[kkennedy]

I'm taking my first travel assignment at the end of the summer in CA. I have one year experience in cardiac critical care. To all those experienced travelers out there, which city would you recommend for a young, single, new nurse? I have family in San Fran but most of my friends have worked in LA before and can give me lots of tips. I'm at a loss of what I should do. Any ideas? Anyone?

[HeyFraydo]

I'd go for San Francisco unless of course you can be housed in near the Beach in LA like Marina Del Rey and not working at MLK.
I believe SF pays more. LA Traffic was a nightmare and 7 miles can take an hour at times. I believe in San Fran there is housing walking distance from hospitals or use abundant public transport. SF is more beautiful and plus you'll have family there for your first assignment.

CJ website: Travel NurseToolbox :luck:

[kkennedy]

I've been talking to recruiters about San Fran. One told me that UC medical center in SF doesn't take first time travelers. Has anyone else heard this before? Also, has anyone worked in Oakland, CA?

[Anmutasc]

As a fellow ICU nurse, just a suggestion, you may want to get a little more experience under your belt before traveling. It may seem that you know a lot after 1 year experience, but once you are out of your element, and see how different other ICU's can be and come across problems you havent' seen before, it can be really overwhelming. I am in San Diego now and its great and on my way up to San Francisco next. Good luck

[MercedesBoy]

Originally Posted by kkennedy

I'm taking my first travel assignment at the end of the summer in CA. I have one year experience in cardiac critical care. To all those experienced travelers out there, which city would you recommend for a young, single, new nurse? I have family in San Fran but most of my friends have worked in LA before and can give me lots of tips. I'm at a loss of what I should do. Any ideas? Anyone?

I would choose San Francisco over LA anyday.