Travel Nursing LA
In fall of 2004, I worked in the ER in Chino (east of LA). Learned alot of Spanish and visited family. The traffic is the worst I have ever seen (I live in Branson) but am from Baltimore.
It is incredible. 10 lanes sitting still! find out if you can use mass transit to get to and from work.
Their weekend traffic starts at about 1pm on Fridays. Everyone in LA is trying to get out and those outside of LA are trying to get in. Then it reverses on Sunday afternoon.

I chose to take the $ and found my own apt. I was the crazy lady who took bleach and a scrub sponge to the laundry and washed off graffiti while my clothes washed. I was lucky not to be a victim.

One of the RN's I worked with had just completed a contract in LA. He said they had pts dying in the hallways on gurneys and shooting and stabbing victims thrown out of moving cars in the ER parking lot and Amb bay.

Before I went, I spoke with the dept head and had questions prepared. I had an idea what I was getting into. I also landed in Sacramento on Friday at about 11am, rented a car, drove around to get my fingerprints and temp liscense (all before 4:30pm) (cutting it VERY close) then drove the length of the state down to Chino. This gave me Sat and Sunday to look around and get the lay of the land before I started on Monday.

I made several friends and they asked me to re-commit at the end of the contract (and to move there).

Am now in dialysis and looking for an assignment in the USVI, Cayman etc.

There it is, for what it's worth

Cedar Sinai
Hope you decided to take the job in Cedars. Its a fabulous hospital to work in. They are heavily into research and even 25 years ago they were very fair to nurses and provided 1.5 hrs break time for a 12 hr shift. I loved working there, best job I ever had. Yes, California traffic is bad, but you make up your mind that you have to live with it while you are there. On your off days, you plan your day to avoid the worst traffic times. There is loads to do around LA so off days are always fun filled and interesting. The traffic is much worse now that 25 years ago, but I loved living in LA. Have fun.

I agree with jhals 100% about LA. Great place to be, I worked King Drew ER. If you survive there you can work ANYWHERE.
RJ

Calif. Nursing
4 of my last 6 travel assignments have been in Calif. There is good and bad to be said for all. Overall I was happy. By law you can have a max of 5 patients but most hospitals try to skirt the law when they can. Like assigning LVN's patients where you have to do their IV's and Vents. The traffic IS terrible so you try to house as close as possible. But you never run out of things to see and do. I love it and plan to do it again.