California ICU + CVICU Travel Nurse Jobs 2026
8 active ICU and CVICU travel RN openings in California — Enloe Medical Center Chico ($2,830/wk top pay), Mad River Community Hospital Arcata. Title 22 mandates 1:2 ICU ratio. Avg pay $2,663/week.
Live California ICU Openings
Travel ICU RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles
Travel ICU RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles
Travel ICU RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles
Travel ICU RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles
Travel ICU RN — Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange
Travel ICU RN — Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange
Top California Hospitals Hiring ICU RNs
Live CatSol inventory. Bay Area academic centers (UCSF, Stanford, Cedars-Sinai) also hire travel ICU/CVICU RNs at $4,200–$5,500/wk — submit your profile for matched alerts when they post.
| Facility | City | Open Roles | Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 4 active | $2,575–$3,421/wk |
| Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange | Orange, CA | 2 active | $1,878.5–$2,330/wk |
| Enloe Medical Center | Chico, CA | 1 active | $2,866–$2,866/wk |
| Mad River Community Hospital | Arcata, CA | 1 active | $2,417.27–$2,417.27/wk |
Why California ICU Travel Pays Premium
- •Title 22 1:2 ratio — mandatory ICU staffing means more nurses per unit, more demand
- •1:1 for vented — ventilated patients get dedicated RN attention by law
- •BRN licensing barrier — non-compact state limits ICU traveler supply
- •Academic premium — UCSF, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, Stanford pay $4,200–$5,500/wk for ICU specialists
- •CVICU/CVOR tier — cardiac specialty adds $200–$2,000/wk over general ICU
Requirements & California Licensing
- •2+ years recent ICU experience (CVICU needs 1+ yr cardiac surgery recovery)
- •Certifications: BLS + ACLS required. CCRN preferred (+$100–$300/wk premium)
- •CA BRN license — non-compact; 6–12 week endorsement ($500 total)
- •Start license early — ICU contracts move fast in California
- •CatSol assists with BRN endorsement + CCRN cert verification
Ready for a California ICU contract?
A CatSol RN recruiter will reach out within 24 hours with matched ICU/CVICU openings, pay packages, and BRN licensing help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do ICU travel nurses make in California?
ICU travel RNs in California earn $1,878.5–$3,421/week in 2026 (avg $2,663/week). Top-paying facility currently is Enloe Medical Center in Chico at $2,830/week (both ICU and CVICU). Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata also has multiple active ICU openings at $2,256–$2,403/week. Pay includes tax-free housing and meals stipends. CVICU and CVOR specialty ICU roles pay higher — $4,200–$5,500/wk at academic centers like UCSF and Cedars-Sinai.
What is California Title 22 and how does it affect ICU travel pay?
California Title 22 mandates a 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio in ICU (and 1:1 for ventilated patients). California is the only US state with these mandates. Hospitals cannot delay admissions or transfer patients to lower-acuity units due to staffing — they MUST staff to ratio or face state penalties. This creates constant, predictable demand for ICU travel nurses and pushes pay 25–40% above national ICU averages. The 1:2 ratio also means a more manageable patient load than the 1:3 or 1:4 you may see in non-mandate states.
Do I need CCRN certification for ICU travel jobs in California?
CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) is preferred at most California ICU programs but not always required. Most facilities require 2+ years of recent ICU experience, BLS, ACLS, and California RN license. CCRN adds $100–$300/week premium and opens premium roles at academic centers (UCSF, UCLA, Cedars-Sinai). For CVICU specifically, 1+ year of cardiac surgery recovery (CABG/valve) experience is required.
What is the difference between ICU and CVICU travel pay in California?
CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU) pays $200–$500/week more than general ICU because of the additional cardiac surgery recovery expertise required (CABG, valve replacements, heart transplant, VAD/ECMO familiarity). At Enloe Medical Center, both ICU and CVICU contracts currently pay $2,830/wk. At academic centers like UCSF and Cedars-Sinai, CVICU contracts run $4,200–$5,200/wk. CVOR (Cardiac OR) is a separate higher tier at $4,800–$5,800/wk.
Which California hospitals are best for ICU travel nurses?
For pay: UCSF, Cedars-Sinai, and UCLA Ronald Reagan all pay $4,200–$5,500/wk for ICU/CVICU travel — the highest in California. For predictable schedules and consistent inventory: Enloe Medical Center (Chico) currently has both ICU and CVICU openings at $2,830/wk. For Northern California rural/coastal: Mad River Community Hospital (Arcata) has multiple ICU openings at $2,256–$2,403/wk. CatSol can match you based on pay, location, and shift preferences.
How long does it take to get a California RN license for ICU travel?
California is NOT a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. You need a separate California RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Endorsement from another US state license takes 6–12 weeks and costs ~$500 total. ICU travelers in particular should start the BRN process EARLY because California ICU contracts move fast — by the time the license arrives, the specific contract you wanted may be gone. CatSol's licensing team helps with the BRN application, transcripts, and background check.
Are California ICU travel contracts day shift or night shift?
Mix of both. Enloe Medical Center currently has 12-hour Day shift ICU and CVICU openings. Mad River Community Hospital has 12-hour Night and Day shift ICU openings. Night shifts typically add $100–$200/week shift differential. Charge nurse or PRN call shifts pay an additional premium. Most California ICU contracts are 13 weeks with extension options.