California mandates a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio in every operating room — the strictest OR staffing law in the US. Travel OR nurses earn $3,000–$4,200/week driven by structural, law-mandated demand.
CA OR positions open frequently — start your license now.
Start CA License + Priority List| OR Type / Surgical Specialty | CA Weekly Pay | AB 394 Ratio | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robotic Surgery (da Vinci) | $3,600–$4,200/wk | 1:1 (AB 394) | Extreme | da Vinci console nurse + bedside; premium skill that commands top CA rates |
| Cardiac / Open Heart Surgery | $3,400–$4,000/wk | 1:1 | Very High | Rare, high-acuity — pairs with CRNA and perfusionist; Level I and academic centers only |
| Neurosurgery OR | $3,200–$3,800/wk | 1:1 | High | Long cases (8–16 hours), complex instrumentation; premium per-hour value |
| Trauma OR (Level I) | $3,200–$3,800/wk | 1:1 + call pay | Very High | Unscheduled cases; call pay is additional; Harborview-equivalent intensity |
| General / Laparoscopic Surgery | $3,000–$3,600/wk | 1:1 | Very High | Highest volume; fastest to orient; most available CA OR travel contracts |
| Orthopedic / Joint Replacement | $3,000–$3,500/wk | 1:1 | High | Implant-heavy; instrument sets vary widely; prior ortho experience strongly preferred |
California AB 394 mandates a 1:1 ratio in operating rooms — one circulating RN per patient, at all times, regardless of case volume. This is the strictest OR staffing law in the US. In practice, it means a California OR can never double-up nurses across rooms (a common practice in non-ratio states). Every additional OR case requires an additional travel nurse. This structural demand — not just shortage — drives California OR travel pay to $3,000–$4,200/week.
CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room, from AORN) is the primary credential for OR travel nurses. It is listed as preferred or required on most CA OR contracts, particularly at academic medical centers and Level I trauma facilities. ACLS is required. BLS is required. For robotic surgery contracts, prior da Vinci training/certification (or Intuitive Surgical training) is often listed as required. For cardiac OR, ACLS + open heart experience is non-negotiable.
California BRN endorsement takes 8–12 weeks from completed application. OR nurses often have an easier endorsement process because they don't need to provide evidence of specialty certification beyond their RN license — but the timeline is the same. CatSol submits your CA BRN application immediately when you commit to a CA OR contract. OR-specific credentialing (CNOR, ACLS verification, specific instrument competencies) happens concurrently.
OR travel contracts in California are typically Monday–Friday with a daily call requirement (usually one evening or weekend call shift per week). Standard hours follow the elective surgery schedule — cases typically start at 7 AM and may run through 5–8 PM for complex or add-on cases. Trauma ORs operate 24/7 — trauma OR contracts include rotating call or overnight shifts. Always clarify call frequency, call-in pay, and add-on case expectations before signing your contract.
Yes — California OR travel opportunities exist for both Registered Nurses (RN, circulator and/or scrub role) and Surgical Technologists (CST — Certified Surgical Technologist). This guide focuses on RN roles. CatSol places both RNs and CSTs in California OR positions — if you're a surg tech, contact us directly for CST-specific contract information.
CA BRN takes 8–12 weeks. CatSol starts your application Day 1 so you're positioned for your target OR suite the moment your license arrives.