San Diego

San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class family attractions.

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San Diego Healthcare Jobs

Spreading your skills and expertise to more than just one city is a major hallmark of travel nursing. Though most traditional healthcare professionals work with one or two hospitals in the same area, travel nurses get around the entire nation, interacting with tons of different and diverse patients as they go. As you move through your career, you find that there are some cities that are more exciting to travel to than others. Of course, as a healthcare professional, your main priority is going where you are most needed, but this doesn’t mean you can’t request certain areas to work in! With this in mind, many are keen to get a job in California. The whole state is a pretty great place to work, with northern California offering some of the most prestigious hospitals and clinics in the nation as well as extremely high pay rates, and southern California offering culture, fun, adventure, and equally prestigious hospitals and clinics. If you haven’t nabbed a job in California just yet, though, you may want to set your sights on working in SoCal, namely San Diego.

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San Diego Zoo

Healthcare Jobs in SoCal

Southern California

Southern California tends to be the warmer, trendier, and more culturally relevant side of the west coast, making it much more than just a novelty amongst tourists. What’s more, this area is incredibly diverse, giving healthcare professionals the opportunity to work with many patients from literally all walks of life. To seal the deal even further, however, San Diego and the rest of SoCal have a lot to offer aesthetically and experientially, whether you are making rounds at a certain hospital or clinic, or seeing what the city has to offer. 

The Beaches

Healthcare Jobs in SoCal

San Diego, along with Los Angeles, is one of the most coveted travel nursing spots in southern California. In fact, this beachy city is the most in-demand city of them all. Aside from the excellent weather, proximity to the ocean, and lively culture, San Diego is also home to three of nationally ranked hospitals. These are the University of California Medical Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Again, it is important to note that the pay in San Diego and the rest of Southern California is not as high as that of Northern California. However, this seems like a very small price to pay when travel nurses weigh all the other pros of working San Diego against this one con. Each of the three nationally ranked hospitals offer an excellent workspace that comes with a ton of opportunities. Check them out:

  • University of California San Diego Medical Center: This hospital is all about comprehensive health services. A great place for work and volunteering, UCSD Medical offers tons of opportunities to RNs with focused specialties and without. In fact, as of 2011, UCSD Medical Center went from national rankings in five specialties to six after adding the area of cancer and cancer research. This means that travel and per diem nurses who hold different certificates in certain specialties will have a better chance of landing a position here. Learn more about this medical center here.
  • Rady Children’s Hospital: Rady is a hospital that specializes in pediatric medicine. It offers “state-of-the-art care” for children and their unique healthcare needs, offering tons of programs and services to cover everything from colds to a cancer diagnosis. This hospital offers comprehensive care in more than 24 specialties, making it a land of opportunity for travel nurses of all ages and stages in their career. Learn more here.
  • Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla: Scripps has been ranked the very best hospital in San Diego. it offers a variety of medical and surgical services as well as 24-hour emergency services. First established in 1924 by Ellen Browning Scripps, this hospital has been one of SoCal’s “premier medical centers for more than 90 years.” With such a long lifespan, travel nurses are sure to find a space with ample experience and knowledge just waiting to be mined. This is a hospital where nurses can grow no matter where they are in their career, and they can help hundreds, if not thousands, of people along the way. With 444 licensed beds, an intensive care unit, interventional cardiology and radiology, and much more, this is a great spot for nurses with or preparing to earn specialized certificates. Learn more here.

Entertainment

San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of California known for its beaches, parks and warm climate. Immense Balboa Park is the site of the renowned San Diego Zoo, as well as numerous art galleries, artist studios, museums and gardens. A deep harbor is home to a large active naval fleet, with the USS Midway, an aircraft-carrier-turned-museum, open to the public.

Lego Land

Benefits of Living & Working In San Diego

In addition to the excellent job prospects in San Diego for travel and per diem nurses, this city is also just a great place to live. Of course, property with any proximity to the beach can be a little pricey, which is why getting a travel nursing or per diem position here is a great way to experience the city without making a huge dent in your wallet, credit, and savings. As a travel nurse, your housing expenses are often taken care of by your agency, the details of which are outlined in your contract, giving you some freedom about how you spend your time and paycheck when enjoying your new city. In San Diego, there are plenty of things to do and enjoy, some pricey and others not so much! Check out these benefits of living and working in San Diego – you may just want to commit to the city full time:

  • A variety of sun-drenched beaches: From Coronado to Carlsbad, to the Del Mar beaches and La Jolla, you’ve got tons and tons of choices.
  • Near perfect weather all year round: In San Diego, the average weather is about 70 degrees. On the cold side, it might dip down to the 50s and 60s, while on the warmer side (about lat July and August) it rises to between the 80s and 90s. Not bad, right?
  • Excellent dining: Plenty of tasty spots you can only find in the city!
  • Free museums: These include the Japanese Friendship Garden, the San Diego Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, and more. Check for free days and promotions!
  • Community parks: Lush parks are a great destination for a sunny family Saturday, walking your dog, reading a book, or having a picnic. Learn more here.
  • Weekly farmers markets: San Diego is host to tons of farmer’s markets across the city every week. There are so many markets and vendors to choose from, you’re sure to find something you love every time.
  • Festivals (music, food, etc); Each summer, San Diego is home to a number of fun festivals. Plan a trip and enjoy one or more!
  • Concerts and shows at various venues, including
  • PetCo Park: An excellent venue that’s home of the Padres, a great space for concerts, sporting events, markets, and much more. This venue is large and can hold a number of people, making it a great space to get out, mingle, and try something new.
  • Nature and hiking trails: these include Torrey Pines, Potato Chip Rock, San Elijo Hills, and more.
  • An excellent craft beer scene: San Diego is home to the Stone Brewing Company

As you can see, this city provides everything and so much more. Check with your agency to see how to land a position here or in one of the surrounding areas!