New grad LAC USC (ED)

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Hi everyone! New grad here thinking about applying to La county’s ED. Has anyone else applied? Or is anyone currently working there? I’m curious as to what the environment is like and how long the training is for a new grad. There is nothing online about there being an official “new grad program” so I wanted to know if anyone could give me information. Anything helps. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Phlebotomist.

Hello! Just curious to know if you applied for the county ED? How was the process for you? What have you heard about the hospital environment? 

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Hey, I was hired at LAC-USC, not the ED, but I wanted to clarify and help some people as I see it is a often asked question. As of this year lac-usc pays 38/hr for new grads, without differential. You WILL get hired on for night shift, there is a 3 yr waiting list for dayshift. The culture at LAC-USC differs from unit to unit but as a whole I feel it is SO good for learning, people are very supportive and everyone is very knowledgeable. 

The hard part is having patience. I accepted my position in March. I just started September 1st. It is a lot of hoops to jump through. I figured I'd make a guideline or something so when people search how to apply this pops up.

 

  1.  Apply here. You have to have your license, and current BLS. 
  2.  Wait for an email that will invite you to take the exam. IT IS A BASIC PERSONALITY EXAM. Do not freak, there is no math, no nursing qs. It's basic.
  3. Wait for them to email you again, saying you passed the exam and are on the eligibility list. 
  4. Send an email to LAC-USC Nursing Recruitment ([email protected]) with the following information:
    1. A copy of your license OR a screenshot of DCA's license lookup page
    2. A copy of your BLS
    3. Your resume
    4. A screenshot of your exam results
  5. Call Nurse recruitment (323) 409-4663 and tell them you emailed them, and you'd like to hear what openings the hospital has. 
  6. Choose where to interview. Literally. You don't have to do anything else. They will let you know w/in 2-3 business days. If you don't get the job you are free to call back within 10 business days to find other openings. You don't have to choose just one place to interview. 
  7. Once you accept they will email you, and ask for more information. They will send you info for the livescan. DO IT ASAP. It took me 3 months to get it processed. I theorize that since they go through LACounty HR you have to wait in line with EVERY LA County Employee to get your livescan. 
  8. 2-3 months later they will email you with an appt for health clearances. You can reschedule. They say you must do it w/in 2 weeks, mine was a day late and they didn't care.
  9. They will then call you and let you choose 1 of 2 start dates. For me is was 1st and 16th. I couldn't do either and they let me email an request for the 1st of the next month.

Congratulations you're FINALLY employed at LAC-USC. 

 

6
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Specializes in NICU.

Hi @NillaWafers, ASN

Thank you so much for this post - very helpful!
Also congrats on your position at LAC+USC, I worked in their NICU for ~8 yrs. It’s an amazing hospital to be employed by, best wishes to you ?

**Questions: 

1. How long after Live Scan did it take to receive the email for “Health Clearance” appt?                
2. How long after Health Clearance appt, did it take for the “Start Date” phone call?

-TIA

1
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On 9/3/2022 at 12:31 PM, NillaWafers said:

Hey, I was hired at LAC-USC, not the ED, but I wanted to clarify and help some people as I see it is a often asked question. As of this year lac-usc pays 38/hr for new grads, without differential. You WILL get hired on for night shift, there is a 3 yr waiting list for dayshift. The culture at LAC-USC differs from unit to unit but as a whole I feel it is SO good for learning, people are very supportive and everyone is very knowledgeable. 

The hard part is having patience. I accepted my position in March. I just started September 1st. It is a lot of hoops to jump through. I figured I'd make a guideline or something so when people search how to apply this pops up.

