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travel nursing in california reddit

The Ultimate Guide to Travel Nursing in California with Health Carousel

travel nursing in california reddit

Table of Contents

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 nurses' gold rush is over. Now, some are joining other nurses in leaving the profession altogether.

Image: Travelling nurse at field hospital

Working as a travel nurse in the early days of the Covid pandemic was emotionally exhausting for Reese Brown — she was forced to leave her young daughter with her family as she moved from one gig to the next, and she watched too many of her intensive care patients die.

“It was a lot of loneliness,” Brown, 30, said. “I’m a single mom, I just wanted to have my daughter, her hugs, and see her face and not just through FaceTime.”

But the money was too good to say no. In July 2020, she had started earning $5,000 or more a week, almost triple her pre-pandemic pay. That was the year the money was so enticing that thousands of hospital staffers quit their jobs and hit the road as travel nurses as the pandemic raged. 

Image: Reese Brown

Two years later, the gold rush is over. Brown is home in Louisiana with her daughter and turning down work. The highest paid travel gigs she’s offered are $2,200 weekly, a rate that would have thrilled her pre-pandemic. But after two "traumatic" years of tending to Covid patients, she said, it doesn’t feel worth it.

“I think it’s disgusting because we went from being praised to literally, two years later, our rates dropped,” she said. “People are still sick, and people are still dying.”

The drop in pay doesn’t mean, however, that travel nurses are going to head back to staff jobs. The short-lived travel nurse boom was a temporary fix for a long-term decline in the profession that predates the pandemic. According to a report from McKinsey & Co., the United States may see a shortage of up to 450,000 registered nurses within three years barring aggressive action by health care providers and the government to recruit new people. Nurses are quitting, and hospitals are struggling to field enough staff to cover shifts. 

Nine nurses around the country, including Brown, told NBC News they are considering alternate career paths, studying for advanced degrees or exiting the profession altogether. 

“We’re burned out, tired nurses working for $2,200 a week,” Brown said. People are leaving the field, she said, “because there’s no point in staying in nursing if we’re expendable.”

$124.96 an hour

Travel nursing seems to have started as a profession, industry experts say, in the late 1970s in New Orleans, where hospitals needed to add temporary staff to care for sick tourists during Mardi Gras. In the 1980s and the 1990s, travel nurses were often covering for staff nurses who were on maternity leave, meaning that 13-week contracts become common. 

By 2000, over a hundred agencies provided travel contracts, a number that quadrupled by the end of the decade. It had become a lucrative business for the agencies, given the generous commissions that hospitals pay them.  A fee of 40 percent  on top of the nurse’s contracted salary is not unheard of, according to a spokesperson for the  American Health Care Association , which represents long-term care providers. 

Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, there were about 50,000 travel nurses in the U.S., or about 1.5 percent of the nation's registered nurses, according to Timothy Landhuis, vice president of research at Staffing Industry Analysts, an industry research firm. That pool doubled in size to at least 100,000 as Covid spread, and he says the actual number at the peak of the pandemic may have far exceeded that estimate.

By 2021, travel nurses were earning an average of $124.96 an hour, according to the research firm — three times the hourly rate of staff nurses, according to federal statistics. 

That year, according to the 2022 National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report from Nursing Solutions Inc., a nurse recruiting firm, the travel pay available to registered nurses contributed to 2.47% of them leaving hospital staff jobs.

But then, as the rate of deaths and hospitalizations from Covid waned, the demand for travel nurses fell hard, according to industry statistics, as did the pay.

Demand dropped 42 percent from January to July this year, according to Aya Healthcare, one of the largest staffing firms in the country. 

That doesn’t mean the travel nurses are going back to staff jobs.

Brown said she’s now thinking about leaving the nursing field altogether and has started her own business. Natalie Smith of Michigan, who became a travel nurse during the pandemic, says she intends to pursue an advanced degree in nursing but possibly outside of bedside nursing.

Pamela Esmond of northern Illinois, who also became a travel nurse during the pandemic, said she’ll keep working as a travel nurse, but only because she needs the money to retire by 65. She’s now 59. 

travel nursing in california reddit

“The reality is they don’t pay staff nurses enough, and if they would pay staff nurses enough, we wouldn’t have this problem,” she said. “I would love to go back to staff nursing, but on my staff job, I would never be able to retire.” 

The coronavirus exacerbated issues that were already driving health care workers out of their professions, Landhuis said. “A nursing shortage was on the horizon before the pandemic,” he said.

According to this year’s Nursing Solutions staffing report, nurses are exiting the bedside at “an alarming rate” because of rising patient ratios, and their own fatigue and burnout. The average hospital has turned over 100.5% of its workforce in the past five years, according to the report, and the annual turnover rate has now hit 25.9%, exceeding every previous survey. 

There are now more than 203,000 open registered nurse positions nationwide, more than twice the number just before the pandemic in January 2020, according to Aya Healthcare.

An obvious short-term solution would be to keep using travel nurses. Even with salaries falling, however, the cost of hiring them is punishing.

LaNelle Weems, executive director of Mississippi Hospital Association’s Center for Quality and Workforce, said hospitals can’t keep spending like they did during the peak of the pandemic.

“Hospitals cannot sustain paying these exorbitant labor costs,” Weems said. “One nuance that I want to make sure you understand is that  what a travel agency charges the hospitals  is not what is paid to the nurse.”

Ultimately, it’s the patients who will suffer from the shortage of nurses, whether they are staff or gig workers. 

“Each patient added to a hospital nurse’s workload is associated with a 7%-12% increase in hospital mortality,” said Linda Aiken, founding director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research.

Nurses across the country told NBC News that they chose the profession because they cared about patient safety and wanted to be at the bedside in the first line of care. 

