do stay away from AMN !!! Horrid people with conniving personal, I am suing them for damages and harassment.

As this article states, this is a horrible agency to work for, please listen to the article above and all the reviews from nurses. Let’s come together and make this fools go out of business. AMN needs to be reported to the person who makes the decision for awarding the contract of hiring supplemental staff. This company is full of nasty, unprofessional staff, people that will mark you DNU for any reason making it impossible for nurses to work with any other agency, moreover, they will report you to the Nursing Board and jeopardize you nursing license, this has been done to several nurses. Please, Please my fellow nurses do not use this agency and if anyone knows who to contact at Kaiser make them aware of what this people are doing with the nurses. If you do or say anything that they don’t like they will find ways to screw you. We all worked to hard to be nurses, don’t let this LOSERS take it away from you.

Thank you so much for this article. I understood more in 5 minutes reading your article than I did it with a sub-vendor. You rock!

Thanks, Mel! We’re glad to hear the information was helpful!!

Are the onboarding tests a pass/fail kind of thing, where the contract has the potential to be cancelled like with PBDS? Also I was told I need to show up for PSCO and onboarding, what does PSCO stand for? Thanks!

Typically, Kaiser hospitals will go through remediation when tests are failed. In other words, they’ll let you retake the test. However, I have heard of instances where contracts were cancelled for failing tests. It’s rare, but it happens. I’m not sure what PSCO stands for. It’s been a few years since I recruited, so I checked with a recruiter who places lots of nurses with Kaiser. They were not familiar with this acronym either. It may be referring to the online modules that Kaiser requires, but those aren’t something you need to “show up for”. They’re completed online. Or perhaps the acronym refers to the “pre-onboarding” that you must attend prior to thee contract start. This onboarding session is held with Kaiser’s Managed Service Provider, currently AMN Healthcare. We’d love to hear if you find out what PSCO actually means. I hope this helps though!

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Discover a smarter way to find travel nursing opportunities., medely puts you in control.

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Which nursing homes meet new federal staffing standards? See data for your local facility.

For decades, academic research has shown staffing levels reliably predict the quality of care in nursing homes. a usa today analysis shows many southern states have the lowest staffing levels..

Nearly all nursing homes in America will have to hire more nurses and aides under a new rule released this week that mandates a minimum level of staffing , although the gap is significantly wider in many Southern states.

Just 160 skilled nursing facilities out of roughly 14,500 that receive federal payments for care met the new requirements every day last summer, according to the most recent daily time card data available to the public and analyzed by USA TODAY. Most nursing homes met core components of the new rule on only three days out of 92 in the quarter. 

About half the time, facilities had enough people to provide each resident at least 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse (RN) each day, as the new rules require. About one day each week, the facilities could provide each resident 2.45 hours of care from a certified nursing assistant (CNA, or aide), which they must do every day under the new rules. In addition, nursing homes have to provide a total of at least 3.45 hours per resident of daily nurse-and-aide staffing as well as have a registered nurse on site 24/7. 

Map: Do nursing homes near you meet the new standards?

The map below shows federally funded skilled nursing facilities and how short, on average, they were from meeting the requirement for at least 3.45 hours of daily nurse-and-aide care, based on a USA TODAY analysis of the summer 2023 quarter. Blue dots indicate facilities that met the standard more often than not. Don’t see a nursing home map? Click here .

The USA TODAY analysis found that many facilities comply with some components of the rule at least part of the time, but it is rare for them to consistently meet all the minimums. 

It was more common for nursing homes to have enough registered nurses, with most meeting the minimum about half the time. It was less common for facilities to have enough aides on duty, with most only having enough CNAs about one-third of the time.

The rules will be phased in over three years. The regulation also allows an exemption to the rules for facilities that can prove they are located in an area with a shortage of health-care workers and have made a good faith effort to hire more nurses and aides. 

Why is it important to have enough nurses and aides staffing a nursing home?

For decades, academic research has shown that staffing levels reliably predict the quality of care in nursing homes and that shortages increase the risk of delayed response to daily needs, like toileting and eating, as well as medical emergencies, such as falls and strokes. A pivotal federal study from 20 years ago, when most nursing home residents were younger and healthier than today, suggested a minimum of 4.1 hours per resident each day – more than the new rule.

