Registered Nurse Resident

Full Job Description

This recruitment is for Registered Nurse Residents only.

THE PURPOSE The Registered Nurse (RN) Residency Program is for new graduate Registered Nurses who are looking to transition from a nursing student to a competent acute care nurse.

The sites for the program include Ventura County Medical Center, Santa Paula Hospital, and the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.

Our RN Residency Program is designed to offer a safe and supportive learning environment that fosters professional growth, critical thinking, competence, and confidence.

Our evidence-based program will equip novice nurses with the essential knowledge, skills, and structured support necessary to transition from a student to professional nurse in a clinical setting.

In alignment with our Nursing Professional Practice Model, the framework for our nursing practice embodies the core values of the Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) which is centered around patients and families.

Our nursing practice is anchored in the AACN Synergy Model, which emphasizes that the needs of patients drive nursing competence.

At VCHCA, our nurses bring this model to life by fostering a collaborative environment that delivers safe, compassionate care.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Nursing students within three (3) months of graduation or recently graduated from an accredited Registered Nurse program with a commitment to excellence, innovation, compassion, and integrity around patient care.

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, eager to learn, customer service-oriented individual who wants to join a dedicated team of caring medical professionals within a mission-driven organization focused on Family-Centered Care.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will be compassionate and dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to patients.

They will also be a strong advocate with excellent customer service skills, capable of effectively supporting and engaging with a diverse range of patients.

PAYROLL TITLES AND APPROXIMATE SALARIES

Per Diem Nurse Extern

Under direct supervision, the Per Diem Nurse Extern will assist professional nursing personnel in providing basic patient care and treatment. Through participation, they will receive supervised work experience in the nursing vocation.

Registered Nurse I - Regular and Per Diem

Under direction, demonstrates the application of basic to intermediate assessment skills; independent judgment and action; and adherence to patient privacy, confidentiality, and security guidelines.

Externs are expected to progress to this level and further grow into the full scope of their licensure providing clinical care with a decreasing amount of supervision.

The Registered Nurse II – Regular and Per Diem

The Registered Nurse II class is the experienced level in the field of Registered Nursing and performs the full range of professional nursing duties.

The goal of the RN Residency Program is to support and develop new graduate nurses in their transition to professional practice, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to advance to this level.

Per Diem

Per Diem Nurse Extern: $32.43 per hour

Per Diem Registered Nurse I:$44.51 per hour

Per Diem Registered Nurse II: $52.75 - $69.62

Regular

Registered Nurse I: $44.58 - $46.85 per hour

Registered Nurse II: $52.07 - $62.27 per hour

WHAT WE OFFER The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package.

In addition to the annual salary, an employee within these positions may also be eligible for the following, subject to the applicable section of the respective Memorandum of Agreement.

To learn more about what we have to offer, please click the links below:

• Per Diem – Highlight of Per Diem CNA Benefits
• Regular – Highlight of Regular CNA Benefits

RESIDENCY PRACTICE SETTINGS

There are ten (10) Nurse Resident vacancies that may be located in the following units:

• Acute Inpatient Withdrawal
• Adult Intensive Care
• Behavioral Health
• Emergency Department
• Medical-Surgical
• Operating Room
• Post-Anesthesia Recovery
• Step Down
• Telemetry
• Telemetry-Oncology

Note:

• Salary placement for Registered Nurse I and Registered Nurse II (Regular & Per Diem) will be determined according to the current CNA memorandum of agreement.
• Unlicensed incumbents will be appointed at the Per Diem Nurse Extern level, while licensed incumbents may be appointed as Registered Nurse I level.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular, Per Diem (Intermittent), and Extra Help vacancies for the Registered Nurse Residency Program only.

Note: Incumbents may be promoted to the higher level (Registered Nurse II) without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

Per Diem Nurse Extern, Registered Nurse I/II and Per Diem Registered Nurse I/II are represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Opening Date: April 13, 2026
Closing Date: April 27, 2026

Requirements

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Per Diem Nurse Extern:

• Under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, assists in direct patient care, practicing in an evidence-based manner, within the Scope of Practice of the California Nursing Practice Act, regulatory requirements, standards of care, and hospital practices;
• Serves as a role model to promote a positive and inclusive environment and high-quality patient and Family Centered Care;
  • Practices empathic communication with patients and provides additional support to patients and families to ensure needs are met;
  • Assists in the development and/or modification of a basic written patient care plan and assists in evaluating the effectiveness of patient care plans;
  • Makes recommendations for modifications in the patient care plan based upon evaluations and new assessment data;
  • Provides basic bedside nursing care to assure comfort and cleanliness of patients;
  • Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, bathes, shaves, feeds, and addresses patients and assists those capable of self-care;
  • Collects, tests, and records results of routine specimens;
  • Records intake and output of patients;
  • Assists licensed healthcare providers with IV's, exams, lumbar punctures, and other medical procedures;
  • Using ergonomically appropriate techniques, assists with positioning and transporting patients;
  • Assists in providing physical therapy and occupational therapy treatment; and
  • Performs other related duties as required.

