Why is it so hard for new grads to get hired in the Los Angeles area..

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled.

:confused:I have been looking for a job since I've gotten my license in June 2009.I say new grad because I'm considered one because I have no experience..Please help...:nurse:

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Specializes in Peds, Hospice, Home Health, Dementia.

WoW!!n Are you TRULY looking and applying? Do you have any work experience at all? HAve your fellow graduates found work? Have you gotten any call backs at least?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

It is hard to get hired as an LVN in southern California, especially the greater Los Angeles area, due to multiple reasons...

1. The Los Angeles area has more than one hundred LVN programs. The vast majority of these are for-profit trade schools that accept new students all the time and churn out masses of new nurses into the local employment market when there are few, if any, jobs for new grads. Also, new LVN programs are opening up for business all the time, which is worsening the situation.

2. Since Los Angeles is a higher cost-of-living metro area, displaced workers enroll in these for-profit nursing programs because they assume that an LVN license is an automatic ticket to a guaranteed job, good income, and enough cash to maintain their standards of living. Everyone in southern California (and their mama) has been enrolling in these programs because they actually think there's a nursing shortage.

3. The economy is still crappy. We see less patients during rough economies because there's more unemployed people than ever. Unemployed people are unlikely to have health insurance. People without health insurance are unlikely to visit the doctor, go to a hospital, or schedule an elective surgery unless it is an absolute emergency. If less patients are seeking healthcare, then healthcare facilities can operate with less nurses.

4. Healthcare facilities are running a tight budget with what they already have. The people who oversee hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, etc., would rather work their current employees to the bone (and sometimes overwork them) than hire new grads who cost valuable time and a plenitude of money to train.

5. Many facilities would rather hire experienced nurses. The truth is that an experienced nurse can be up and running with minimal orientation, whereas the new grad needs time to get trained, costs money to train, and often quits before the facility can recoup any return on their human investment. This is why you see requests for nurses with at least 1 year of experience.

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Specializes in LTC, AL, Corrections, Home health.

you should really consider relocating if possible. I can't imagine going that long without being able to find work in the field that you trained for. I mean it took me about two months for find a full time position that I actually really wanted, but luckily the home health agency I had worked for as a CNA, was willing to give me some cases.

The other bad thing about an oversaturated market is that wages are drawn down cause there are so many people, like you, who just want a job and no one can afford to be picky with the applicant pool so big.

good luck

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

1. The Los Angeles area has more than one hundred LVN programs. The vast majority of these are for-profit trade schools that accept new students all the time and churn out masses of new nurses into the local employment market when there are few, if any, jobs for new grads. Also, new LVN programs are opening up for business all the time, which is worsening the situation.

Wow... And I thought Dallas-Fort Worth had a lot of LVN programs without enough of job demand out there. I wonder why the CA board of nursing approves so many nursing programs when they must know that there is no job market to support it. It seems very unethical.

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If LVNs with years of experience are going without work do you really expect there to be a better job market for new grads?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Wow... And I thought Dallas-Fort Worth had a lot of LVN programs without enough of job demand out there. I wonder why the CA board of nursing approves so many nursing programs when they must know that there is no job market to support it. It seems very unethical.
I believe that Dallas/Fort Worth has four private LVN programs (Concorde, Platt, Dallas Nursing Institute, and Universal) and a small handful of community college LVN programs. The situation in D/FW and North Texas is nothing compared to the state of affairs in southern California!
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I am from CA...recently got my LVN license....I challanged the boards after dropping out of an RN program in my 4th Semester! Huge Mistake!!! I am thinking of relocating to Florida to find work...anyone who how the job market is in Florida for LVNs?:confused:

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Specializes in CCU.

not just in your area BELIEVE me! We have the same problem in my area (TN, AL, MS) area!

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This sucks!!

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