Orange County
Whether it’s manicured beach towns or celebrated theme parks, all framed by oceanfront towns and luxury yachts, “The OC” stands out as one of the state’s most iconic destinations.
Orange County Healthcare Jobs
California is known as one of the best states to work as a travel nurse thanks to its ample opportunity, great pay rates, and unbeatable culture. When working as a travel nurse, most nurses have places throughout the US they want to work in, and California always makes the list. In fact, in 2018, California consistently proves that it is one of the best places to work as a travel nurse whether you work in northern California or southern California. Of course, there are some differences between the areas, but both come with their own perks and advantages. For southern California, one of the major perks is that there are tons of cities to choose from that offer a unique California culture, great opportunities for advancement and growth in the nursing field, and excellent pay. Within Southern California, one of the best areas to work in is Orange County as it comes with a host of cities and a variety of notable hospitals to work in. In short, choosing to live and work in California as a travel nurse is one of the best decisions you can make because the state as a lot to offer.
Disneyland
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California: One of the best travel nursing states
When working as a travel nurse, you have the choice to work in any state throughout the U.S. that you want and can snag. It’s true that some areas are in higher demand than others, making it harder to get a job in that specific place, but the possibility of working wherever you like is always there. With so many choices, it’s no wonder that California ranks as one of the best states for travel nursing. Known as a land of opportunity itself, the state has tons to offer whether you work in NorCal or SoCal. Of course, working in NorCal is a little better because the pay rates are higher, but SoCal has plenty to offer as well. For one, the various cities in southern California offer travel nurses an average pay rate of $400 to $2000depending on your experience levels, credentials and certifications, the hospital you work in, and the agency you work with. Still, the pay rate range is enough to live and enjoy a SoCal city for at least a year, which is usually the average amount of time a travel nurse spends on a single assignment.
The "OC" has so much
With so many cities and areas to choose from in California, you want to be familiar with what each area has to offer, and Orange County has a lot. Home to affluent cities like Newport, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, and Costa Mesa as well as other prominent cities like Anaheim, Irvine, Fullerton, and many more, travel nurses have plenty of choices on where to settle and work in the OC. What’s more, these areas offer something northern California can’t: the “California” experience. If you want sunny skies, warm weather, unbeatable nightlife, arts and culture, food, and of course, the beach, there’s no better place than Orange County to live and work.
To make the deal even sweeter, the OC is home to some of the nation’s best hospitals and medical centers, giving travel nurses some awesome picks of where to work, gain experience, and foster growth in the profession.
Notable Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities in Orange County
The following hospitals, medical centers, and healthcare facilities are some of the best places to land a job in Orange County. It is important to remember that due to their high ranks as medical centers, some of these locations may be difficult to secure for some time. Still, check them out and keep each in mind for assignments in the future:
Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center
St. Jude's Medical Center, Fullerton
UC Irvine Medical Center
UC Irvine’s Medical Center has been the recipient of many prestigious national awards, earning it the title of one of the highest ranked hospitals in the state. Ranked nationally as one of the best hospitals in both gynecology and urology in 2018 by U.S. News, UCI Medical Center is also recognized as a MAGNET hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as well as a nationally recognized Grade A Safety Hospital by Leapfrog. Some services include cancer care, neurosurgery, primary care, heart health, women’s health, and more.
Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
The OC Fair
Living and Working in Orange County
If these prestigious medical centers aren’t enough incentive to check out Orange County for your next travel nursing assignment, you may want to consider the other perks that come with living in and around the OC. Excellent weather, proximity to some of Cali’s best beaches, high-end shopping centers such as Fashion Island, and attractions like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Angel Stadium, the Anaheim Packing District, and more.
When you choose to work in Orange County, you can rest assured that you’re making an excellent choice for your next step in travel nursing. Few areas beat the OC, and when you experience the sun, sand, culture, and fun the OC has to offer, you’ll know you made a great choice. Be sure to talk with your agency about any cities that stand out to you to ensure that you get as close to your dream location as possible.