Registered Nurse I/II - Regular and Per Diem:

• Uses the full scope of the Nurse Practice Act to assess, plan, organize, and provide nursing care to assigned patients;
• Follows prescribed licensed healthcare providers' orders concerning treatments and medications;
• Observes patients and documents all pertinent information, including changes in condition, general progress, treatment, and dispensing medications;
• Provides follow-through on judgment within the scope of accepted nursing practice;
• Assists licensed healthcare providers in examination and treatment;
• Provides unit organization and is responsible for completion of all delegated and indicated nursing duties by the end of the assigned shift;
• Assists in training, supervision and evaluation of new and ancillary personnel;
• Maintains current knowledge of nursing care developments and therapeutic measures;
• Attends department in-services and staff development programs;
• May participate in quality assurance/utilization review or other non-direct patient care nursing assignments; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

REGISTERED NURSE RESIDENT REQUIREMENTS

• No prior acute care experience as a licensed RN OR less than 6 months of registered nursing experience in an inpatient setting
• Within three (3) months of graduation or recently graduated from an ADN or BSN program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Must possess a valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) Certificate by the first day of hire and maintain it thereafter
• Must possess a valid California RN license within six (6) months of start date (candidates may apply before licensure)
• Must be willing and able to commit to the 12-month Nurse Residency Program
• Must successfully complete the Health Care Agency Pharmacology examination within three (3) months of employment
• Must successfully compete the Health Care Agency ECG written examination as required by the department.
• Included with your application, you are required to submit (attach, PDF format preferred) the following:
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume

PER DIEM NURSE EXTERN

Education, Training and Experience

• Requires current enrollment in a National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited Registered Nurse program, and within 3 months of graduation, OR
• Recently graduated from a nationally accredited Registered Nurse program

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California and successful completion of unit-related competencies within 6 months of hire date

REGISTERED NURSE I - REGULAR AND PER DIEM

Education, Training and Experience

• Requires no experience

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California, or Registered Nurse licensure in another state with California licensure pending
• Depending upon area of assignment, additional specialty experience and/or certification(s) may be required.

REGISTERED NURSE II - REGULAR AND PER DIEM

Education, Training and Experience

• Requires six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting, or completion of the Ventura County Medical Center competency requirements* as evaluated and approved by the Chief Nursing Executive

*These competency requirements are in conformance with the California Board of Registered Nurses nursing requirements

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must be currently enrolled in or have completed the RN Residency program
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California, or Registered Nurse licensure in another state with California licensure pending
• Depending upon area of assignment, additional specialty experience and/or certification(s) may be required.

DESIRED

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

Per Diem Nurse Extern:

• Working knowledge: the theory, techniques and practices of professional nursing; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment.
• Working ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professional nursing and medical staff; establish and maintain the confidence of patients; follow hospital policies and instructions; and work effectively in different hospital departments or on shifts as required.

Registered Nurse I/II - Regular and Per Diem:

• Thorough knowledge: theory, techniques, and practices of professional nursing; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment; and medicines and narcotics.
• Working ability to: plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non-professional staff; establish and maintain the confidence of patients and staff; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; work effectively in different healthcare and/or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with other staff members, patients, and their families; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Additional Information

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources – Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Dr., Ventura, CA 93003.

Note to Applicants

It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications.

A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing.

The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.

Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION (Per Diem Nurse extern only) - PASS?FAIL: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire.

NOTE: In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis.

For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities.

It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.

Responses such as "See Resume” or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW

All applicants who successfully complete the application process and meet the minimum requirements will be invited to complete a one-way (recorded) preliminary interview.

The top candidates, as determined by the panel, will then be invited to second/final interviews.

The interviews may be consolidated into one process or expanded into multiple interviews contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough post offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

To apply visit: www.venturacounty.gov/jobs or for further information about this recruitment, please contact Rhiannon Flores by telephone at (805) 677-5318 or via e-mail at Rhiannon.Flores@venturacounty.gov.