JOB
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.
The Clinical Nurse classification series differs from the Psychiatric Nurse classification series in that the Psychiatric Nurse classification series works in mental health hospitals and clinics providing psychiatric and nursing interventions.
Clinical Nurse III - Critical Care
Prefer experience in Intensive Care and completion of a Critical Care Training program.
Positions available in critical care units at each hospital include:
Saint Louise Regional Hospital - Mixed Intensive Care Unit
Saint Louise Regional Hospital - Rapid Response Team
O'Connor Hospital - Mixed Intensive Care Unit
O'Connor Hospital - Rapid Response Team
Valley Medical Center - Medical Intensive Care Unit
Valley Medical Center - Cardiac Care Unit
Valley Medical Center - Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Valley Medical Center - Trauma Intensive Care Unit
Valley Medical Center - Burn Unit
Valley Medical Center - Rapid Response Team
Regional Medical Center - Intensive Care Unit
Float Pool
Vascular Line
Cath Lab/ Interventional Radiology (IR)
The eligible list will be used for future openings within this competency area. The competency area includes the units listed above.
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.
The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes three 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.
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.
O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor 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.
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EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
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
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Analyzes and validates data taken from interviews of patients; revises assessments based on observation of patient behaviors;
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Identifies common recurrent patient problems, symptoms, and behavioral changes in relation to standards of care and individual patient needs;
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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;
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Assesses the competencies of personnel assigned to a specific patient group;
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Assesses the need for development of standards of care for a specific patient population;
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Assesses the numbers and levels of personnel needed to provide nursing care for a specific patient population.
Planning
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Identifies patient care problems, establishes priorities, and develops individual patient care plans based on nursing and medical diagnosis;
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Plans strategies for solving patient care problems with other members of the healthcare team;
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Plans for patient needs within current assignment to determine amount and type of assistance needed;
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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
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Collaborates with appropriate personnel in performing new procedures and/or in functioning in unfamiliar situations;
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Coordinates activities needed to implement the plan of care;
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Coordinates patient and family teaching;
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Coordinates discharge plans with appropriate support personnel;
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Complies with external and internal regulations pertaining to nursing practice;
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Recognizes legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of registered nurses;
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May participate in conducting research activities;
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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;
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Assists in teaching students and staff;
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May assume role of primary nurse with accountability to specific assigned patients;
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May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;
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Performs other related duties, as required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The physical requirements may include:
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Ability to work alternate work schedules, weekends, and holidays as necessary;
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Ability to perform physical skills required to deliver patient care;
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Bend, stoop, reach, perform fine motor movements, see, hear, and touch;
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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;
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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.);
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Be able to perform all physical skills required to deliver patient care;
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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;
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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.;
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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;
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Touch: Ability to palpate both superficially and deeply and to discriminate tactile sensations.