 

  1.  Apply here. You have to have your license, and current BLS. 
  2.  Wait for an email that will invite you to take the exam. IT IS A BASIC PERSONALITY EXAM. Do not freak, there is no math, no nursing qs. It's basic.
  3. Wait for them to email you again, saying you passed the exam and are on the eligibility list. 
  4. Send an email to LAC-USC Nursing Recruitment ([email protected]) with the following information:
    1. A copy of your license OR a screenshot of DCA's license lookup page
    2. A copy of your BLS
    3. Your resume
    4. A screenshot of your exam results
  5. Call Nurse recruitment (323) 409-4663 and tell them you emailed them, and you'd like to hear what openings the hospital has. 
  6. Choose where to interview. Literally. You don't have to do anything else. They will let you know w/in 2-3 business days. If you don't get the job you are free to call back within 10 business days to find other openings. You don't have to choose just one place to interview. 
  7. Once you accept they will email you, and ask for more information. They will send you info for the livescan. DO IT ASAP. It took me 3 months to get it processed. I theorize that since they go through LACounty HR you have to wait in line with EVERY LA County Employee to get your livescan. 
  8. 2-3 months later they will email you with an appt for health clearances. You can reschedule. They say you must do it w/in 2 weeks, mine was a day late and they didn't care.
  9. They will then call you and let you choose 1 of 2 start dates. For me is was 1st and 16th. I couldn't do either and they let me email an request for the 1st of the next month.

Congratulations you're FINALLY employed at LAC-USC. 

 

Thank you for the thorough response! How are the benefits working at LAC-USC? Is it worth the pay cut compared to other hospitals in LA?

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They pay for 100% of your benefits unless you're really extra and want everything (the United PPO is really expensive). They basically give you a monthly stipend for benefits. If you are under the amount you can get up to 270 dollars extra a month. You have the choice of united hmo/ppo, or kaiser. The benefits are really good, 10 dollar copay for most. Dental is delta or met something.  They have a HSA, and DSA. Life insurance, death and disability insurance are optional, I didn't really look into them though. The pension is 9% of your pay every month but is really good, as a late starter I feel like that alone is worth it. Lets say you work there 20 years, you will get 50% of your pay after you retire until death.  They also match 401(k) and Horizons 457(b) to 4%.

 

The union just negotiated a 8% pay raise that takes effect 10/15 so my original statement re starting pay isn't accurate now, it's more along 42/hr starting. Sick days and vacation days are separate. You get more vacation days as you get seniority. People treat sick days as pto really. I'm not 100% on how many you get. 

They also have a new grad residency program starting this next month. It's brand new, so they're kinda playing it by ear. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. 

 

Also if you look at some glassdoor reviews they mention being an F item (no benefits) for a certain period of time. That is no longer, all nurses are hired on as A (full benefits) items now. 

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On 9/23/2022 at 10:28 PM, Nightingale Nurse said:

Hi @NillaWafers, ASN

Thank you so much for this post - very helpful!
Also congrats on your position at LAC+USC, I worked in their NICU for ~8 yrs. It’s an amazing hospital to be employed by, best wishes to you ?

**Questions: 

1. How long after Live Scan did it take to receive the email for “Health Clearance” appt?                
2. How long after Health Clearance appt, did it take for the “Start Date” phone call?

-TIA

12 weeks from live scan, 2 weeks from health clearance appt to recieve start date, which was the 1st or 16th. You can ask for a different start date if it doesn't work out. 

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17 minutes ago, NillaWafers said:

They pay for 100% of your benefits unless you're really extra and want everything (the United PPO is really expensive). They basically give you a monthly stipend for benefits. If you are under the amount you can get up to 270 dollars extra a month. You have the choice of united hmo/ppo, or kaiser. The benefits are really good, 10 dollar copay for most. Dental is delta or met something.  They have a HSA, and DSA. Life insurance, death and disability insurance are optional, I didn't really look into them though. The pension is 9% of your pay every month but is really good, as a late starter I feel like that alone is worth it. Lets say you work there 20 years, you will get 50% of your pay after you retire until death.  They also match 401(k) and Horizons 457(b) to 4%.

 

The union just negotiated a 8% pay raise that takes effect 10/15 so my original statement re starting pay isn't accurate now, it's more along 42/hr starting. Sick days and vacation days are separate. You get more vacation days as you get seniority. People treat sick days as pto really. I'm not 100% on how many you get. 

They also have a new grad residency program starting this next month. It's brand new, so they're kinda playing it by ear. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. 

 

Also if you look at some glassdoor reviews they mention being an F item (no benefits) for a certain period of time. That is no longer, all nurses are hired on as A (full benefits) items now. 

Wow that is great information. Do you know where to apply or who to contact for more information regarding the New Grad program? Do you know when the start date would be?

