Clinical Nurse III - Emergency Department

Clinical Nurse III - Emergency Department

Salary

$183,605.76 - $246,084.80 Annually

Location

Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA

Job Type

Full-Time/Part-Time

Job Number

26-S75-T2

Department

County-Wide Recruitment

Opening Date

07/16/2026

Closing Date

7/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

04

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Under general supervision, to apply the theoretical concepts of the nursing profession while providing direct patient care within the parameters of established nursing policies and procedures in patient care situations required by the assigned clinical setting; to initiate and perform established nursing interventions utilizing current clinical knowledge.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Clinical Nurse III classification is expected to have the knowledge and abilities to assume charge nurse responsibility. The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse II classification in that the Clinical Nurse III performs under general supervision and is expected to identify and implement nursing interventions that have less predictable outcomes and evaluate the results of these interventions for a given patient population, whereas the Clinical Nurse II works under supervision while performing specific patient care assignments.

The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Nurse Coordinator classification in that the Nurse Coordinator has permanent, ongoing responsibility to teach staff and organize the patient care of a specific patient population or designated clinical program.

The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Assistant Nurse Manager classification in that the Assistant Nurse Manager has permanent, ongoing responsibility to supervise a designated nursing unit or ambulatory care clinic.

The Clinical Nurse classification series is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse classification series in that the Clinical Nurse classification series works directly with individual patients or a defined patient assignment, where patients are injured, ill, or in life-threatening situations requiring nursing interventions, whereas the Public Health Nurse works in clinics, homes, and community settings caring for the health of the population to prevent disease and improve population health.

Clinical Nurse III - Emergency

Positions available in the Emergency units at each hospital include:

OConnor Hospital - Emergency Department

Regional Medical Center - Emergency Department

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Emergency Department

Valley Medical Center - Emergency Department

Valley Medical Center - Express Care

The eligible list will be used for future openings within this competency area. The competency area includes the units listed above.

Clinical Nurse III applicants would meet the employment standard for this specialty by possessing:

An active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions;

and

Three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience, of which one (1) year must have been within the last three (3) years, in an accredited acute care hospital setting.

and

One (1) year of full-time RN experience, within the last three (3) years, in Emergency or Intensive Care specialty area in an accredited acute care hospital setting.

Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possession of a nationally recognized certification in a specialty area is preferred.

Special Requirements

Must possess and maintain the following certification(s):

o Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)

For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain the following certification(s):

o Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

o Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS)

o Other identified specialty area certification(s) for specialty patient populations at appointment, as required.

The eligible list will be used for future openings within this competency area. The competency area includes the units listed above.

Better Health for All!

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

OConnor Hospital - OConnor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center- Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Learn more about us and follow us on:

Employee Benefits I Why Join Us

Website I Santa Clara Valley Medical Center I OConnor Hospital I St. Louise Regional Hospital

Facebook I Santa Clara Valley Medical Center I OConnor Hospital I St. Louise Regional Hospital

LinkedIn | Santa Clara Valley Medical Center I OConnor Hospital I St. Louise Regional Hospital

Job Subscription | Sign Up

Typical Tasks

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

Assessment

• Analyzes and validates data taken from interviews of patients; revises assessments based on observation of patient behaviors;
• Identifies common recurrent patient problems, symptoms, and behavioral changes in relation to standards of care and individual patient needs;
• Assesses the needs of a specific patient population by making purposeful rounds, participating in clinical conferences, and collaborating with physicians and other healthcare team members;
• Assesses the competencies of personnel assigned to a specific patient group;
• Assesses the need for development of standards of care for a specific patient population;
• Assesses the numbers and levels of personnel needed to provide nursing care for a specific patient population.

Planning

• Identifies patient care problems, establishes priorities, and develops individual patient care plans based on nursing and medical diagnosis;
• Plans strategies for solving patient care problems with other members of the healthcare team;
• Plans for patient needs within current assignment to determine amount and type of assistance needed;
• Develops a plan for teaching patients and family regarding recurrent health problems, coping mechanisms, and health practices related to maintenance of wellness and prevention of disease;

Implementation

• Collaborates with appropriate personnel in performing new procedures and/or in functioning in unfamiliar situations;
• Coordinates activities needed to implement the plan of care;
• Coordinates patient and family teaching;
• Coordinates discharge plans with appropriate support personnel;
• Complies with external and internal regulations pertaining to nursing practice;
• Recognizes legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of registered nurses;
• May participate in conducting research activities;
• When assigned charge responsibility, makes recommendations for the unit level staffing pattern and assigns personnel to provide for patient care during an 8-hour period;
• Assists in teaching students and staff;
• May assume role of primary nurse with accountability to specific assigned patients;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of an active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions;

and

Three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience, of which one (1) year must have been within the last three (3) years, in an accredited hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting.

and

One (1) year of full-time RN experience, within the last three (3) years, in the nursing specialty area. A nursing specialty is a field of nursing that focuses on either a particular patient population or a health condition.

Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possession of a nationally recognized certification in a specialty area is preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain the following certification(s):

o Basic Life Saving Certification (BLS)

• For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain the following certification(s):

o Advance Cardiovascular Life Saving Certification (ACLS)

o Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS)

o Other identified specialty area certification(s) for specialty patient populations at appointment, as required.

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• California Nurse Practice Act;
• American Nursing Association Code of Ethics;
• Nursing Professional Practice Model;
• Federal and State healthcare laws and regulations appropriate to the operation of California hospitals;
• Current nursing and related medical theory necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting;
• Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care clinical nursing, including community aspects and continuity of patient care;
• Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems as related to a clinical specialty area;
• Clinical systems, supplies, and equipment;
• Safety and Infection Control practices;
• Sciences basic to nursing (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology);
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
• Common computer systems and charting applications.

Ability to:

• Establish relationships with patients/families in difficult or crisis situations;
• Advocate for the patient/family perspective and work toward resolution of conflict;
• Develop and implement complex teaching plans;
• Be a subject matter expert and be recognized by other staff nurses and physicians for their expert knowledge;
• Support less experienced Registered Nurses;
• Recognize and report subtle variations in patient responses;
• Anticipate and identify the needs of other patients and the capabilities of the nurses assigned to them;
• Develop innovative strategies to enhance patient care;
• Model high performance leadership behaviors (e.g., thoughtful listening, effective questioning, and empowerment);
• Act as a change agent and facilitate implementation and evaluation of change;
• Perform skillfully under pressure;
• Juggle and integrate needs and requests of multiple patients without losing important information or overlooking significant needs;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements may include:

• Ability to work alternate work schedules, weekends, and holidays as necessary;
• Ability to perform physical skills required to deliver patient care;
• Bend, stoop, reach, perform fine motor movements, see, hear, and touch;
• Strength to lift, move, and transfer most patients; to restrain and carry children; to move and carry equipment; and to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which requires sufficient body weight and adequate lung expansion;
• Mobility: bend, stoop, get down on the floor; combination of strength, dexterity, mobility, and coordination to assist patients; ability to move around physically and adequately in confined spaces (patient rooms, bathrooms, treatment settings, around patient equipment, etc.);
• Be able to perform all physical skills required to deliver patient care;
• Fine Motor Movements: manipulate syringes and IVs; assist patients with feeding and hygiene; write appropriate notations; document in health record; and perform sterile procedures and other skilled procedures;
• Vision: Visualize patients in order to assess and observe their health status; skin tone, color changes, dermatological conditions, non-verbal behaviors, changes in signs and symptoms of illness, health improvement or deterioration, etc.;
• Hearing: Hear and see patients, monitor signs and symptoms, hear alarms, patient voices, call lights, and assess patient conditions, non-verbal behaviors, changes in signs and symptoms of illness, health improvement or deterioration, hear through the stethoscope to discriminate sounds, and accurately hear on the telephone;
• Touch: Ability to palpate both superficially and deeply and to discriminate tactile sensations.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more here.

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits

The County offers robust retirement plans including a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the CalPERS pension plan. In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account

The Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA) empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the Employee Childcare Assistance Plan, an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D

The County offers life and disability benefits including Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Long-Term Disability insurance, California State Disability Insurance, and Integration with Leave. These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness

The Employee Wellness Program offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement

A generous Learning and Employee Development program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.

01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete and consistent as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Do you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have an active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions?

• Yes
• No

03

If you have an active California RN license, please indicate RN license number and expiration date.

04

What is your highest level of Nursing Education?

• AA/ AS/ Diploma, Clinical Practicum concurrent with theory in a non-accredited Joint Commission acute care hospital
• AA/ AS/ Diploma, Clinical Practicum concurrent with theory in an accredited Joint Commission acute care hospital
• BSN, Clinical Practicum concurrent with theory in a non-accredited Joint Commission acute care hospital
• BSN, Clinical Practicum concurrent with theory in an accredited Joint Commission acute care hospital
• MEPN with RN license pursuing MS
• MSN

05

Do you have a current ACLS certification?

• Yes
• No

06

If you have a current ACLS certification, please indicate Agency that issued it, date it was issued and expiration date.

07

Do you have a current PALS certification?

• Yes
• No

08

If you have a current PALS certification, please indicate Agency that issued it, date it was issued and expiration date.

09

Do you have a current BLS certification?

