The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 25 health centers and four acute care hospitals - and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6.9 billion.
Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing.
For additional information regarding DHS, please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.MISSION:
To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care
Follows established policies and procedures within their scope of practice.
Complies with licensing and accreditation standards and other regulatory requirements. Interprets and supports standards and requirements to others.
Conducts self-assessment of performance and identifies own learning needs.
Seeks assistance and feedback regarding patient and clinical practice issues.
Accepts personal accountability and demonstrates initiative in continuing to develop nursing knowledge and skills.
Communicates and collaborates effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team as needed.
Participates in patient care conferences, committee meetings, staff development, and educational programs to increase or maintain professional competency.
Seeks experiences that reflect current clinical practice to maintain and enhance professional and clinical skills and competencies.
Remains up-to-date on current professional skills, trends, and issues.
Maintains courteous and respectful relationships with patients, families, and co-workers.
Provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
Respects patient rights; adheres to and protects patient privacy, confidentiality, and security guidelines.
Completes and maintains accurate and legible documentation and records in a clear, concise, and timely manner.
Reports and may intervene in incidents involving patients, visitors, and employees.
May delegate, assign, and supervise the assigned work of others including Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), nursing attendants, technicians, clerical staff, and students.
May serve as a preceptor*.
Participates in performance improvement activities. Recommends and facilitates implementation of changes in nursing practice.
May participate in approved clinical investigations or research studies in accordance with departmental policies.
May participate in product evaluation and product standardization activities.
May participate in organization-wide committees and projects.
May serve as a liaison between committees, staff, and management.
Participates in identifying and resolving ethical issues in the practice setting.
Assessment/Reassessment: An ongoing process which is continuous for the duration of the patient's stay.
Interviews patient and other individuals to collect information.
Observes and analyzes physical condition, including physically examining the patient.
Identifies economic, educational, and cultural barriers; patient values and beliefs; spiritual influences; age specific and biophysical needs according to accepted standards of practice.
Reviews all available information, including medical records, patient history, and other documentation.
Documents all findings and observations.
Initiates reassessment of patients as necessary when a patient is currently or potentially at physiologic, psychological, and psychosocial risk.
Recognizes deviations from baseline and interprets subtle changes in a patient's condition.
Planning:
Formulates nursing care plan based upon assessment and in accordance with provider orders, procedures, and/or protocols.
Identifies nursing care objectives.
Prioritizes patient care needs and activities as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
Evaluates and modifies plans of care, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, and develops measurable long and short-term goals.
Coordinates patient care in collaboration with other interdisciplinary patient care team members.
Develops appropriate interventions which may include consultation with interdisciplinary team.
Establishes patient goals and treatment plans.
Modifies plan of patient care based on reassessment findings and specific patient care needs, and/or changes in interdisciplinary treatment plan.
Identifies and incorporates discharge planning needs into the patient's plan of care.
Identifies appropriate tools and/or teaching methods for patient/family education.
Implementation:
Provides individualized and specialized nursing care and administers medications and treatments to patients as prescribed.
Observes patient's response to interventions and treatments and monitors for side effects of medication administration.
Recognizes and responds to changes in patient status timely and appropriately. Intervenes when situations call for immediate action.
Performs efficiently in emergency situations.
Coordinates delivery of patient care with other services and disciplines to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Provides patient/family education based on identified learning needs utilizing available teaching resources.
Counsels patients and care givers concerning patient care and treatment plans.
Communicates identified needs and patient responses to members of the interdisciplinary team.
Implements the integrated plan of care and coordinates patient care activities with members of the interdisciplinary team.
Provides discharge teaching including aftercare instructions, medication administration, follow-up appointments, and appropriate contact information.
Recognizes safety hazards in the patient care environment and initiates timely and appropriate intervention.
Uses patient equipment and devices safely; recognizes when equipment and devices are not functioning correctly and takes timely and appropriate action (e.g. removes malfunctioning equipment from patient care area).
Evaluation/Monitoring:
Observes, evaluates, and communicates the effects of treatments and intervention.
Communicates changes in the plan of care to other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Documents patient's response to treatment or nursing care.
Reassesses and revises plan of care in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
Coordinates delivery of patient care with other services and disciplines to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Communicates with patients and care givers regarding changes in patient care and treatment plans.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
Three years of full-time experience* as a Registered Nurse providing professional nursing care and services to patients in a variety of settings.
-AND-
A license to practice as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
-AND-
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) Program certification issued by the American Heart Association.
LICENSE(S) AND CERTIFICATE(S) REQUIRED:
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
An evaluation of training and experience based on application and supplemental questionnaire information weighted 100%.
This is a noncompetitive examination. This examination is intended to merely qualify applicants. Applicants will be placed on an eligible register without indication of relative standing in the examination.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an "as received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. The names of candidates who qualify will be added to the eligible register for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of promulgation.
No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.
SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION
In accordance with TITLE 5 - PERSONNEL, APPENDIX 1 (Civil Service Rule 11.03) of the Los Angeles County Code, selective certification may be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. The following areas may require selective certification.
1. Adult Critical Care and Burn Unit
2. Emergency Room
3. Operating Room
Specific knowledge of the specialized functional areas may be the subject of the departmental hiring interview.
AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Health Services as they occur.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted. Applications electronically received after 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing will not be accepted.
Apply online by clicking on the green "APPLY" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time with or without advanced notice.
Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of you application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the REQUIREMENTS. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. DO NOT GROUP YOUR EXPERIENCE. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.
Please note that the Department of Health Services requires applicants to show that they perform the specified duties listed in the posted Requirements as their principal work activity. It is recommended that you provide your work experience using statements that provide the following three components: ACTION/S you took, the CONTEXT in which you took that/those action/s, and the BENEFIT that was realized from that/those actions. Include specific reference to the impact you made in the positions you have held.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
L. A. County Public Library has announced they are reopening some libraries with limited hours access throughout L. A. County. Refer to their website at https://lacountylibrary.org/reopening/ for more information.
NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their applications online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
ADA COORDINATOR: (323) 914-6365
CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE: (800) 735-2922
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Darlene Beamon-Thomas, Exam Analyst
(213) 288-7000
dbeamon-thomas@dhs.lacounty.gov
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/.
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit: https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/.
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.
Revised January 2025