(RN) Registered Nurse - Per Diem - Trauma PCU - 140491

(RN) Registered Nurse - Per Diem - Trauma PCU

Payroll Title: NURSE PD Department: 5 WEST TRAUMA PCU Hiring Pay Scale $91.16 / Hour Worksite: Hillcrest Appointment Type: Per Diem Appointment Percent: 20% Union: NX Contract Total Openings: 3 Work Schedule: Nights, 12-Hour Shifts, Sunday-Saturday Date Posted 07/21/2026

UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, achieved by only about 10% of hospitals worldwide. Magnet with Distinction is awarded to the highest-performing Magnet organizations, with only a select few earning this prestigious honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to transformational leadership, professional nursing excellence, innovation, exceptional patient outcomes, and an empowering practice environment where nurses thrive.

Under general supervision, identifies and implements nursing interventions and evaluated results for a wide variety of patient populations. Directs and acts as a resource to other members of the nursing team as assigned. Promotes compliance and support of policies. Achieves trust in professional collegial relationships.

This is an experienced nurse position in the 5 West Trauma PCU and the 4E Trauma Recovery Unit. 5W is a 24-bed unit that serves an intermediate level of care to medical-surgical patients, along with a 15-bed overflow medical-surgical unit. Patients are received from the trauma bay, downgraded from the Surgical ICU, and occasionally overflow medical IMU level of care patients. Patients are frequently post-operative, and common diagnoses include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injury, alcohol and substance withdrawal, and delirium.

While not required, a cover letter is highly recommended when applying to this position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of Nursing.
• RN license issued by the State of California.
• BART/BLS and ACLS certifications at time of hire with commitment to get UCSD ART within six (6) months of hire date
• Must have two (2+) or more years of recent acute care RN experience in ICU, PCU, and/or IMU.
• Must function in a high-paced environment and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking, de-escalation, and problem-solving skills to manage multiple levels of information and responsibilities.
• Ability to perform under pressure and handle urgent situations with accuracy, expediency, and tact.
• Ability to demonstrate individualized care to vulnerable populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• BSN and/or MSN.
• CCRN, PCCN specialty certifications.
• Psychiatric RN experience
• Rehabilitation RN experience.
• Trauma RN experience.
• Bilingual: English/Spanish.

Special Conditions

• Must be able to work various hours, days, shifts, on-call, and various locations based on the 24-hour Medical Center's business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and a pre-employment physical.
• Per diem shift requirement is an average of 1 shift per week. Must be available 1-weekend shift every 4 weeks and 1 major holiday. This is subject to change based on department needs.

Annual Full Pay Range: $190,342 - $190,342 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $91.16 - $91.16

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit:

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace