California is the only state with a mandatory ER nurse-to-patient ratio law. The 1:4 AB 394 mandate — combined with the CA BRN license barrier — drives $2,800–$4,000/week ER travel packages statewide.
Santa Rosa
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Chico
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Burbank
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Chico, CA
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Crescent City, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Eureka, CA
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Eureka, CA
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Barstow, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA
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| ER / Facility Type | CA Weekly Pay | AB 394 Ratio | Acuity | Example Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I Trauma Center ER | $3,400–$4,000/wk | 1:4 (AB 394) | Extreme | LA County USC, Zuckerberg SF General, UC Davis, Scripps Mercy |
| Level II Trauma ER | $3,200–$3,800/wk | 1:4 | High | Regional trauma centers statewide |
| Academic Medical Center ER | $3,000–$3,600/wk | 1:4 | High | UCSF, UCLA, Stanford, UC San Diego |
| Pediatric ER (PED) | $3,000–$3,600/wk | 1:4 | High | Children's Hospital LA, UCSF Benioff, Rady Children's SD |
| Community / Urban ER | $2,800–$3,400/wk | 1:4 | Moderate–High | Kaiser, Dignity Health, HCA CA, regional hospitals |
| Rural / Critical Access ER | $2,800–$3,500/wk | 1:4 | Variable | Central Valley, Northern California, rural counties |
Travel ER nurses in California earn $2,800–$4,000/week. Level I trauma center ER positions in LA and the Bay Area hit $3,400–$4,000/week. Community and urban ER positions average $2,800–$3,400/week. The total package includes taxable base hourly + tax-free CA housing stipend (GSA rates add $600–$1,150/week tax-free for housing alone) + meal stipend.
California AB 394 mandates a maximum 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio in emergency departments. During triage and after initial assessment, California also allows 1:5 in non-critical ER bays. This is one of the most protective ER staffing laws in the US — no other state has a mandatory ER ratio law. The law drives persistent ER staffing gaps because facilities cannot exceed ratio, and CEN-certified travel nurses fill the gap at premium rates.
CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) is listed as preferred or required on many California ER travel contracts, particularly at Level I trauma centers and academic medical centers. ACLS and TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) are almost universally required. ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course) is required or preferred at pediatric ERs and trauma centers with pediatric bays. CEN adds $150–$250/week to your contract rate in most cases.
California BRN endorsement takes 8–12 weeks from completed application. California is not part of the NLC Compact. CatSol submits your CA BRN application the day you commit to a California ER contract. Plan your application 10–12 weeks before your target start date. While waiting, we identify your target ER units and negotiate your contract so you start within days of license issuance.
Los Angeles County has the highest ER volume of any market in the US — LA County USC Medical Center alone sees 170,000+ ER visits per year. Bay Area trauma centers (Zuckerberg SF General, Highland Hospital in Oakland) have persistent travel RN needs. San Diego's trauma corridor (Scripps Mercy, UC San Diego) sees high travel demand. Rural Central Valley ERs (Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield) consistently post crisis pay due to severe shortage of local ER nurses.
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Start your CA BRN application today — CatSol manages the process end-to-end so you're positioned for your target ER the moment your license arrives.