Critical Care Nurse - Intensive Care Unit (Open & Promotional)

Salary : $149,593.60 - $176,779.20 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: F022X
Department: San Mateo Medical Center
Opening Date: 04/04/2024
Bargaining Unit: 25


Description
NOTE: This recruitment was amended on March 11, 2026 to place a hold on accepting new applications. Applications are currently not being accepted.

NOTE: The sign-on bonus has been discontinued effective September 20, 2024.
San Mateo County Health's, San Mateo Medical Center has opportunities for experienced Critical Care nurses in our Intensive Care Unit. Under direction, the incumbents will perform varied professional nursing duties with a primary emphasis on professional nursing care for hospital or clinic patients; treat and educate patients, their families, and the public about various medical conditions; record medical histories and symptoms; perform diagnostic tests and analyze results; operate medical machinery; administer treatment and medications; assist with patient follow-up and rehabilitation; and perform other duties as assigned and required by assigned clinical setting.
Currently, we have one Regular part-time 0.8 FTE critical care nurse vacancy in the ICU.


The ideal candidates will possess the following:

• Competence to independently perform a full range of professional nursing duties and procedures that require the exercise of a high degree of clinical judgment.
• Two years of experience working in acute care hospital units providing care to patients with serious, complex and acute illnesses or injuries that require very close monitoring and extensive medication protocols and therapies. Intensive Care setting preferred.
• Experience working with diverse, underserved populations.
• Knowledge of current regulatory requirements.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

NOTE: Extra-help are at-will assignments, paid on an hourly basis. Extra-help hours are dependent on the business needs of the department and therefore work hours may vary from week to week. Extra help employees shall not exceed 1,040 hours of work per fiscal year. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Complete patient assessments, triage, and record patient histories, symptoms and observations.
• Establish and implement nursing care plans for each patient through assessment, development, activation and evaluation.
• Participate in patient case conferences and rounds.
• Organize, assign and supervise duties and responsibilities of other staff members as a team leader.
• Orient and teach new staff members of the nursing team and students.
• Perform nursing care following prescribed rules, policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Identify problems, assist in data gathering, propose solutions and participate in the evaluation of quality assurance issues.
• Work with patients and their families to provide in-hospital and after-hospital follow-up through teaching and referral.
• Participate in educational programs to maintain the level of expertise.
• Participate in non-clinical assignments, which may include maintaining records, preparing reports and/or serving on special committees.
• Operate a variety of medical machinery and equipment.
• Administer treatment and medications.
• Maintain knowledge of outpatient resources.
• Develop discharge plans for patients.
• Perform related duties as assigned and required by the assigned work setting, as described below.

Critical Care Nurse:
Duties for nurses in this series may also include the following:

• Record, assess, and observe patient progress, reactions, and symptoms.
• Monitor patient rehabilitation.
• Monitor life support equipment.
• Attend to wound dressings.
• Monitor patients in restraint and seclusion and maintain patient safety.
• Determine medical or psychiatric emergency needs and provide intervention.
• Recognize symptoms of major psychiatric diagnosis.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a California license as a Registered Nurse.
• A valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Knowledge of:
Nurse Practice Act; current nursing and related medical theory and skills necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting; safety and infection control practices; and clinical systems, supplies and equipment.

Skill/Ability to:
Nurse Practice Act; perform nursing procedures required for assigned clinical setting; comply with clinical procedures and policies; maintain professional nurse-patient relationships; communicate with and educate patients, families, and the public who come from a diverse background; work harmoniously with other personnel; follow safety practices; assist in the instruction of other nursing and paraprofessional personnel; bend, kneel and squat as needed; occasionally use upper extremities to exert force to push and pull patients/objects weighing up to 50 pounds or more; and work in a busy environment.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.


The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include an additional exam component given prior to or during the interview.

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT : Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply. A supplemental questionnaire must be completed and submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date .

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.
Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.

We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (040424) (Critical Care Nurse - F022)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01



IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.

• Proceed to supplemental questions.

02


Possession of a current California license as a Registered Nurse is required to qualify for this recruitment. Do you possess a current California license as a Registered Nurse? (Please include your license number in the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

03


Possession of each of the following life support certificates is required to be employed in the ICU: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Which of these certificates do you currently possess? (Please include information on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. Any answer less than both certificates will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Neither

04


The ideal candidate has two years of paid nursing experience working in an Intensive Care Unit or Critical Care setting. Do you have at least two years of recent paid Intensive Care or Critical Care nursing experience?

• Yes
• No

05


Critical Care -Intensive Care Nursing Experience - Considering your previous paid work experience, how much experience do you have as a Critical Care Nurse and/or in an Intensive Care Unit?

• 5 years or more
• 3 years or more but less than 5 years
• 2 years or more but less than 3 years
• 1 year or more but less than 2 years
• In an internship or preceptorship
• In a classroom or academic setting
• No experience, but willing to learn

06


Describe the education, training, and experience that qualify you for a position as Critical Care Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. Include specific certificates, training and experience. Be specific. A resume will not be accepted instead of a response.
07


Give an example of your experience providing care for an acutely ill patient. Describe your role in providing care as part of an interdisciplinary team. Be specific.
08


Describe what being a member of a nursing team means to you. Explain what you think are the qualities needed for successful teamwork in a critical care setting. Provide an example of a specific work situation that demonstrates your ability, as a member of a team, to resolve a problem created by differing opinions.
09


How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

10


If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question