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25 minutes ago, chemistrynerd said:

Wow that is great information. Do you know where to apply or who to contact for more information regarding the New Grad program? Do you know when the start date would be?

If you're a new grad you will be automatically placed into the new grad residency. I am not sure how often they run the classes but since we will be in class for 1.5 months I imagine it will run about every 2 to 4 months. Once you get hired you will shadow and do a lot of the modular (online) trainings. Then the program starts and its a lot of classes and skills acquisition.  

 

I have my current calendar but since it's the first program they are running I bet it will change as they feel out what works for them. 

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On 9/3/2022 at 12:31 PM, NillaWafers said:

Hey, I was hired at LAC-USC, not the ED, but I wanted to clarify and help some people as I see it is a often asked question. As of this year lac-usc pays 38/hr for new grads, without differential. You WILL get hired on for night shift, there is a 3 yr waiting list for dayshift. The culture at LAC-USC differs from unit to unit but as a whole I feel it is SO good for learning, people are very supportive and everyone is very knowledgeable. 

The hard part is having patience. I accepted my position in March. I just started September 1st. It is a lot of hoops to jump through. I figured I'd make a guideline or something so when people search how to apply this pops up.

 

  1.  Apply here. You have to have your license, and current BLS. 
  2.  Wait for an email that will invite you to take the exam. IT IS A BASIC PERSONALITY EXAM. Do not freak, there is no math, no nursing qs. It's basic.
  3. Wait for them to email you again, saying you passed the exam and are on the eligibility list. 
  4. Send an email to LAC-USC Nursing Recruitment ([email protected]) with the following information:
    1. A copy of your license OR a screenshot of DCA's license lookup page
    2. A copy of your BLS
    3. Your resume
    4. A screenshot of your exam results
  5. Call Nurse recruitment (323) 409-4663 and tell them you emailed them, and you'd like to hear what openings the hospital has. 
  6. Choose where to interview. Literally. You don't have to do anything else. They will let you know w/in 2-3 business days. If you don't get the job you are free to call back within 10 business days to find other openings. You don't have to choose just one place to interview. 
  7. Once you accept they will email you, and ask for more information. They will send you info for the livescan. DO IT ASAP. It took me 3 months to get it processed. I theorize that since they go through LACounty HR you have to wait in line with EVERY LA County Employee to get your livescan. 
  8. 2-3 months later they will email you with an appt for health clearances. You can reschedule. They say you must do it w/in 2 weeks, mine was a day late and they didn't care.
  9. They will then call you and let you choose 1 of 2 start dates. For me is was 1st and 16th. I couldn't do either and they let me email an request for the 1st of the next month.

Congratulations you're FINALLY employed at LAC-USC. 

 

Wow this information is invaluable. Thank you. I am in a bit of a dilemma but this may have solved it for me. I have an offer with an 10/31 start date for a providence hospital in northern california, however, I kept my interview date with LAC USC which is this Thursday. Part of me wants to take the offer with county (if I get one), however, I don't think I would want to wait that long because you are basically saying it would months before you get a start date right?? Appreciate your insight.

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38 minutes ago, ptreebranch said:

Wow this information is invaluable. Thank you. I am in a bit of a dilemma but this may have solved it for me. I have an offer with an 10/31 start date for a providence hospital in northern california, however, I kept my interview date with LAC USC which is this Thursday. Part of me wants to take the offer with county (if I get one), however, I don't think I would want to wait that long because you are basically saying it would months before you get a start date right?? Appreciate your insight.

Yeah, it will be a while. Boyfriend accepted a position Sept. 22nd, still no news on start date/ health exam. CNO said she was trying to expedite but not sure how expedited they have managed. 

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On 10/18/2022 at 8:10 AM, NillaWafers said:

Yeah, it will be a while. Boyfriend accepted a position Sept. 22nd, still no news on start date/ health exam. CNO said she was trying to expedite but not sure how expedited they have managed. 

I was offered a position but contingent upon that I accept by today noon. I am hesitant because there is another offer on table but it’s not “official” yet . Do you think it’s possible to back out after accepting a position? I know it’s not ideal for the hospital .

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