These are the first nationwide minimum staffing rules with numeric benchmarks, which supporters have said will make it easier to track and enforce.

Regulations have long required – and still do – that skilled nursing facilities have enough nurses and aides with the correct training to meet the needs of every resident’s care plan. Some people require more care from a registered nurse for complex medical conditions. Others need more assistance from an aide with daily tasks like getting out of bed or eating. A previous USA TODAY investigation found, however, that the rule was rarely enforced .

Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a union representing many health care professions, had advocated for the new staffing minimums as crucial to reducing burnout and turnover among nurses and aides in addition to the benefits for the residents they serve. The new rule could result in nursing homes hiring more than 200,000 additional care workers – if they can find them.

Which states have the biggest gap in nursing home staffing compared to the new rules?

It is more common in several Southern states for skilled nursing facilities to operate with fewer nurses and aides than the new rule would require. 

In Louisiana, nursing homes had, on average, the total minimum staffing on just 3 out of 92 days in the summer quarter last year. The next lowest were Texas (4 days), Oklahoma (8), Tennessee (8) and Georgia (9). 

Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas had the biggest gap to fill on registered nurse staffing, meeting the new requirement on 6 days, 14 days and 16 days out of 92. In addition to Puerto Rico, Guam and Washington, D.C., three states, on average, had facilities meeting the new standard at least 75 days in the quarter: Alaska (90), Hawaii (88), Utah (79), Maine (76) and Delaware (75).

Many Southern states also fared poorly when comparing current staffing of aides to the new requirements. Out of 92 days, facilities met the CNA requirement on 11 days in Texas, 15 days in Tennessee and 16 days in Virginia. On the flip side, facilities, on average, met the requirement on 89 days in Alaska, 81 days in Oregon and 72 days in North Dakota. 

Housing | How California fares in 20 national rankings,…

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Housing | cal poly humboldt closes campus for rest of semester over gaza protests, housing | how california fares in 20 national rankings, from housing to crypto to wellness, be aware that the creation of these grades is far more art than statistical science..

We live in a ranking age with lists of “best” and “worst” and “in-between” touching every slice of life, industry and geography.

Some of these scorecards are based on polling. Others are data-based, trying to decipher government or business stats. And some are simply opinions – individual or consensus.

Yes, these rankings can be discussion starters – whether for policy debate or just plain fun. Before the chats get too intense, be aware that the creation of these grades is far more art than statistical science.

I’m bemused at the wave of state-vs.-state rankings that flow into my inbox at work. Most of these scorecards are not created to advance societal conversations. Rather, they’re promoted in hopes of generating online attention for a company that likely paid somebody to create “best/worst state” buzz.

Not that these state grades themselves aren’t interesting. So, I waded through my inbox to find 20 rankings for California that might intrigue somebody.

20 scorecards

No. 1 spending per capita on clothing and footwear, according to shopping stats tracked for QR Code Generator.

No. 2 costliest housing gap – average wage for bachelor’s degree holders vs. median rent for a one-bedroom apartment – says U.S. Census Bureau figures tracked by Sparefoot.com.

• SHOPPING NEWS: What’s the big trend? Who’s buying what? CLICK HERE!

No. 2 lowest percentage of its population as young homeowners, from a review of census data for Agent Advice.

No. 3 largest average business borrowings, says an analysis of Small Business loans from 2020-2023 by CreditDonkey.

No. 3 biggest three-year jump in diabetes diagnoses to 2021, says a peek at government health stats by Diabetes Strong.

No. 3 most online searches per capita looking for ways to become self-employed, according to a study by QRFY.

No. 3 obsessed with cryptocurrency, according to CoinLedger that looked at online search volume for crypto-related terms.

• HOW NIMBY ARE YOU? Ponder common objections to new housing. TAKE OUR QUIZ!

No. 3 most desirable work/life balance, says ranking by Plus Docs tracking government jobs stats.

No. 4 best place to start a business, says a study of business applications by Schmidt & Clark.

