Los Angeles: The City of Stars (and Travel Nurses)
Ever wonder what it’s like to live amongst the stars in Los Angeles? Read more to find out!
People don’t just go to Los Angeles to become famous –they also go to become travel nurses!
Just picture this… sunshine all year round, walks down the beach, and seeing your favorite celebrity grabbing coffee. Los Angeles is an ideal place to spend a six-week placement as a travel nurse.
With a population of just over 3.9 million, Los Angeles has a large variety of medical campuses and opportunities in healthcare, including the UCLA Medical Center which is nationally ranked in 15 adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties.
When you aren’t working, there are endless places to explore in LA and the surrounding areas. Whether you are in the mood to go dancing and thrive in the lavish LA nightlife, or take it easy with a drive down the Pacific Coast highway to Malibu, there is something for everyone.
While Los Angeles may be known best for its celebrities, traffic, avocado toast and the Hollywood sign, there is much more to be discovered in this vast city. There’s hiking, surfing, shopping, dancing, eating, people watching, and so much more. You can even take a weekend trip to Joshua Tree or Palm Springs.
A typical day off in Los Angeles might look something like this… Wake up early and grab a coffee and acai bowl with a friend at the famous Urth Cafe, and then take a scenic hike in Runyon Canyon which overlooks the entire city. After that, head to the Grand Central Market to pick up some snacks, and take a drive down to Santa Monica to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. After your relaxing afternoon, spend the evening amongst friends enjoying the amazing live music scene that LA has to offer.
If this sounds like your type of city, head to Stability online at https://stabilityhealthcare.com/ to request a quote and see what placements are available.
Follow @stabilityhealthcare.com.1 on facebook and @stabilityhealthcare on instagram for updates!
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Packing Essentials for a Traveling Nurse
One of the many exciting parts of a travel nursing placement is the anticipation of finally hitting the road and leaving to experience a new city…this starts with packing and making sure you’ve got everything you will need to make your placement feel like home.
The key is to not overpack. Think about what you use on a daily basis and go from there. If you don’t cook often, that probably won’t change in six weeks so you don’t need any extra kitchen tools. If you haven’t worn that one dress you have been waiting to wear for the past three years, you probably won’t wear it now. And don’t forget…if you forget something, you can always buy it!
Start by finding out what will be provided for you at your housing arrangement. If it isn’t stocked with kitchen supplies and household goods, you will need to bring those.
- Blankets, sheet, comforter
- Laundry basket
- Towels
- Cooking utensils
- Minimal dishes (plates & bowls)
- A pot and pan
- Dish towels
- Keurig/Tea kettle
Regardless of the living situation, you will definitely need clothes. Bring what makes you feel most comfortable and what you wear on a regular basis. If you are going to a city with a different climate you might have to switch some things up in your daily wardrobe.
- Casual clothes
- Workout clothes
- Swimsuit
- One or two nice outfits
- Pajamas
- 3-4 pairs of shoes
- Weather dependant: raincoat, winter coat, etc.
- Don’t forget scrubs or whatever the appropriate attire for your placement is
You can’t forget the essentials to keep you entertained, connected, and feeling right at home.
- Cell phone
- Laptop
- A book or two
- A speaker and headphones
- Charging cables for electronics
- Any little decorations for your temporary home like pictures or a candle
Last but not least, make sure you have all of the important things.
- Driver’s license
- A copy of your nursing license
- Car registration and insurance papers
- Social Security card
- Copy of birth certificate
And of course, don’t forget your stethoscope and favorite pair of Danskos.
Have questions? Reach out to your trusted Stability recruiter for more information.
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Coffee, Hiking, & Health Care: Why Portland is the Ideal Placement for Travel Nurses
You could spend six weeks eating your way through all the best restaurants, consuming way too much coffee, soaking up some nature, and have access Portland’s incredible medical campuses.
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) is one of the most prominent hospitals in America. OHSU the only health system in Oregon to be recognized in the US News and World Report’s Best Hospitals List and is constantly featured on “best of” lists. Not only was OHSU rated the number one hospital in Oregon by U.S. News, it also ranks among the best hospitals in the nation in seven different specialties including, Oncology, Cardiology, Diabetes, ENT, Geriatrics, Nephrology and Neurology.
Besides OHSU, Portland offers a wide variety of hospitals to choose from. Along with the technical care, almost all of the hospitals in Portland are teaching hospitals so you would get to work in an academic setting where you can constantly learn and assist others.
Aside from Portland’s hospital system, Portland is a great city to explore on your days off. Think of Portland this way: it is a bustling city, in the middle of a forest, an hour from the mountains, the coast, and the desert. In the City of Roses there is something guaranteed to steal a little part of everyone’s heart.
Portland is known for it’s beautiful forests and rivers, which allow for breathtaking walking and hiking trails. At 102 years old, one of the most famous Portland-area landmarks is Multnomah Falls located in the Columbia River Gorge located just 30 miles outside of the city. If you are looking for something a little closer, Forest Park is the biggest park in Portland– sprawling across 5,200 acres. This park offers more than 80 miles worth of trails, sure to keep you busy on your days off.
Feel like taking in the crisp Portland air, but aren’t committed to the idea of full on nature? You can take a stroll along the iconic Portland Waterfront and while you’re in the area you can cross a few things of your PDX bucket list. Grab lunch at one of the many food carts, devour a donut at Voodoo, grab a coffee at Stumptown, and spend the afternoon getting lost in the aisles of Powell’s Book Store.
The overflowing list of things to do in Portland doesn’t just end in the city limits. As mentioned before, Portland is just hours away from skiing at Mt. Hood or a weekend trip at Cannon Beach.
Whether it’s your passion for nature, your love for food, or just your passion for wanting to experience a new city, Portland is welcoming to anybody who is looking to call it home.
Visit Stability online at https://stabilityhealthcare.com/ to request a quote and see locations. Follow @stabilityhealthcare.com.1 on facebook and @stabilityhealthcare on instagram for updates!
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