What are the requirements for
a Public Health Nurse (PHN)?
California requires PHN's to have an active
California Registered Nurse (RN) license, a California
PHN certificate and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing.
For licensure/certification questions, contact the
California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) at
www.rn.ca.gov
Nurses coming to California from outside the United
States or from other states also need to contact the BRN
regarding licensure.
Are new PHN and RN graduates
allowed to work on an interim permit?
No, all new PHN graduates must possess a RN license
and a PHN certificate from the BRN and all new RN
graduates must possess a RN license from the BRN in
order to be practice in the state of California.
Can I apply for employment
with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
with a foreign license or a license from another state?
No, you must a have California license to apply.
Please go to
www.rn.ca.gov
for information.
Does Public Health provide
work sponsorships for foreign nurses or foreign nursing
students completing their nursing degree in the United
States?
No, Public Health does not provide sponsorships.
Please see application for employment qualifications.
Do I need to fill out an
application for Public Health if I am already a RN I
working in one of the County hospitals or health
centers?
Not if you are interested in a lateral transfer as an
RN 1. If you are interested in any other nursing
position (i.e.-PHN, RN II) you do need to submit an
application.
Do I need to fill out an
application for Public Health if I am already a RN I and
I want to apply for a RN II ?
Yes, a RN II position is a promotional opportunity
and you need to complete an employment application and
submit an application to Human Resources
(HR) in order to placed
on the certification or eligibility list for RN II. Click here for current vacancies.
Does Public Health offer
part-time or per-diem nursing positions?
No, all of our positions are full-time.
Where do I submit my
employment application for Public Health?
You can submit your application via the internet. For
information on the application process and job
opportunities,
click here.
Do you have any tips on
completing the applications?
First, carefully read the exam bulletin which is the
posting for job classifications such as RN, PHN.
You must meet the minimum
eligibility requirements listed in the job
classification bulletin in order for your application to
be accepted. If copies of licensure/college degree are
required, the copies need to accompany the application.
Explain your employment history, including job
duties in the work experience section, so the HR analyst
can determine if you meet the requirements. You need
the complete exam number and examination title for
each application you submit. This information can be
found on the top of the job bulletin.
I went through the
application process and I am on the certification list. What happens now?
You should have received a letter from HR notifying you of how long your name will
remain on the certification or eligibility list (for nursing positions
most list are one (1) year from the date the
candidate's name was added). If you decide you are
no longer interested in a position, you can notify HR and
request your name be removed from the list. If a year has
passed since your name was added to the list and you are
still interested , you need to complete the application
process all over. It is permissible to start this
process a few weeks prior to the expiration date.
During the time frame you are on the list, your name
and contact information will be made available to
supervisors/managers with vacancies who will contact you
for a selection interview. During this interview,
position duties, work hours, and other pertinent
information will be discussed. For information on the application process and job opportunities,
click here.
How long does the hiring
process take?
This can vary, depending on the number of positions
available, how quickly the supervisors set up their
interviews and make their decisions, and if Public Health
has any hiring restrictions.
Where are the Service
Planning Areas and Health Centers located?
There are 8 Service Planning Areas (SPAs) located in
Los Angeles County. The health centers are
located within each of the SPAs. To view a
list of the SPAs and the addresses of health centers,
click here.
Does Public Health provide
loan forgiveness?
No, visit our list of resources for scholarships,
grants, loans, and loan repayment programs available for
nurses...click
here.
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