New Grad Los Angeles, CA

nursealtamirano · Aug 24, 2019

I want to help you! I was in a worse spot than u when I moved to LA as a new grad from another state and only had a ADN. There's 3 ways to get your first job.

1. Kindred - I WISH I knew about kindred before I did the 3rd thing im going to tell you to do. Kindred doesnt pay you well whatsoever and you will be worked so hard that you'll probably cry a few times through out the year but when that year is over you will literally be 1 off the strongest most capable RNs in the field. Kindred is a long term acute care hospital. Basically you would be taking care of the worse possible patients with the worse possible resources. It's stressful but if you can survive a year in kindred you would be welcomed with open arms ANYWHERE! They take new grads because they pay so very poorly. No RN would stay there. Check them out they usually have hiring events!

2. Small community hospitals - find a small poorly reviewed community hospital. These hospitals are more nurturing and willing to hire new grads because they have high turn over and poor pay compared to the bigger hospitals. Never apply to big hospitals. There's no point. They won't hire you so stop depressing yourself applying to them. A popular spot for new hires are prime healthcare facilities. They're small and they don't pay. Good combination for a new grad to get their feet wet.

3. Just give up hope and work in a SNF - I only recommend this if you literally need money and you have no support for your job search journey. SNF was my first job. I absolutely hated it and it killed my soul but I needed money and I didn't know about kindred. Kindred and SNFs pay the same but at least you're actually being a RN in kindred. That's what you went to school for right? At a SNF you're a RN supervisor. I found myself being kinda jealous of the LVNs. You don't do a lot of clinical work and the SNF will harass you on your days off because they're always short. ONLY DO THIS IF YOU NEED MONEY NOW!

I hope this helps you get a job! Good luck on your search!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2019

As an experienced nurse, I would only recommend that you apply to acute care hospitals and stay away from LTACs and SNFs. Your best bet is to get into a residency program for new grads at any hospital that will take you. I would also recommend looking out of state as well where the competition is less than it is in California. I know many new grads that left the state for a year or two to complete residency/earn their nursing experience and came back to jobs in California successfully.

13grad71 · Oct 29, 2019

When I was a new grad I worked at our local county jail. I would have been fine except for a couple of jerk correctional officers. I lasted only a few months. I did get a hospital job working med surg while I was working in the jail.

I had a friend who pushed my resume but it was the panel interview that made all the difference. What I did was I researched the hospital, in particular, studies they did and I discussed that during the interview and they offered me a job on the spot. They were quite impressed that I knew about the various studies they have made over the years. Thanks to Google?

I volunteered to work in all departments and in doing so I became marketable. I currently work in 2 different ED and have ahead offers from other EDs. I think they see that I’m flexible and they find that appealing.

Nurse Cristina · Nov 7, 2019

On 10/29/2019 at 12:20 PM, 13grad71 said:
When I was a new grad I worked at our local county jail. I would have been fine except for a couple of jerk correctional officers. I lasted only a few months. I did get a hospital job working med surg while I was working in the jail.
I had a friend who pushed my resume but it was the panel interview that made all the difference. What I did was I researched the hospital, in particular, studies they did and I discussed that during the interview and they offered me a job on the spot. They were quite impressed that I knew about the various studies they have made over the years. Thanks to Google?
I volunteered to work in all departments and in doing so I became marketable. I currently work in 2 different ED and have ahead offers from other EDs. I think they see that I’m flexible and they find that appealing.

Congrats on your journey! Flexibility and tenacity definitely makes a difference. Do you mind which residency program you interviewed for? Ill be interviewing with St. Joseph Health in the SFV soon and I'm incredibly nervous! I don't know what to expect from a panel interview. I'm practicing as many behavioral questions as I can and have set a Mock interview with my University Career Services, but trying to see how I can stand out. My loans are due soon so I need this!

ana_96 · Dec 1, 2020

On 8/24/2019 at 10:49 AM, nursealtamirano said:

I want to help you! I was in a worse spot than u when I moved to LA as a new grad from another state and only had a ADN. There's 3 ways to get your first job.

1. Kindred - I WISH I knew about kindred before I did the 3rd thing im going to tell you to do. Kindred doesnt pay you well whatsoever and you will be worked so hard that you'll probably cry a few times through out the year but when that year is over you will literally be 1 off the strongest most capable RNs in the field. Kindred is a long term acute care hospital. Basically you would be taking care of the worse possible patients with the worse possible resources. It's stressful but if you can survive a year in kindred you would be welcomed with open arms ANYWHERE! They take new grads because they pay so very poorly. No RN would stay there. Check them out they usually have hiring events!

2. Small community hospitals - find a small poorly reviewed community hospital. These hospitals are more nurturing and willing to hire new grads because they have high turn over and poor pay compared to the bigger hospitals. Never apply to big hospitals. There's no point. They won't hire you so stop depressing yourself applying to them. A popular spot for new hires are prime healthcare facilities. They're small and they don't pay. Good combination for a new grad to get their feet wet.

