If California is the Golden State, then Los Angeles is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Often called the entertainment capital of the world, L.A. is also a growth industry leader with more positions in the fashion industry than New York and more multimedia jobs than Silicon Valley and New York combined. In fact, if the five-county Greater Los Angeles area were a separate country, it would have the 16th largest economy in the world.

California is on the cutting-edge of healthcare, too, and is the only state with legislated nurse-to-patient ratios. As a result, nursing positions and top incentive packages abound in L.A. as hospitals compete to implement the ratios by the January 2004 cutoff.

The city of Los Angeles covers 467 of the 34,149 square-mile five-county area and is serviced by five major airports and seven interstate highways. Although it’s located in a desert basin, Los Angeles is bordered inland by the San Gabriel Mountains and flanked by 81 miles of spectacular coastline. With a population of 3.8 million, Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the nation, and may be the most culturally diverse — people from 140 countries speaking 86 different languages call L.A. home.

Of course, no L.A. story is complete without Hollywood, and rightly so. California produces the majority of the world’s entertainment, and Los Angeles boasts the biggest theater district on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the L.A. Convention and Visitors Bureau, the motion picture industry generates more than $31 billion annually.

If these credentials aren’t enough to lure you to Los Angeles, consider that some 330 sunny days a year, mild weather, and majestic scenery have done their part to attract nearly 25 million tourists — and their $13.6 billion — to the city each year.

Los Angeles wouldn’t be Los Angeles without the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. Photo courtesy of Arnesen Photography/Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau (LACVB).

On Duty

Celebrities aren’t the only ones who get red carpet treatment in Los Angeles. In fact, Gov. Gray Davis described nurses as “the backbone of our healthcare delivery system” in January 2002. To back this sentiment, he provided $60 million for the three-year Nurse Workforce Initiative to address California’s nurse shortage.

And the shortage is severe. In 2000, according to federal statistics, the state ranked 49th with 544 nurses per 100,000 patients, compared with the national average of 782 nurses per 100,000 patients. But a lot has been done to improve those figures. The California Nurses Association, the largest state nursing association in the country with 50,000 members, took a proactive political stance in its quest to combat staffing shortages.

“What makes California unique is that public leaders have listened to nurses, acted on what they’ve said, and made it public policy,” says Jill Furillo, RN, director of national affairs at the CNA.

According to the California Department of Health Services figures, 5,000 RNs are needed in L.A. alone, and that’s just to implement and sustain the 1:5 surgical ratios required by the Nurse Workforce Initiative bill. Faced with such a challenge, the CNA has worked tirelessly to make nursing in California especially attractive, and the Nurse Workforce Initiative has helped significantly.

Guaranteed staffing benefit packages for nurses now include longevity bonuses — in addition to standard increases — and sizable pensions that will enable nurses to retire comfortably like their public service counterparts in the police force and fire department. Additionally, salaries have been increased substantially across the board, and starting pay, about $26 an hour, is the highest in the country. “On top of all that,” Furillo says, “safe staffing will be mandated as of January 2004.”

Although the CNA operates several mentoring programs, the city’s diversity puts a unique spin on the establishment of future programs. “In L.A. we have people from so many cultures we need to ensure that the nursing population matches the hospital patient population,” Furillo says. “We’re implementing nurse mentorship programs that are specifically designed to mentor students from diverse backgrounds.”

The CNA is currently hiring, and compensating, retired and disabled nurses from all backgrounds to mentor students through college. Other nursing organizations that primarily do scholarships for ethnic groups include the Hispanic Nurses Association, the Filipino Nurses Association, and the African American Nurses Association.

As you might expect, the area’s nursing schools and hospitals are star quality. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked The University of California Los Angeles School of Nursing best in Southern California and 12th in the nation. Others that ranked in the top 100 include California State University, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

And those who learn at some of the best nursing schools can go on to working at some of the best hospitals without leaving the Greater Los Angeles area. The UCLA Medical Center was on the honor roll of U.S. News & World Report’s list of the country’s best hospitals. Other facilities that ranked high in various specialty areas of this prestigious list are Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Los Angeles; Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Los Angeles County-King-Drew Medical Center; Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey; UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital; and USC University Hospital (Doheny Eye Institute), Los Angeles.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is currently the only Magnet hospital in Southern California, but there could soon be another if UCLA Irvine’s application for Magnet status is approved.

Facilities and funding for nurses abound in L.A. “Because of our efforts we’re confident we’ll get the nurses we need,” Furillo says. “But retention is crucial, and guaranteed staffing will go a long way to encourage them to stay.”

Off Duty

You don’t need a superstar salary to enjoy L.A. in your downtime. In a city as large as Los Angeles, the entire gamut of entertainment is within easy reach.

Dining for every taste. L.A.’s restaurants cover every food group imaginable. In fact, the city’s diversity is most visible in the variety of restaurants in the area. Faced with literally thousands of eateries we consulted L.A. Now, a publication of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, to narrow down the options.