“People say it’s burnout but it’s not,” Esmond said about why nurses are quitting. “It’s the moral injury of watching patients not being taken care of on a day-to-day basis. You just can’t take it anymore.”

Jean Lee is an associate reporter with NBC News’ Social Newsgathering team in Los Angeles. She previously reported for the NBC News consumer investigative unit.

BluePipes Blog

Travel Nursing at California Kaiser Hospitals

travel nursing in california reddit

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!

travel nursing in california reddit

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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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travel nursing in california reddit

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Travel Nursing in California – Myths Vs Reality

Home » Travel Nursing in California – Myths Vs Reality

There are so many wonderful travel healthcare providers that come to me each week asking about travel nursing in California . Well, I totally hear you and your questions, and I think the best way to address all of the inquiring minds is to myth-bust all of the assumptions already out there about what the life of a travel nurse in California really is like.

Click Here If you’re looking for travel nursing jobs in California

Table of Contents

Beach All Day Every Day

  Myth: the only myth about beachin’ all day every day is that you have to take an assignment that is within driving range of the beach, or this one is actually impossible. Therefore, if you want to go to the beach quite often during your assignment be sure to do your research about the location you are requesting or accepting.

Reality: many travelers enjoy the beach or being Oceanside, but do not actually spend a ton of time there during an assignment. California beach life is what you make it. If you are close to the beach and want to go all of the time, by all means! The reality to the reality of this one is that if you want to do something you have all of the power within you to go and do it. Do not give up on your dream of living near the ocean when travel healthcare makes it so attainable! Another thing, living near the beach has many of the same benefits and excitement as going to the beach every day, too.

Gorgeous Hospitals

  Myth: the myth about the hospitals in California is that they are all state of the art. Many of them are, so that is pretty neat. However, not all of them feel like they came directly out of a Grey’s Anatomy set. The thing is, healthcare is about the patients, so that is the top priority and I can assure you that all of the hospitals we work with are top-notch high-quality facilities with fantastic patient care. Some are newer and some are… wiser… J but all are worth checking out.

Reality: it depends on where you want to go and where you can land a job when it comes to working at a brand new fancy facility. There are plenty of wonderful places to choose from with plenty of natural sunlight and fantastic views to make the shift a little more humanized.

Long Wait Times for Licensing

  Myth:  the myth about the long wait times for California travel nursing is that they are nine months to a year long. That is the really rare exception, not the norm for travel nursing in California. However, they are still really long. That is just the truth. I applied for one. It took 14 weeks. Which yes, is months. It was not even close to a year, though, so I feel like that should be noted. I have also heard of the turn around being within thirty days but for some people, who have not submitted their paperwork correctly they can wait closer to a year.

Reality: if you submit all of your paperwork correctly on the first submission you should be just fine planning 2-3 months for licensing. Just be diligent. Do your research! Stay on top of the website and apply during your assignment before you want to try travel nursing in California.

Huge Pay Rates

  Myth: the myth about huge pay rates is that every California job will be massive. That just is not true. That is not true for any state.

Reality: Travel nursing in California is by far the highest paying travel gig in the country. There are many jobs where travelers can make a ton of money per week. There are also some assignments out in California where they make as much as they would, or less, in another state. The best part about travel nursing in California is that you have opportunities, if you are flexible, to make an insane amount of money. Be flexible, work hard, stay on top of the pay packages on Wanderly, and you could find your riches out here!

T ons of Jobs

  Myth: the only myth about there being tons of jobs for those who want to try travel nursing in California is that the jobs may not be in the exact location that you desire to go to. You may have to adjust your game plan and be willing to try travel nursing in California in an area you do not know much about at a hospital you have never heard of. That is the adventure, friends!

  Reality: the reality is simple. There are a ton of jobs in California available to travelers. Keep in mind, with various seasonal differences and like with any state, that is subject to change at any given moment. However, for the most part, California is jam-packed with opportunity for healthcare travelers. I remember when I worked with an agency there would be hundreds of open jobs at any given point just in our community. It is crazy! Get out here quickly before 1/100 th of them fill up fast!

Beautiful Weather Everyday

Myth: this is just not true, but it is also in the eye of the beholder. I live in Los Angeles, so the majority of days are beautiful with the worst weather being rain. In addition, if you choose to live near the ski resorts or the Bay area that is completely different for you. It all depends on where you live, but yes, there are places where the weather is beautiful 350/365 days of the year and the other 15 are chilly, not “cold”.

Reality: I cannot even consider moving because of how beautiful the weather is consistently out here. I just got off the phone with a friend from Minnesota who is pulling her car out of the snow, and I am about to take my bulldog to the beach. If you like warm weather and sunshine, we want to see you soon!

Come travel with us! Click Here If you’re looking for travel nursing jobs in California

Kelley Johnson Chief Nurse Advocate Wanderly.us

Stay connected with us! Join our Facebook group for Travel Healthcare Professionals here .

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Expert Advice on Travel Nursing in California

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1. Where to Get the Highest Pay

Generally, travel nursing pay rates are higher in northern California than southern California. However, pay rates can vary widely within cities as well. Some cities can bill as low as $20 per hour. Areas where there is high demand such as Los Angeles and San Diego also have lower pay rates.

The Dignity Health, Kaiser and HCA hospitals in northern California all have higher bill rates than the same hospitals in southern California. A few hospitals in southern California that have higher than average pay rates are West Hills Hospital and Los Robles Hospital. Hospitals that pay lower than average in northern California are Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

2. Where to Live Affordably

As far as cost of living goes, some areas of California will surprise you with how expensive they are. San Francisco rivals New York with its cost of living. In the central valley, such as from Bakersfield to Stockton, though, you can find some affordable places to live. Bakersfield and Fresno are good choices, because the cost of living is love compared to the relative pay in these areas. These areas are not the most glamorous, though, and you may find yourself living the slow life.

