New Grad Trying to Get LA County RN Job

buspar · Jan 19, 2015

Hello all!
I graduated in Sept 2014 with my BSN, have my RN license, and have applied to well over 100+ job postings throughout California. I understand jobs for new grad RNs are scarce in CA but I am still hopeful for all of us!
I keep finding posts from other new grads, and even former new grads, saying to apply and work for LA County as "they are always hiring new grad" and "they like new grads". It doesn't seem like they're new grad programs so I am assuming listings are posted sporadically throughout the year.
To my understanding there is (correct me if I'm wrong):
Part one - a written test covering Nursing Process, Nursing Assessment Procedures, Care Management, Medicine, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Chemical Dependencies, Mental Health Concepts, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk, Physiological Alterations, and Basic Care and Comfort weighted 60%.
Part Two - An interview covering training, experience and general ability to perform the duties of the position weighted 40%.
Does this exam take place BEFORE or AFTER a facility hires you? How can I get this process started? Any information posted is GREATLY appreciated! Please shine some light on this so we all can learn. Thank you!

do you happen to know when LA COUNTY will hire new grad again ?

rawrrrs · Jan 21, 2015

do you happen to know when LA COUNTY will hire new grad again ?

no i dont

milzer2012 · Feb 14, 2015

I got my license dec 19th, applied to LA County Sheriff shortly after.

Got a letter in the mail this week telling me I have a testing appt Feb 20th.

The funny thing is that I have sent out so many apps, everywhere I see that I had forgotten

That I applied to the Sheriff.

Wish me luck, the Ca New Grad job search is brutal.

Nienna Celebrindal · Feb 15, 2015

So brutal sorry i can't help op. Call hr?

ativanRN · Feb 17, 2015

Hey I also have a written exam scheduled on 2/20 for LA county sheriff's dept RN I position. i'm not too sure on the order of how they do things, but you should apply for the position online. its up on the la county website. i applied online almost a month ago and got this scheduled exam appointment mailed to me after. i think after a written exam there is an oral interview, but not too sure! i'll let you know how it goes.

i just interviewed for san bernardino county sheriffs dept and their order was totally different. there was an online application with questionnaires, then i was scheduled for an interview with a background packet that was mailed to me and had to be completed prior to the interview and submitted to them that day.

in any case apply online! you should get something in the mail eventually.

JMCP · Feb 17, 2015

so i just did the whole process and just past the health clearance...awaiting the call for my orientation start date.

the process: 1. You apply for an RN1 position using the county website. You need to read all instructions carefully as they do change. You need to give them all the info they request in the time allotted.

2. Once the deadline has passed, the people who have met all the requirements will receive an e-mail for a written exam which has nothing to do with nursing.

3. If you passed the exam, you will be sent via mail a congratulatory letter stating that you will be placed on a list of candidates. This list will be sent to recruiters who will hire from that list. I encourage all of you to contact the recruiters and ask about vacancies. Then they will ask you to fax the congratulatory letter along with your resume... then they contact you for an interview.

4. Interview process is fairly simple, same as any other interview, just looking to see that you remember important details about nursing and ask about your personality.

5. If offered a position, you will then be told to come on a certain date to get paperwork for fingerprinting. You will then head over to HR and do your background check paperwork.

6. If you pass that you will then be sent an e-mail to let you know that you are scheduled for a health screening.

6. If you pass health screening, you then wait for them to call you for an orientation start date.

The entire process takes more than 6 months so you must be diligent, keep in contact with recruiters. Also, don't quit your day job because yeah... long road ahead. Most people end up getting other job offers along the way. I know i got 4 other new grad job offers by the time i got to the offer point of County. However, I was determined to stick it out since County was always where I saw myself working.

Best of luck guys and don't give up! trust me if you apply and are persistent, someone will call. Also, network with your past schoolmates, that helps a lot.

ativanRN · Feb 17, 2015

Congrats JMCP! You're practically there! Way to stick it out. I'm essentially keeping my day job for the reasons you described. Its so worth it to make it into County. But what is this about the written having nothing to do with nursing?! Lol I've been reading its nclex style, multiple choice. Is it common sense material at least? Congrats again!

JMCP · Feb 17, 2015

the written exam has to do with your personality, work ethic and deduction skills. at no point will they ask anything about nursing. the written exam is something everyone who works for county must take. LAPD, FD, Nursing... everyone even HR... so nuclei will not help you pass this exam. The county website has some helpful material on what is on the exam that you can read...but really there is no sense in studying for that.

JMCP · Feb 17, 2015

Just got the call today that I start on the 2nd of March! yay!

ativanRN · Feb 17, 2015

Yay! Congrats :) you should be very proud of yourself! Best of luck on your new journey!

JMCP · Feb 18, 2015

thank you! I'm so humbled by the whole process! I felt at times I would never hear from them and since I said no to the other new grad programs, I was going to be left with nothing. In the end it all workout!