If you’re craving classic American food, you can choose from familiar chains like California Pizza Kitchen, Hard Rock Café, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, or you can try one-of-a-kind grills like Philippe The Original, Engine Company No. 28 Restaurant, and Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse. Closer to the beach there’s Allies American Grille, Breakwater Restaurant and Bar, and Chappies Grill. For California cuisine, L.A. Now lists, among others, Theodores, Twist, Café Rodeo, and Waterfront Bar and Grille.

For seafood, you can chow down at Chart House in Marina del Rey, Gladstone’s 4 Fish, or Harbor House Restaurant. If your choice is Chinese, there’s Plum Tree Inn, Panda Hut, and Mandarin West Szechuan Cuisine, or you can go Euro at Checkers Downtown, Three Thirty Three, or Juliette’s. If you’re into Italian, try Cardini, Ciao Trattoria, La Bella Cucina, and Zucca, or you can order Asian at A Thousand Cranes, Kyoto, Benihana, or Korean favorite Woo Lae Oak.

Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, the nation’s largest public park, offers breathtaking views. Photo courtesy of Arnesen Photography/LACVB.

Uniquely L.A. In a city associated with extravagance, you may be surprised that there are plenty of free things to do in metropolitan L.A. Here are a few to get you out into the California sunshine —

• Head for the beach. There are no nasty seasons in California, so you can get sand in your swimsuit year-round.
• Spend a day at the largest city park in the country. At 4,107 acres, Griffith Park offers lawn areas, walkways, and waterfall hideaways. The complex is also the site of the L.A. Zoo and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, and features a merry-go-round, pony rides, a golf course, and a visitors’ center.
• Rancho La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park is the site of the largest discovery of Ice Age fossils in the world. Admission is free the first Wednesday of every month.
• The Historic Farmers Market, in operation since 1934, still offers much of its original produce, such as fresh-ground peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, corned beef, and hot doughnuts. Dancing water shows and a free trolley ride at the new outdoor shopping plaza next door enhance the market experience.
• The final resting places of the famous are a favorite tourist haunt. Hollywood Forever, where Rudolph Valentino rests, is on Santa Monica Boulevard, Walt Disney lies in Forest Lawn, and Marilyn Monroe was buried in Westwood Memorial Park. Amusingly, Hugh Hefner has reserved the crypt alongside hers.
• El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Park is the city’s birthplace and site of the original settlement in 1781. It also has restaurants, shops, folklore, and restored historic buildings.
• Los Angeles has its own “Riviera” at Marina del Rey, the largest man-made small-craft harbor in the world with 6,000 in-the-water yachts and 3,000 in dry dock. You can relax in the park or enjoy spectacular views while you jog, skate, cycle, or walk.
• Take a ride along Mulholland Drive, one of the world’s most famous scenic routes, or up U.S. 101, which has some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. Keep the camera handy for the breathtaking viewpoints.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is the place for art that is on the cutting-edge. Photo courtesy of the LACVB.

Museums aplenty. There are more than 300 museums in Los Angeles. Among the must-sees are the California Science Center, the Getty Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Museum of Television and Radio, and the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Entertainment escapades. From The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to Everybody Loves Raymond, you can watch a taping of your favorite TV show at NBC, CBS, or ABC studios. Advanced bookings are recommended, but tickets are free.

Studio tours are run by Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures (one of the busiest lots), and Universal Studios, which also has a theme park. Disney theme parks have sprung up in Florida, France, and Tokyo, but Disneyland has always capitalized on being the first family theme park of its kind.

Of course, L.A. wouldn’t be the capital of entertainment without theaters — both indoor and outdoor. You’ll be sure to find performing arts for any possible taste.

Shopping everywhere. From Rodeo Drive to the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles is legendary for shopping. In fact, the L.A. region has the largest concentration of retail stores per capita in the nation, and is the second-largest market for international trade. Each shopping district has a different vibe, so you’re sure to find something that suits your style. And if you don’t, there are at least five malls that house familiar stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales.

Sports and recreation. From the course to the court, the California weather is ideal for outdoor recreation. The Nissan Open Golf Tournament and L.A. Senior PGA Golf Tournament both take place in the area, and UCLA frequently hosts tennis tournaments. The USC men’s tennis team currently holds the NCAA championship.

You can hike in the Santa Monica Mountains or take a walk in the woods at the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains. If you don’t want to stray far from the city, you can hit one of a number of trails in Griffith Park. There are plenty of opportunities for jogging, walking, water sports, and even polo.

The Staples Center is spectator sport headquarters. It houses three basketball teams — the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers and the WNBA’s Sparks — and one arena football team, the Los Angeles Avengers. The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings also play hockey there, while another NHL team, The Mighty Ducks, play at the Arrowhead Pond just down the road in Anaheim.