Sacramento, which is the state capital, is a happy medium. It has lower cost of living than San Francisco, but is higher than the rest of the central valley while still having some nightlife and mixed cultures. San Diego is also a highly desirable city to live in. It has beautiful weather and a lively scene. There is a lot of competition for jobs in San Diego, which leads to lower pay rates. If you think that’s worth it to live in a fun city with a beautiful coastline, then go for it!

3. Plan Ahead to Get Your License in Time

To qualify for endorsement into California as an RN, you can take a long or short path. The long path is currently taking about 12 to 14 weeks and the short path can save you several weeks. The short path involves using LiveScan to submit fingerprints for your background screen, but you need to be in California in order to do this. If you want to work as a nurse in California, you need to either plan at least three to four months ahead of time or make a trip to California to do the LiveScan in person.

The other required documents are:

1) The Application for Licensure by Endorsement . 2) 2 recent 2×2 passport photos 3) License verification, which can be accomplished on Nursys. 4) Nursing school transcripts and pre-requisites need to be sent to the California Board of Registered Nursing.

4. How to Understand the System

California has three major hospital organizations, which are: Kaiser Permanente with over 38 hospitals, Dignity Health which has at least 32 and Sutter Medical Foundation that has at least 19 hospitals. In addition, The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) operates five hospitals, Tenet Healthcare operates 11 and Cottage Health System operates all the hospitals in the Santa Barbara region.

This is important to know, because hospitals in the same system use the same agencies for staffing. They also have standardized rates, which follow the hourly rates at agencies.

5. Enjoy California’s Fair Laws

In California, nurse-to-patient-ratio laws exist. This means that hospitals cannot assign more than a certain number of patients to one nurse. For example, a Telemetry nurse cannot have more than four patients.

In addition, California has strict laws related to rest and meal breaks, which work in favor of nurses. This is a major positive difference for nurses who need to rest during long shifts.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Covid-19 Testing and Vaccinations

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Discover the Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing in California

travel nursing in california reddit

Travel nursing is an exceptional and exhilarating career choice for healthcare professionals looking to expand their horizons, grow their skillset, and receive competitive compensation. However, before you take the plunge and start applying for travel nursing positions in California, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons. While the Golden State offers plenty of opportunities, there are also potential downsides to consider, such as the high cost of living, competitive job market, and license transfer issues. It is crucial to do your research and plan accordingly before embarking on a travel nursing adventure in California. With the right preparation and support from a trusted travel nursing agency, nurses can take advantage of all the benefits of travel nursing while minimizing potential challenges.

Benefits of Travel Nursing in California:

  • High Demand: California has a large and growing population, which creates a constant need for qualified healthcare workers. As a travel nurse, you’ll have access to a wide range of job opportunities in various healthcare settings, from hospitals and clinics to nursing homes and home health agencies.
  • Competitive Pay: Travel nurses in California can earn competitive salaries, often with higher rates than those in other parts of the country. California also has a high cost of living, which is factored into the pay rates for travel nurses. Cities like Los Angeles and San Diego are listed on Indeed as being two of the top eight highest-paying cities for travel nurses in the US.
  • Beautiful Scenery: California is a vast state that boasts a variety of geographical features and attractions. From its stunning beaches to its majestic mountains, its deserts to its national parks like Yosemite , California has it all.
  • Top-Ranked Hospitals: California is home to some of the top-ranked hospitals in the country, including the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Stanford Health Care.
  • Diverse Patient Population: California has a diverse patient population, which can provide travel nurses with valuable experience working with a variety of medical conditions and cultural backgrounds.
  • Cultural Attractions: California is home to many cultural attractions, including museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks. Travel nurses can take advantage of their time off to explore the state’s rich culture and entertainment options.

California Yosemite National Park located in California

In addition to the many benefits, there are also some potential downsides to travel nursing in California.

Cons of Travel Nursing in California:

  • High Cost of Living: California is one of the most expensive states to live in, with a high cost of living that can make it difficult to save money, especially in larger cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
  • Competitive Job Market: While there may be many job openings, there are also many qualified candidates vying for those positions. This means that travel nurses may need to have more experience or specialized skills to be considered for certain roles. The job search process can also be time-consuming and stressful, as travel nurses may need to apply to multiple positions and go through several rounds of interviews before they are offered a job.
  • Traffic and Commuting: California has some of the worst traffic in the country, particularly in major cities. This can make commuting to and from work a frustrating and time-consuming experience.
  • License Transfer Issues: If you are a travel nurse from another state, you may need to obtain a California nursing license, which can be a lengthy and expensive process.
  • Housing Shortages: In some areas of California, particularly in high-demand cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, there can be a shortage of affordable housing. This can make it challenging to find suitable accommodations, especially if you are on a tight budget.
  • Natural Disasters: California is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes, wildfires, and mudslides, which can be a concern for travel nurses working in the state.

California remains an attractive destination for travel nurses. Despite some of the potential challenges, including the high cost of living and a competitive job market, the Golden State continues to offer excellent compensation packages and impressive nurse-to-patient ratio caps. Additionally, California is known for its natural beauty, rich cultural history, and diverse communities, providing endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. If you’re looking to begin your travel nursing journey, TheraEx Staffing Services is here to help. With over a decade of experience in providing rehabilitation services in the Bay Area, our team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to assist you in making the transition. Contact us today to speak with one of our recruiters and discover the opportunities awaiting for you!

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Travel nursing california reddit.

Travel Nursing California Reddit

Travel nursing in California is becoming increasingly popular among healthcare professionals. The state boasts some of the best hospitals and healthcare facilities in the country, making it an attractive destination for nurses looking to advance their careers. One of the most popular online communities for travel nurses in California is Reddit. This platform allows nurses to connect with each other, share experiences, and get tips for their assignments.