3. Just give up hope and work in a SNF - I only recommend this if you literally need money and you have no support for your job search journey. SNF was my first job. I absolutely hated it and it killed my soul but I needed money and I didn't know about kindred. Kindred and SNFs pay the same but at least you're actually being a RN in kindred. That's what you went to school for right? At a SNF you're a RN supervisor. I found myself being kinda jealous of the LVNs. You don't do a lot of clinical work and the SNF will harass you on your days off because they're always short. ONLY DO THIS IF YOU NEED MONEY NOW!

I hope this helps you get a job! Good luck on your search!

Hiii are you still there?! Super late I know LOL but I am going to SNF nursing as a new grad! They have me as RN supervisor and I am SCARED. Any advice/tips?! I honestly don’t know what I’m getting myself into

nursealtamirano · Dec 1, 2020

Hey Ana! Congratulations/My condolences on your new job LOL jk! Basically you will do a lot of paperwork, admissions, and ivs. Theoretically its a very easy job clinically. It's mundane and predictable but the reason I hated it so much is because you will get no support. They are super duper short all the time and they will give you the puppy dog eyes and say, "can you stay for a double?" "Can you come in on your day off?" " Can you work every day of the week, just this once! We swear!" (They're lying btw). You will literally dread whatever ringtone you give them. I don't know if your doing the SNF thing just for money but just never get comfortable. Always seek an acute job at a hospital. Do NOT be loyal or think to yourself you're leaving your SNF hanging because they just hired you. I don't care if you get a hospital job 2 months after getting the SNF job; you take the hospital job and abandon that SNF! That SNF doesnt care about you so do NOT care about them!

When you finally get your money take classes for whatever kind of nurse you want to be. You want ICU? 6 week critical care course plus ACLS. ED? 6 week emergency nursing plus ACLS PALS and EDAP. Doing stuff like that makes you stand out and it's how I got my 1st hospital job 8 months after the SNF life. Do NOT just put your SNF experience and think a hospital cares. It's not acute care experience. That education will help a lot on your resume. I wish you luck!

ana_96 · Dec 3, 2020

On 12/1/2020 at 5:44 AM, nursealtamirano said:

Hey Ana! Congratulations/My condolences on your new job LOL jk! Basically you will do a lot of paperwork, admissions, and ivs. Theoretically its a very easy job clinically. It's mundane and predictable but the reason I hated it so much is because you will get no support. They are super duper short all the time and they will give you the puppy dog eyes and say, "can you stay for a double?" "Can you come in on your day off?" " Can you work every day of the week, just this once! We swear!" (They're lying btw). You will literally dread whatever ringtone you give them. I don't know if your doing the SNF thing just for money but just never get comfortable. Always seek an acute job at a hospital. Do NOT be loyal or think to yourself you're leaving your SNF hanging because they just hired you. I don't care if you get a hospital job 2 months after getting the SNF job; you take the hospital job and abandon that SNF! That SNF doesnt care about you so do NOT care about them!

When you finally get your money take classes for whatever kind of nurse you want to be. You want ICU? 6 week critical care course plus ACLS. ED? 6 week emergency nursing plus ACLS PALS and EDAP. Doing stuff like that makes you stand out and it's how I got my 1st hospital job 8 months after the SNF life. Do NOT just put your SNF experience and think a hospital cares. It's not acute care experience. That education will help a lot on your resume. I wish you luck!

Well, I didn’t make it past 3 days! I realized the supervisor role as a new grad was not the best fit for me. It was just so much. I got overwhelmed so quick. Staff is very nice and supportive and seemed willing to help, but to me it’s just not worth putting my license at risk if something were to happen. Not to mention JHACO can show up at any time this month since this is the survey window. They come every 3 months now due to covid. I couldn’t do it. Thought it’s best to leave now still during orientation than to be stuck. I’m definitely going to be taking ACLS classes. I just hope I can find a hospital job soon, one where I won’t have to oversee 100+ patients by myself! LOL.

ETA-RN, ADN, RN · Dec 17, 2020

Frustrating times for sure. I've got more than 500 applications out around southern California.

Add dialysis to your list of places to apply to. I'm 49 and work for a major healthcare employer but need a year of nursing experience before they will consider me as an RN. This is with more than 20 years of experience as a radiologic technologist in acute care facilities. I've turned down Kindred because they expected me to make them priority number 1 and drop my current employer. Dialysis wanted me but was fair about it and stated I would not have a life working two jobs.

I'm just hoping that some local hospital is willing to pick me up so I can get my year in.

nursealtamirano · Dec 17, 2020

This is crazy guys! In this insane covid time its STILL difficult to find a job? I can't believe it! I mean, this would be a terrible time to be trained. It's like being trained in the middle of D day, but I cant believe they r still giving new grads a hard time. I really feel for u guys. I pray u get your chance to b what u went to school to be.