When it comes to baseball, L.A. is in a league of its own. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won an amazing eight National League championships and five World Series since they moved from Brooklyn in 1958. Home field is Dodger Stadium at Elysian Park. The 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels play American League ball at the Edison International Field of Anaheim, about 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

If horseracing is your game, you can wager on site or online at two Los Angeles-area tracks: the Santa Anita Race Park, which is open December through April, and Hollywood Park, which is open April through July. If you like how people move more than horses, the Los Angeles Marathon takes place the first Sunday of March. It includes a bike tour and a wheelchair division.

“With our championship teams and outstanding venues for athletes, no other destination is better,” says Kathy Schloessman, president of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.

You can view the “City of Angels” from any number of high perches around the area. Photo courtesy of the LACVB.

Living Well

The City of Angels has been around for nearly 150 years, and yet nothing seems older than 40. The same goes for its residents, whose average age is 32, according to the US Census Bureau. Although the average age may seem low, salaries are high. Department of Labor statistics put the area’s average salary at $42,189, exceeding both the Pacific division average ($39,583) and the national average ($35,296.) And the news is even better for nurses. Bureau of Labor statistics from 2001 show that California outranks all the other states in terms of average salary for RNs. According to the CNA’s June 2003 figures, the average base salary for nurses in L.A. is $55,461, slightly more than the state average ($53,528) and significantly higher than the national average ($48,680).

Los Angeles Almanac lists L.A.’s median housing price at $234,400 — which is low compared with some Californian cities where average prices can be twice that. Nearly half L.A.’s residents own their homes, but those who don’t pay an average of $717 a month for rent.

If you have kids, you’ll be glad to know that high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District rank in the top 100 in the country. The district is the nation’s second largest with a K-12 enrollment of more than 722,000 students. The average class size in Los Angeles County is 26, with a teacher-student ratio of 1:21. Additional information is available from www.LAUSD.net.

Although L.A.’s rush hour is infamous, a car is still by far the best way to get around the city. For a daytrip or if you don’t want the hassle and expense of parking, there are plenty of public transportation options. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) operates buses and trains between all major points for a base fare of $1.35, and the L.A. Department of Transportation runs a 25-cent shuttle service called DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) through downtown and the west side.

Venice Beach is a great place to find cheap and free things to do — all in the gorgeous California sun. Photo courtesy of Michele and Tom Grimm/LACVB.

What You Can See for a C-Note

“You can do many things in L.A. for under $100,” says Rebecca Puck, media relations expert at L.A. Inc. “The thing you want to keep in mind is that L.A. is very large, and it’s best to keep to one region per day.” With that in mind, start the day with breakfast at Twist in the Renaissance Hotel at the Hollywood & Highland complex. A hot buffet runs $15 while the chilled alternative runs $10. Parking in the center costs a mere $2 for four hours with validation, which Twist is happy to provide.

Only in Hollywood can you look down to see the stars. After breakfast, follow in the footsteps of your favorite celebs along Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. This attraction got its start in the 1920s when, during the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings, actress Norma Talmadge accidentally stepped in wet cement. Since then more than 2,000 Hollywood stars have left their footprints in the sidewalk.

For fun, drop by Frederick’s of Hollywood Lingerie Museum, which is something you’re not likely to see anywhere else. According to Frommer’s website, Frederick Mellinger, who invented the push-up bra, “opened the purple-and-pink art deco panty shop in 1947, and dutifully installed a small exhibition saluting all the stars of stage, screen, and TV who glamorized lingerie.” The museum houses Madonna’s pointy-breasted corset and a bra autographed by Cher. Admission is free.

Your four hours of parking will probably be up, so hit the highway and head to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver for the 2:30 PM tour. You’ll need reservations for the two-hour tour, which costs $20.

Leaving Sony, take the Santa Monica Freeway to Santa Monica Pier. You can park for a flat rate of $8 after 4 PM and then stroll down the beach to Venice Boardwalk. Thanks to a $6.5 million renovation, the Boardwalk features numerous new-and-improved facilities and is a vibrant place to hang out. Street artists will give you the most entertainment for your money, or you can shop the stalls for quirky souvenirs. Venice vendors usually pack up around 6 PM, so head back to the pier for the evening. If you time it well, you can watch the sunset from atop the Ferris wheel.

Pier admission is free, but games at Pacific Park cost $1 to $2 and rides run $1.50 to $4.50. You can purchase an all-day wristband for $19.95, but we’re going to save 25% with a coupon from www.pacpark.com. Have dinner at one of the over-the-ocean eateries on the pier and enjoy the rides and games until the park closes — 11 PM on weekdays, later on weekends. Finish the day with a frozen or hot coffee mixer at Nescafe.

From movie stars to museums, free fun to fine dining, there’s more than enough for everyone in L.A. As CNA’s Jill Furillo says, “If you want to live in a nice place and do something concrete to ease the nursing shortage, then L.A. is the place to be.”