• Yes
• No

10

If you have a current BLS certification, please indicate Agency that issued it, date it was issued and expiration date.

11

Do you have a current NIH Stroke Certification?

• Yes
• No

12

If you have completed a current NIH Stroke course, please indicate Agency that issued it, when and where the course was completed.

13

List all active national and international nursing certification. Indicate the first year certified.

14

Do you have 3 or more years of acute care experience as an RN in a Joint Commission Accredited Acute Hospital - Inpatient Unit? (Do not include nursing school experience)

• Yes
• No

15

Do you have recent Emergency Department experience as a RN (1 year in the last 3 years) at a Joint Commission accredited acute care hospital? (Do not include nursing school experience)

• Yes
• No

16

Do you have recent Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience as a RN (1 year in the last 3 years) at a Joint Commission accredited acute care hospital? (Do not include nursing school experience)

• Yes
• No

17

Are you currently working as an Intensive Care Unit nurse?

• Yes
• No

18

Please provide the name of the accredited acute care hospital where you are currently working as an Intensive Care Unit nurse. If not applicable, enter "N/A".

19

Indicate number of years working as a RN in the Intensive Care Unit.

• No RN experience in an accredited acute care hospital ICU setting.
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year less than 2 years
• 2 years less than 3 years
• 3 years less than 4 years
• 4 years less than 5 years
• 5 years less than 10 years
• 10+ years

20

Are you currently working as an Emergency Room nurse?

• Yes
• No

21

Please provide the name of the accredited acute care hospital where you are currently working as an Emergency Room nurse. If not applicable, enter "N/A".

22

Indicate number of years working as a RN in the Emergency Department.

• No RN experience in an accredited acute care hospital setting
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year less than 2 years
• 2 years less than 3 years
• 3 years less than 4 years
• 4 years less than 5 years
• 5 years less than 10 years
• 10+ years

23

Do you have RN experience working in a Level 1 Trauma Center in the Emergency Department?

• Yes
• No

24

Please provide the dates of employment and the name of the Level 1 Trauma Center where you worked as an RN in the Emergency Department. If not applicable, enter "N/A".

25

Indicate the location of your current RN role

• Inpatient Acute Care Hospital
• Ambulatory Care Clinic
• Sub Acute Care Facility
• Surgery Center
• Long Term Care
• Home Care
• Inpatient Subacute Unit
• Hospice
• Dialysis Center
• No prior RN nursing experience
• Specialty Care Clinic
• Other

26

Describe the patient population in your current RN position.

27

Indicate which hospital in the County of Santa Clara Health System you are willing to work.

• OConnor Hospital
• Saint Louise Regional Hospital
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
• Regional Medical Center

28

Indicate which unit you are willing to work within the Emergency Department Competency Area:

• St. Louise Regional Hospital - Emergency Department
• OConnor Hospital - Emergency Department
• Valley Medical Center - Emergency Department
• Valley Medical Center - Express Care
• Regional Medical Center - Emergency Department

29

Indicate the commitment you are willing to work (Check all that apply).

• 1.0 FTE, 80 hours in two weeks
• .9 FTE, 72 hours in two weeks
• .8 FTE, 64 hours in two weeks
• .75 FTE, 60 hours in two weeks
• .7 FTE, 56 hours in two weeks
• .6 FTE, 48 hours in two weeks
• .5 FTE, 40 hours in two weeks

30

Please select all the shifts you are willing to work.

• Day 8 hour shift
• Day 12 hour shift
• Evening 8 hour shift
• Night 8 hour shift
• Night 12 hour shift
• Variable

31

Do you have employment experience working in a County Public Hospital and Health System?

• Yes
• No

32

Indicate the County Public Hospital and Health system(s) you have employment experience.

33

Indicate type of electronic health record software you have experience using.

• All Scripts
• ARCIS
• Cerner
• e Clinical Works
• EPIC
• Essentris
• GE EMR
• IBEX
• Intergy
• Meditech
• Other
• No exp with electronic health record software

34

How did you find out/hear about this job?

• In Person Job Fair
• Contacted by County Recruiter
• Email Newsletter
• Virtual Event
• Community Event
• Social Media: Facebook or Instagram
• County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
• Student Career Center
• Handshake
• Professional Association
• Contacted by an External Staffing Firm
• Hospital Website
• Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
• Governmentjobs.com
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Employee Referral: Friends, Families and Coworkers
• County of Santa Clara Career Website
• Other (Specify in the next question)

35

How did you find out about this job? If "Other" is selected: Please describe how you heard about this job.

Required Question

Employer County of Santa Clara

Address 70 W. Hedding Street

8th Floor, East Wing

San Jose, California, 95110

Phone (408) 299-6816

Website http://www.sccjobs.org/