What is Travel Nursing?

Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is a type of nursing where healthcare professionals work on temporary assignments in different locations. These assignments typically last 13 weeks, but can be shorter or longer depending on the facility’s needs. Travel nurses are in high demand and are often compensated with higher salaries and bonuses.

Why Choose California?

California

California is a popular destination for travel nurses for several reasons. First, the state has some of the best hospitals and healthcare facilities in the country. Second, the state offers a diverse range of assignments, from rural areas to bustling cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Finally, California has great weather and plenty of activities to enjoy during off-time.

What is Reddit?

Reddit

Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website. It has a large community of users who share links, photos, and other content related to specific topics. There are many subreddits dedicated to travel nursing, including r/TravelNursing, where nurses can share their experiences and get advice from others.

How to Use Reddit for Travel Nursing

How To Use Reddit

Using Reddit for travel nursing is easy. Simply create an account and search for subreddits related to travel nursing in California. Some popular subreddits include r/TravelNursing, r/CaliforniaNurses, and r/CaliforniaTravelNursing. Once you find a subreddit that interests you, start reading and contributing to discussions.

What to Expect as a Travel Nurse in California

What To Expect

As a travel nurse in California, you can expect to work in some of the best hospitals and healthcare facilities in the country. You will also have the opportunity to work in a variety of assignments, from rural areas to big cities. Additionally, you can expect to be compensated with higher salaries and bonuses than permanent nurses.

Travel nursing in California is a great way for nurses to advance their careers and explore new destinations. Reddit is a valuable resource for travel nurses looking to connect with others, share experiences, and get advice. With some of the best hospitals in the country and a variety of assignments, California is an attractive destination for travel nurses.

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Cali Dreaming – Top Reasons to Take Your Next Assignment in California

Trustaff  provided this article.

California has so much to offer to any traveler, let alone healthcare travelers. It’s a highly sought location to travel to for many great reasons specific to healthcare travelers. We’ve come up with this very appealing list of reasons why you should think about taking your next assignment in the Golden State of California!

Top reasons to take your next travel assignment in California:

image 4

With the size of the state and many different hospital systems and facilities throughout, there are always many travel jobs available. California’s market for travelers is always consistent, and the need for travelers is always steady. Not only do they have a wide variety of assignments, but they also offer fantastic pay. Many assignments in the state are higher than in most other states. If you ever think there isn’t an assignment in the Golden State matching your specialty or modality, think again! California is full of high-paying assignments for healthcare travelers of all kinds.

On the topic of the size of the state, California offers an endless amount of tourist attractions whether you’re looking for adventures on your off days or just some fresh relaxation. Are you a fan of amazing year-round weather? Southern California may be your cup of tea. South Cali offers many of the staples for tourists, such as Hollywood, Disneyland, and the San Diego Zoo, (check to see if your agency offers perks or discounts on tickets!) Palm Springs and various vineyards if you’re into the wine life. Southern California is always a fan favorite. If you’re more of an outdoorsy adventurer, travelers love Northern California. Locations like Redwood National Forest , take a walk and explore the Golden Gate Bridge, find your new favorite restaurant in the extravagant dining in Napa, and we hear NorCal also has a large vineyard and wine selection. The adventures are absolutely endless in California.

One of the best parts of working in California is the state’s mandated nurse-patient ratio laws. In 2004, the state of California enacted mandatory ratios for the safety of healthcare workers. California is the only state to have such laws. In most hospitals, the mandated ratio of a minimum of one nurse for every five patients (1:5). In an ICU unit, the ratio is one to two (1:2). Many healthcare travelers love traveling to CA to work in a state where they can practice safely.

Don’t have a CA license yet? No worries! California has emergency licenses (EMSA) available until 2/28/23, and your agency can help you with applying for an EMSA license. California’s new temporary license process is much faster than previously – travelers are applying for their temporary licenses and receiving them in 2-3 weeks. If you have already applied for an EMSA, you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to processing a temporary or permanent license. As an added bonus, many companies help cover the costs of your new licenses. This means you apply for the license (with help from your agency if needed), and they’ll reimburse you for the fees. Some companies are adding extra perks or benefits for getting a new state license – Trustaff offers a free iPad or Apple Watch!

The opportunities, adventures, and career experiences are endless in the state of California. Many travelers extend multiple times as CA has much to offer. So what do we think – are you ready to travel to California?

We hope you found this article on the top reasons to take your next travel assignment in California helpful. Are there any other reasons you think California is a great place to take your next travel assignment? Comment below.

Our  job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment . We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can  search for what you are looking for .

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

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Can You Do Local Travel Nursing? | Pros & Cons

One of the most common myths about travel nursing is you have to travel across the country, or even work out of state. You may have heard your travel position has to be at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence in order to collect the tax-free stipends of a travel nurse.

Click here for high-paying travel nursing assignments near you!

But this is one of the most common myths about travel nursing. The IRS does not have a specific ‘50-mile rule’ describing a certain distance you have to work away from home. This 50-mile or 100-mile radius is used by many hospital facilities as a general rule of thumb, to prevent their own full-time staff nurses from picking up the contracts themselves.

So, that being said, you can do local travel nursing without spending a small fortune on flight costs, additional housing, or traveling across state lines. For more specifics on the actual tax deductions you can claim while working local contracts, check out our travel nurse tax guide and consult with a tax professional who can give you the most accurate information for the laws in your specific state.

How To Be A Local Travel Nurse

I first learned about local contract nursing from a nurse I use to work with. She explained to me she actually worked at another hospital across the city, and she was under a short-term contract with our hospital for 3 months as a float nurse.

She ended up getting an extension as well, so she was actually there for a total of 6 months while working her other “local” healthcare job at the same time. She did this to save up for her wedding and was actually able to pay for the whole thing in cash.