No. 5 best for overall wellness, says a ranking by Gayfriendly comprising 14 health factors.

No. 5 top place to study as a marketer in college, according to a review of 18 different metrics by Ahrefs.

No. 5 best for women entrepreneurs, based on a peek at seven metrics by Lendio.

No. 6 worst in providing timely medical care, from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality data studied for Parrish Law.

No. 8 happiest families, as measured by weddings-to-divorces ratio, says Census analysis for Bedbible.

No. 8 lowest share of population reporting depression, says a look at Center for Disease Control stats for MentalHealthRehabs.com.

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No. 8 highest per capita searches for online courses per person, according to study for Freedom Bound Business.

No. 9 most likely place to get burglarized, according to grading of crime states for Suzuki Law.

No. 14 toughest to get a driving learner’s permit, says gradings done for Zanes Law.

No. 13 lowest risk of household mold, says a look at climate patterns for FDP Mold Remediation.

No. 16 highest share of population aged 25 years or over with at least a bachelor’s degree, from a look at government graduation data for Essayservice.com.

Bottom line

To be honest, let’s state a caveat: Who would send a journalist a pitch highlighting “California ranks 25th” in blah-blah-blah? Middle-of-the-pack rankings are boring. Thus, my inbox has a bias toward the cases where California is an outlier – good or bad.

So any conclusion, if one might draw anything meaningful from this rather random collection of stats, is that California is an expensive place with both good and troubling characteristics.

Did you need 20 scorecards to tell you that?

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]

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Construction starting on $12 billion high-speed rail between SoCal, Las Vegas

The project is touted as the first true high-speed passenger rail line in the nation, designed to reach speeds of 186 mph.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (KABC) -- Construction is expected to begin Monday on a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas.

Brightline West aims to lay 218 miles of new track between a terminal to be built just south of the Las Vegas Strip and another new facility in Rancho Cucamonga. That trip usually takes well over three hours by car.

The company says its fully-electric train will take just over two hours each way.

Almost the full distance is to be built in the median of Interstate 15, with a station stop in the Victorville area.

Forecasts are for 11 million one-way passengers per year, or some 30,000 per day, with fares well below airline travel costs. The trains will offer rest rooms, Wi-Fi, food and beverage sales and the option to check luggage.

In a statement, Brightline Holdings founder and Chairperson Wes Edens called the moment "the foundation for a new industry."

Brightline aims to link other U.S. cities that are too near to each other for flying between them to make sense and too far for people to drive the distance, Edens said.

The project is scheduled to be complete by the time Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics in 2028.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday will join Brightline leaders at the start of the construction in Vegas. Brightline received $6.5 billion in backing from the Biden administration, including a $3 billion grant from federal infrastructure funds and approval to sell another $2.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds. The company won federal authorization in 2020 to sell $1 billion in similar bonds.

The construction is expected to create jobs for many in Southern California.

"We're looking at thousands of jobs as a result of this and hundreds of millions of dollars of investments, and that impact is going to be felt for years to come," said Rancho Cucamonga City Manager John Gillison. "This project will have a big impact on California, and especially Southern California."

Other fast trains

The project is touted as the first true high-speed passenger rail line in the nation, designed to reach speeds of 186 mph (300 kph), comparable to Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains.

Florida-based Brightline Holdings already operates the Miami-to-Orlando line with trains reaching speeds up to 125 mph (200 kph). It launched service in 2018 and expanded service to Orlando International Airport last September. It offers 16 round-trips per day, with one-way tickets for the 235-mile (378-kilometer) distance costing about $80.

Other fast trains in the U.S. include Amtrak's Acela, which can top 150 mph (241 kph) while sharing tracks with freight and commuter service between Boston and Washington, D.C.

Ideas for connecting other U.S. cities with high-speed passenger trains have been floated in recent years, including Dallas to Houston; Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina; and Chicago to St. Louis. Most have faced delays.

In California, voters in 2008 approved a proposed 500-mile (805-kilometer) rail line linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, but the plan has been beset by rising costs and routing disputes. A 2022 business plan by the California High-Speed Rail Authority projected the cost had more than tripled to $105 billion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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