She managed this by making sure her scheduled shifts didn’t conflict with each other and allowed for time to eat and sleep in between. She also rented a small apartment on the other side of the city to stay in while she worked her three, 12-hour shift days at that hospital.

Travel benefits include free housing, travel reimbursement, and a sign-on bonus.  Get started now.

When those three days were through, she would drive a few hours home and work her normal job.

If you’re wondering whether local travel nursing could work for you, here are some of the pros and cons of taking a travel nursing assignment in your home state.

Pros of local travel nursing

  • Limited travel costs
  • You’ll likely receive perks including a housing stipend which means more money in your pocket per shift
  • It’s possible to still keep your day job while making extra money
  • No messing with tons of luggage or furniture
  • Home is still accessible through a short drive
  • You’ll be more familiar with the area, making it easier to find a nice hotel or apartment
  • You’ll never have to miss a family function (but you’ll still have a good excuse if you don’t want to go)
  • Feelings of homesickness can be quickly remedied
  • You’ll still have the security of friends and family being close to you

Cons of local travel nursing

  • You don’t get to travel far to see other parts of the country, like California , Alaska , or New York .
  • Drastically narrows your opportunity of getting a travel contract
  • You lose the ability to work with different patient populations
  • You’re basically working a job but with a longer commute and temporarily living in two locations
  • You still need to set up housing
  • You lose the true experience of life as a travel nurse

A lot of first-time travelers would prefer to try something close to home, in order to “test the waters” and see if they actually enjoy it. When you do, you’ll find out what is important for you, and decide why you want to be a travel nurse. Is it for the experience of being out on your own, forced to make new friends and keep yourself entertained?  Or is it more for the money, education, and career advancement?

Whatever your nursing career goals, travel nursing, whether local or across the country, can help you reach them.

Find your dream travel assignment here.

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Best places to work in 2024? Here's what US employees had to say about their employers

T wo mortgage lending companies, a certified public accountant firm, a staffing business and a credit union are among the top workplaces in the U.S.

The rankings are part of the fourth-annual survey co-sponsored by Energage and USA TODAY.

The Top Workplaces USA awards offer recognition to midsize and large organizations, including those with operations in multiple markets. Employers with at least 150 employees are eligible.

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Winners are identified solely based on employee feedback gathered through the Energage employee engagement survey. Companies were chosen based on the results of surveys taken over 12 months in 2023.

The top five winners among organizations with more than 2,500 employees are:

1. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., a mortgage lending company based in Madison, Wisconsin.

2. Plante Moran, a certified public accountants and consultants firm in Southfield, Michigan.

3. Aya Healthcare, a travel nursing staffing firm based in San Diego.

4. New American Funding, a mortgage lending firm in Tustin, California.

5. Mountain America Credit Union, headquartered in Salt Lake City.

There are also winners in three other categories: companies with 1,000 to 2,499 employees, organizations with 500 to 999 employees and organizations with 150 to 499 people on staff. Energage ranked the top 100 employers in each of the four categories and then listed the remaining winners in alphabetical order.

More than 7,000 employers nationwide were invited to take the challenge and 2,227 followed through with an employee survey process. Ultimately, 1,531 employers received recognition.

“A Top Workplaces award brings a company’s culture strengths to the national stage, helping them differentiate in a fiercely competitive landscape,'' said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "It’s a morale-boosting honor for the workforce and an effective magnet for attracting top-tier talent.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best places to work in 2024? Here's what US employees had to say about their employers

Here are the Top Workplaces in the U.S., ranked in a survey by Energage, along with USA TODAY.

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News | Senior living: Concerns grow over investor groups buying not-for-profit nursing homes

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Shelly Olson’s mother, who has dementia, has lived at the Scandia Village nursing home in rural Sister Bay, Wisconsin, for almost five years. At first, Olson said, her mother received great care at the facility, then owned by a not-for-profit organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society.

Then, in 2019, Sanford Health — a not-for-profit, tax-exempt hospital system — acquired the nursing home. The coronavirus pandemic struck soon after. From then on, the facility was regularly short of staff, and residents endured long wait times and other care problems, said Olson, a registered nurse who formerly worked at the facility.

Now Scandia Village has a new, for-profit owner,  Continuum Healthcare . Olson said she was reassured when Continuum hired two locals as the facility’s new administrator and nursing director.

But Kathy Wagner, a former Scandia Village nursing director, is not optimistic.

“The for-profit owner will face the same problems,” said Wagner, who is now retired and serves on an informal task force  that monitors the facility’s quality of care. “No one has articulated what the for-profit owner will bring to the table to change the picture.”

The sale of Scandia Village this year is part of a trend of for-profit companies, including private equity groups and real estate investment trusts, snapping up struggling not-for-profit nursing homes, many of which were operated for decades by Lutheran,  Catholic ,  Jewish and other faith-based organizations .

The pace of sales has ticked up, reaching a high last year,  according to Ziegler Investment Banking . Since 2015, 900 not-for-profit nursing homes and senior living communities nationwide have changed hands, with more than half of them acquired by for-profit operators.

For-profit groups  own about 72%  of the roughly 15,000 nursing homes in the United States, which serve more than 1.3 million residents.

While overall for-profit ownership percentage hasn’t notably increased in recent years, the type of for-profit companies that own these facilities has shifted toward private equity, real estate investment trusts and complicated ownership structures, said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School.

Consumer advocates, researchers and regulators are leery  about this trend.

They point to studies showing that nursing homes owned by for-profit companies — particularly investors in private equity and real estate — tend to have  skimpier staffing, lower quality ratings and more regulatory violations. Motivated by these concerns, the Biden administration  issued a rule  last fall that requires nursing homes to disclose more information about their owners and management firms.

Executives at not-for-profits, as well as researchers who study nursing homes, wonder how for-profit companies can accomplish what the previous not-for-profit owners could not: reviving financially struggling nursing homes.

“I don’t know where these investor groups can see savings without cutting back on the level of quality,” Grabowski said.

Part of the problem is that to boost profits, many for-profit operators set up a network of related companies to provide fee-based services such as management, physical therapy and staffing. They also may sell a nursing home’s real estate to a sister company, which then charges high rent. These payments cut into the available operating funds to provide adequate staffing and quality care.

Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James  sued the for-profit owners  of four nursing homes for financial fraud and resident neglect, accusing them of using more than $83 million in public funds to enrich themselves through a complex network of related companies while providing horrendous care.

“When nonprofits are sold, you start to see a precipitous decline in quality,” said Sam Brooks, director of public policy for National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. “Nonprofits generally staff well above for-profits. When churches and nonprofits divest these homes, for-profits move in, and the care gets really bad.”

The leaders of not-for-profits that have sold facilities to for-profit operators cite various reasons for exiting or downsizing. Those reasons include state Medicaid payment rates that are too low to cover operating costs and a shortage of nursing and other staffers that makes it hard to maintain quality care. They also say their facilities have seen fewer admissions, at least partly because Medicare Advantage plans have tightened coverage policies  for rehabilitation care in nursing homes.

Susan McCrary, chief executive of St. Ignatius Community Services in Philadelphia, said her organization sold its nursing home because it was losing money. She said low state Medicaid rates forced their hand, even after the state bolstered its Medicaid payments by 17.5% in January 2023.

The St. Ignatius board, McCrary said, worried the losses would jeopardize the organization’s ability to continue its mission of serving low-income seniors, for whom it also operates three independent-living and assisted-living buildings.

At the same time, “our board definitely had concerns about selling to a for-profit because we’re aware of the research that shows the quality of care is not the same as with a nonprofit,” McCrary said. “But we knew we needed to move forward with this process to continue our services in West Philadelphia.”

Nate Schema, CEO of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, said his organization decided to sell some of its long-term care facilities to Continuum Healthcare, a New Jersey corporation, and a second company, Cascadia Healthcare, which is based in Idaho, as part of its strategy to better serve its communities. Good Samaritan now operates in seven Midwestern states, down from 22 states . Consolidating markets better enables his organization to launch programs for nursing home residents in conjunction with Sanford’s hospitals and clinics.

“We’ve been very intentional about finding quality partners to carry on our mission,” Schema said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen a lot of nonprofit providers coming to us.”

Continuum, which took over Scandia Village nursing home in January, will address staffing shortages by improving wages, benefits and career opportunities, said Tim Hodges, the corporation’s communications director. Continuum, which is owned by private investors and commercial lenders, owns eight nursing homes in four states.

Similarly, Steve LaForte, Cascadia’s executive vice president, said his company has revived the finances of the nine Good Samaritan nursing homes it took over in the Pacific Northwest partly by attracting more patient referrals and strengthening relationships with state policymakers, in the hope it “leads to more realistic Medicaid rates.” He said Cascadia has also focused on workplace culture — such as by not using workers from staffing agencies — and on empowering those who run the individual facilities to select vendors for pharmacy, rehabilitation and other services.

Cascadia, he said, does not use tactics like contracting with sister vendors to boost its profits.

“That type of organization gives the whole industry a bad name,” LaForte said.

The overall perception of for-profit corporations is unfair, said Zach Shamberg, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, because all nursing homes are struggling under inadequate Medicaid rates and high labor costs because of a shortage in workers.

Shamberg said he hopes that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid rate increase — plus a new minimum staffing requirement and a mandate that 70% of total costs be dedicated to resident care — will address the financial and quality issues. Nursing homes in Pennsylvania and across the country are also lobbying state lawmakers and the federal government to offer  extra payments tied to quality outcomes  for residents.

“If there aren’t for-profit entities to buy these facilities,” Shamberg said, “these facilities are closing, which would exacerbate the existing access to care crisis as the population gets older.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF .

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HHS Statement Regarding the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is aware that Change Healthcare – a unit of UnitedHealth Group (UHG) – was impacted by a cybersecurity incident in late February. HHS recognizes the impact this attack has had on health care operations across the country. HHS’ first priority is to help coordinate efforts to avoid disruptions to care throughout the health care system.

HHS is in regular contact with UHG leadership, state partners, and with numerous external stakeholders to better understand the nature of the impacts and to ensure the effectiveness of UHG’s response. HHS has made clear its expectation that UHG does everything in its power to ensure continuity of operations for all health care providers impacted and HHS appreciates UHG’s continuous efforts to do so. HHS is also leading interagency coordination of the Federal government’s related activities, including working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the White House, and other agencies to provide credible, actionable threat intelligence to industry wherever possible.

HHS refers directly to UHG for updates on their incident response progress and recovery planning. However, numerous hospitals, doctors, pharmacies and other stakeholders have highlighted potential cash flow concerns to HHS stemming from an inability to submit claims and receive payments. HHS has heard these concerns and is taking direct action and working to support the important needs of the health care community.

Today, HHS is announcing immediate steps that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking to assist providers to continue to serve patients. CMS will continue to communicate with the health care community and assist, as appropriate. Providers should continue to work with all their payers for the latest updates on how to receive timely payments.

Affected parties should be aware of the following flexibilities in place:

  • Medicare providers needing to change clearinghouses that they use for claims processing during these outages should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to request a new electronic data interchange (EDI) enrollment for the switch. The MAC will provide instructions based on the specific request to expedite the new EDI enrollment. CMS has instructed the MACs to expedite this process and move all provider and facility requests into production and ready to bill claims quickly. CMS is strongly encouraging other payers, including state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies and Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans, to waive or expedite solutions for this requirement.
  • CMS will issue guidance to Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and Part D sponsors encouraging them to remove or relax prior authorization, other utilization management, and timely filing requirements during these system outages. CMS is also encouraging MA plans to offer advance funding to providers most affected by this cyberattack.
  • CMS strongly encourages Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans to adopt the same strategies of removing or relaxing prior authorization and utilization management requirements, and consider offering advance funding to providers, on behalf of Medicaid and CHIP managed care enrollees to the extent permitted by the State. 
  • If Medicare providers are having trouble filing claims or other necessary notices or other submissions, they should contact their MAC for details on exceptions, waivers, or extensions, or contact CMS regarding quality reporting programs.
  • CMS has contacted all of the MACs to make sure they are prepared to accept paper claims from providers who need to file them. While we recognize that electronic billing is preferable for everyone, the MACs must accept paper submissions if a provider needs to file claims in that method.

CMS has also heard from providers about the availability of accelerated payments, like those issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that many payers are making funds available while billing systems are offline, and providers should take advantage of those opportunities. However, CMS recognizes that hospitals may face significant cash flow problems from the unusual circumstances impacting hospitals’ operations, and – during outages arising from this event – facilities may submit accelerated payment requests to their respective servicing MACs for individual consideration. We are working to provide additional information to the MACs about the specific items and information a provider’s request should contain. Specific information will be available from the MACs later this week.

This incident is a reminder of the interconnectedness of the domestic health care ecosystem and of the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity resiliency across the ecosystem. That’s why, in December 2023, HHS released a concept paper that outlines the Department’s cybersecurity strategy for the sector. The concept paper builds on the National Cybersecurity Strategy that President Biden released last year, focusing specifically on strengthening resilience for hospitals, patients, and communities threatened by cyber-attacks. The paper details four pillars for action, including publishing new voluntary health care-specific cybersecurity performance goals, working with Congress to develop supports and incentives for domestic hospitals to improve cybersecurity, increasing accountability within the health care sector, and enhancing coordination through a one-stop shop.

HHS will continue to communicate with the health care sector and encourage continued dialogue among affected parties. We will continue to communicate with UHG, closely monitor their ongoing response to this cyberattack, and promote transparent, robust response while working with the industry to close any gaps that remain.

HHS also takes this opportunity to encourage all providers, technology vendors, and members of the health care ecosystem to double down on cybersecurity, with urgency. The system and the American people can ill afford further disruptions in care. Please visit the  HPH Cyber Performance Goals website for more details on steps to stay protected.

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CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

Recommendations are easier to follow and help protect those most at risk

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 1, 2024 Contact: Media Relations (404) 639-3286

CDC released today updated recommendations  for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. CDC is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because we have more tools than ever to combat flu, COVID, and RSV.

“Today’s announcement reflects the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “However, we still must use the commonsense solutions we know work to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses—this includes vaccination, treatment, and staying home when we get sick.”

As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:

  • Staying  up to date with vaccination   to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
  • Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Taking steps for cleaner air , such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. CDC’s updated guidance reflects how the circumstances around COVID-19 in particular have changed.  While it remains a threat, today it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease.  Importantly, states and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19.

While every respiratory virus does not act the same, adopting a unified approach to limiting disease spread makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven.

“The bottom line is that when people follow these actionable recommendations to avoid getting sick, and to protect themselves and others if they do get sick, it will help limit the spread of respiratory viruses, and that will mean fewer people who experience severe illness,” National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Dr. Demetre Daskalakis said. “That includes taking enhanced precautions that can help protect people who are at higher risk for getting seriously ill.”

The updated guidance also includes specific sections with additional considerations for people who are at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses, including people who are immunocompromised, people with disabilities, people who are or were recently pregnant, young children, and older adults. Respiratory viruses remain a public health threat. CDC will continue to focus efforts on ensuring the public has the information and tools to lower their risk or respiratory illness by protecting themselves, families, and communities.

This updated guidance is intended for community settings. There are no changes to respiratory virus guidance for healthcare settings.

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IMAGES

  1. Travel Nursing: What You Need to Know

    travel nursing in california reddit

  2. California Travel Nurse

    travel nursing in california reddit

  3. Travel Nursing: California

    travel nursing in california reddit

  4. All about a travel nurse in California

    travel nursing in california reddit

  5. Travel Nursing In California: Is It Worth The Hype?

    travel nursing in california reddit

  6. What Travel Nurse Benefits Should You Be Receiving?

    travel nursing in california reddit

COMMENTS

  1. Is travel nursing worth it in California? : r/TravelNursing

    Is travel nursing worth it in California? For those people wondering if it's worth it traveling in Ca, from being a full time staff, YES it is. The nurse ratio, the breaks (15mins PAID break q4hrs & 30 min uninterrupted lunch) and the respect you get here makes it easier. But let me tell you, NEVER ever ever take an assignment less than 2500 ...

  2. Best California areas for travel nursing : r/TravelNursing

    I have worked in Northern California in Oakland, SF, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Pleasanton, Crescent City. I absolutely love the Bay Area because of the pay and all there is to do however be prepared to shell out >$2000 in rent in the bay monthly. The pay will make up for that but Aya isn't the greatest pay packages as far as that goes.

  3. California only made 9 penalties over staffing violations ...

    Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Or check it out in the app stores ... California only made 9 penalties over staffing violations between 2020-2023 ... A lot of Cali nurses don't even know you can go out of ratio especially in more rural areas via exceptions that are written into the actual law.

  4. Travel nurses working in California I need your advice.

    As an ER nurse looking for traveling work in California, you should be fine with one year of experience. Not every hospital will take you, but a lot in California will. After you have a travel assignment under your belt, many more hospitals will consider you regardless of the standard 2 years experience requirement. One bit of advice.

  5. How much do you make as travel RN? : r/TravelNursing

    Been a nurse for 9 years traveling on and off for 5 years. Current contract is $1247/shift. Which is above average. I can work 7 days a week if I want and make whatever that is. Or 3 and still make 3k/week or easily 130k+/year. Go to 4 or 5 days/week and you are looking at real good money (if you work 52weeks/year).

  6. A Starters Guide: How to Become a Travel Nurse : r/TravelNursing

    A Starters Guide: How to Become a Travel Nurse. My first post on medium. Spend a good part of my day creating would love feedback/suggestions for future posts! Canadian here: Winter tires > AWD. Both is better. Otherwise, awesome and I look forward to reading more. Great initial guide.

  7. TravelNursing: Share and Exchange All Things Travel Nursing

    While money is often the most talked about subject in travel nursing, my wife and I have the idea of purchasing a truck, travel-trailer, and bringing the minivan cross country while I do 13 week contracts anywhere and everywhere just for the experience for our family and mainly the kids. We already home school, and while money is important, it ...

  8. California : r/TravelNursing

    r/SeattleWA is the active Reddit community for Seattle, Washington and the Puget Sound area! Do you want lively open discussions, upcoming events, local artist creations, community meet-ups, Seattle history, current news, community outreach, and careful transparent moderation? This place is for you.

  9. The Ultimate Travel Nurse's Guide to California

    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 ...

  10. Travel Nursing In California

    Kaiser Permanente is the largest hospital organization operating in California. There are no fewer than 38 Kaiser hospitals in the state. Based on a quick look at the list, I'd say at least 30 of them regularly have open jobs. You'll regularly hear travel nurses warn against working an assignment at Kaiser.

  11. Travel nurses' gold rush is over. Now, some are joining other nurses in

    Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, there were about 50,000 travel nurses in the U.S., or about 1.5 percent of the nation's registered nurses, according to Timothy Landhuis, vice president ...

  12. Travel Nursing Jobs in California

    The average salary for a Registered Nurse in California is $2,365 per week. This is 10% higher than the US average of $2,128. Last updated on March 15, 2024. Based on 5,156 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days. Explore all travel Registered Nurse salary insights.

  13. Travel Nursing

    California is a great place for travel nurses to be licensed. The state's population is over 37 million and accounts for more than 10% of the nation's total population. A large population means more hospitals and more potential travel nursing jobs. In addition, California has something for everyone.

  14. Travel Nursing at California Kaiser Hospitals

    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.

  15. Travel Nursing in California

    Long Wait Times for Licensing. Myth: the myth about the long wait times for California travel nursing is that they are nine months to a year long. That is the really rare exception, not the norm for travel nursing in California. However, they are still really long. That is just the truth. I applied for one. It took 14 weeks. Which yes, is months.

  16. Travel Nursing in California

    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.

  17. Travel Nurse Tax Guide 2023

    Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, an international "taxation master" and founder of Travel Tax, explains that in addition to their base pay, most travel nurses can reasonably expect to see $20,000-$30,000 of non-tax reimbursement payments in a typical year working as a travel nurse.

  18. How To Become A Travel Nurse

    Nursing Degree Requirements. Most travel nurses can expect to be required to have a BSN. The minimum requirement for travel nursing is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). However, depending on the hospital or facility, a BSN may be preferred. For this reason, some travel nurse agencies will only work with nurses that have completed a BSN degree.

  19. Advice for Travel Nursing in California: Pay, Licensing & More

    Here are some tips for a travel nursing assignment in California. 1. Where to Get the Highest Pay. Generally, travel nursing pay rates are higher in northern California than southern California. However, pay rates can vary widely within cities as well. Some cities can bill as low as $20 per hour.

  20. Discover the Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing in California

    License Transfer Issues: If you are a travel nurse from another state, you may need to obtain a California nursing license, which can be a lengthy and expensive process. Housing Shortages: In some areas of California, particularly in high-demand cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, there can be a shortage of affordable housing.

  21. travel nursing california reddit

    Travel nursing in California is becoming increasingly popular among healthcare professionals. The state boasts some of the best hospitals and healthcare facilities in the country, making it an attractive destination for nurses looking to advance their careers. One of the most popular online communities for travel nurses in California is Reddit.

  22. Considering going back to staff. Has anyone worked for the NYC ...

    Hi all! I'm moving to New York soon to close the gap between me and my long distance partner. I've been having a bitch of a time finding a contract and I'm considering going staff.

  23. Travel Assignment in California: Top Reasons

    Top reasons to take your next travel assignment in California: With the size of the state and many different hospital systems and facilities throughout, there are always many travel jobs available. California's market for travelers is always consistent, and the need for travelers is always steady. Not only do they have a wide variety of ...

  24. Can You Do Local Travel Nursing?

    Cons of local travel nursing. You don't get to travel far to see other parts of the country, like California, Alaska, or New York. Drastically narrows your opportunity of getting a travel contract. You lose the ability to work with different patient populations. You're basically working a job but with a longer commute and temporarily living ...

  25. Best places to work in 2024? Here's what US employees had to say ...

    Aya Healthcare, a travel nursing staffing firm based in San Diego, California. 4. New American Funding, a mortgage lending firm in Tustin, California. 5. Mountain America Credit Union ...

  26. Senior living: Concerns grow over investor groups buying not-for-profit

    For-profit groups own about 72% of the roughly 15,000 nursing homes in the United States. ... Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) ... relief to Southern California's real estate ...

  27. HHS Statement Regarding the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare

    HHS is aware that Change Healthcare - a unit of UnitedHealth Group- was impacted by a cybersecurity incident in late February.

  28. CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

    CDC released today updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers.